1988 stanza sedan rear bum cushion removal

[gramps5]

Newbie to the forum! I have a mint 1988 Nissan Stanza XE 4dr with a bad fuel pump. I am unable to remove the back bum cushion to access it. I have tried lifting the front edge, going from sharp tugs to a pry bar. I understand that two U-shaped wire loops fit down into two sockets, one on each side. I can just feel them with my fingers. The loops will just slide up a little and then lock. There appears to be a latching system under there but I cannot figure out the secret to unlatch it. I don't want to destroy the seat! Help, please!

[VStar650CL]

That type of arrangement you push down and back on the cushion right at the loop area and it should pop loose. There's usually no harm done in forcing them provided you do it at the loop (otherwise you risk tearing the cushion. For stubborn ones, I usually feel for the loop and work a canted prybar right in front of it, then lift up on the prybar. That way the bar is working against the loop's reinforcement and not the cushion material.

[gramps5]

Many thanks VStar650CL for your prompt advice. Brute force, applied with a scissor jack did the job. On one side the steel loop finally popped out of its plastic pocket and on the other side the plastic pocket with the loop still inside ripped out of the car body. I think the plastic retainer cams inside the pockets had just hardened in 37 years! After a bit more dismantling I finally got the pump out of the gas tank. I had initially thought the pump was bad as I had measured an open circuit at the harness plug but when I took a closer look I found the pump was fine. The connections to the pump and fuel gauge go through the pump assembly cover in insulating bushings with brass riveted connections on the underside. These rivets were no longer making good connections to their washers. I scraped clean and soldered each of the four connections. Life is now good! Next job is to track down a new large O-ring!

[VStar650CL]