seat release latch help

[EverettB]

Another thread (that's in the Type 3 FAQ) with some info and photos:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=557251

This may help too
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[nitrodub]

a work around option for those folks missing the cable set up for the the early type 3 door style seat release cable.

I used a seat slider knob from a donor seat base & cut a slot in the seat base, in line with the seat back release mech & tack welded it. its not hands free but looks good enough for me.

[Bobnotch]

[nitrodub]

Yep, lift it for seat back release & if you do find the oem parts to restore the factory design. You can leave this mod as is, it wont alter the operation of the door/cable release parts.

[TDUB]

I like it. Do you have a picture of how it attaches to the seat back release hook?

[nitrodub]

[sjbartnik]

Hi all, piggybacking on this thread because there is lots of good info here. My ‘65 seat latch cable system is completely intact and works fine, however:

The tabs in the door jambs that pull the cables seem to be to be very stiff but I don’t know how stiff they should be. I cannot activate them by hand. Like if I push on the tab, hard, it doesn’t budge. But when the doors are shut, the seat backs are locked. But the doors are definitely a little dented where they hit the tabs. It seems to me that it shouldn’t take that much effort.

The cables themselves seem to slide smoothly - when I detach them from the seats they slide freely in the sleeves.

So does anyone know how stiff the tabs are supposed to be and/or how to service them to loosen them up? I don’t want them to seize up and break.
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1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650

[sjbartnik]

OK I poked around with this system today just to make sure everything was working as it was supposed to.

You have to pull back the carpet a bit to get to the heads of the cables. So, remove the aluminum sill trim, pull back the white trim that goes up the door jamb, then pull back the carpet a bit.

There is a single screw in the door jamb below the actuating lever which secures the actuator in place. Remove the screw and then you can remove the actuating lever and its cover plate. The actuating lever has a rod that passes through into the interior of the car, then goes down to engage the head of the cable. There is nothing that secures the lever onto the cable. See photos:

The actuating lever has a plastic bushing around it:

Mine were both intact but dry. Hit em with a little Super Lube.

Here's the head of the cable:

Hit that cable pivot point with a little Super Lube too.

So as I said, both of my cables move freely. I was concerned about how much effort it took to move the actuating lever, but I soon found out that it was normal.

When you look at the photo above, you see that part of the head of the cable is a MASSIVE spring. It's way more heavy than it needs to be in my opinion, but that's how they made it. So the effort it takes to depress the actuating lever is really the effort it takes to work against that huge spring.

So, I determined that there ain't a damn thing wrong with it.

Note that this cable actuating lever is a potential water entry point into the car if your door seals are not good. It would allow water to enter behind/under the carpet without you seeing it so if you are finding unexplained water in the low parts of the pan (under rear seat area) definitely check to make sure this isn't leaking. There is a little rubber seal/grommet where the arm passes through into the interior but it doesn't look like it would do much to seal against water. I think the door seal is the primary line of defense against water entry here.

Here's a video of how it works with the carpet pulled back:


Link

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1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650

[Buddy demers]

I have all my cables and what I think are the correct parts. What I do know is my August of 63 notch only has a flip switch in the passenger door jam. I do not see one or where one should be in the driver's side. My seats are original to car and have the hardware on both bases. I do not know what the flipper looks like and need a close up picture so I can find it amongst the parts pile. As for the drivers side; did they come on both sides this early or what? thank you kindly for what ever help I may receive.

[sjbartnik]

See the post above yours for close up pics of the flipper.
_________________
1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650

[EverettB]

It should have releases and cables on both doors and both seats
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