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Alleycat1990
Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2024
Posts: 48
Location: Ottawa
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 Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 4:56 pm Post subject: Back seat woes |
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I put a bunch of stuff under the backseat/Bed while I was working in my Vanagon. Now I cannot for the life of me open it. I pull the lever and grab the handle and now way will it open it is like it is stuck. Anyone have any ideas?
_________________
1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer |
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markswagen
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2018
Posts: 1546
Location: san diego
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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push down as you pull on the lever.
failing that.
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markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.
619 201 0310 |
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Alleycat1990
Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2024
Posts: 48
Location: Ottawa
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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I have tried everything short of an exorcism. No cigar. Tomorrow morning I will try unscrewing the front panel. Or a stick of dynamite. Thanks.
_________________
1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer |
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markswagen
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2018
Posts: 1546
Location: san diego
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 7:19 pm Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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westfalia
tin top
1990 ?
tin top, the seat base just pulls up.
westy, early the button left to release the clip.
late pull it directly out for the same result.
push down on the seat base, as you do either.
_________________
markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.
619 201 0310 |
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8270
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 7:38 pm Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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Sit hard & heavy on the seat, pull the pin, lift the seat.
…and may God be with you. <sign of the cross>
- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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Alleycat1990
Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2024
Posts: 48
Location: Ottawa
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| Posted: Yesterday 3:34 am Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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I tried all 180 pounds of me pushing on the back kneeling on it.I put my arm through the little hole. Looked it up in Bentley so I could see what the mechanism looks like . It might as well be a kids drawing.
Not a tin top.
_________________
1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17068
Location: Brookeville, MD
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| Posted: Yesterday 5:09 am Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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| Alleycat1990 wrote: |
I tried all 180 pounds of me pushing on the back kneeling on it.I put my arm through the little hole. Looked it up in Bentley so I could see what the mechanism looks like . It might as well be a kids drawing.
Not a tin top. |
It likely has something under the seat that has shifted and is blocking the release lever. You may need to get creative to find a way to move anything that is near the latch mechanism.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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Alleycat1990
Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2024
Posts: 48
Location: Ottawa
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| Posted: Yesterday 5:19 am Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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Thanks for the suggestions much appreciated. I tried that last night I am going to try again this morning with a fresh brain and a large Expresso or a bigger hammer N. 
_________________
1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer |
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 4331
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Yesterday 5:24 am Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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Grind off the heads on the carriage bolts (near delete in this picture), push the bolt shanks back and the mechanism (hopefully) pulls up.
.... And then delete this latch as in this post (second page does an alternate way to prevent locking without deleting latch)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=721523
Alternately, you may be able to reach in from behind the seat, from the engine lid side, to dislodge the offending item.... You may also be able to get to the screws on the hinges that hold the seat to remove them to show even more room from the back.
_________________
83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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Alleycat1990
Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2024
Posts: 48
Location: Ottawa
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| Posted: Yesterday 5:28 am Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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Now that is the picture and instructions needed! Mega thanks
_________________
1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer |
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Alleycat1990
Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2024
Posts: 48
Location: Ottawa
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| Posted: Yesterday 10:11 am Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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I tried everything still could not get it open . I took my sawmill and cut the u bracket. Now I need to find one.
_________________
1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer |
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 4331
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Yesterday 10:13 am Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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| Alleycat1990 wrote: |
| I tried everything still could not get it open . I took my sawmill and cut the u bracket. Now I need to find one. |
how did you get to it?
_________________
83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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Alleycat1990
Samba Member
Joined: October 21, 2024
Posts: 48
Location: Ottawa
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| Posted: Yesterday 10:17 am Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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2 pieces of hardwood with a 4 foot crowbar.
_________________
1990 Vanagon GL purchased fall of 2024
never winter driven and well maintained
minor repairs needed example odometer |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17068
Location: Brookeville, MD
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 4331
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Yesterday 10:37 am Post subject: Re: Back seat woes |
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| vanis13 wrote: |
| Alleycat1990 wrote: |
| I tried everything still could not get it open . I took my sawmill and cut the u bracket. Now I need to find one. |
how did you get to it? |
| Alleycat1990 wrote: |
| 2 pieces of hardwood with a 4 foot crowbar. |
by lifting up the back / from the engine side or something else?
I can tell its frustrating for you and clarity will help the next person afflicted with this. You are not the first.
_________________
83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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ALIKA T3
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 7113
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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