Rear Seat removal 1999 Q-45

[josegonz]

I'm trying to get to the rear sunshade in my Q in order to see why it stopped working a few days ago. Before doing that, I have read the various posts on rear seat removal (a must to get to the sunshade) and followed the instructions as provided. Have also checked the FSM diagram (BT-36) for that model year and other years as well. But I'm either missing something or my car is somehow different since as of this writing, I have not been able to remove the upper cushion of the backseat. So far, I have removed the two bottom bolts as well as the two hidden behind the armrest again without any success.Any help, advice, hints etc from fellow forum members that have met this challenge before will be appreciated. One last thing that I'd like a clarification is: Do you lift the upper cushion towards the ceiling of the car? If so where do you grab it in order to lift? OR Do you pull the upper cushion towards the front of the car? Thanks to all for your help with this issue.

[maxnix]

Are you sure there are not 3 bottom bolts? I see a third bracket but no indication of a bolt like the other two.

Have you removed the seat bottom. The seat belt tensioners may be not yielding to sudden movement either.

[josegonz]

Thanks for your interest & reply. There are only two bottom bolts/brackets. The diagram is incorrect in showing a third bracket. The seat bottom was off & out in less than a minute. I have also taken the cènter armrest off w/o much of a problem. I have removed the outer seat belts from their guides and squeezed them between the seat and the roof pillar (?). The outer belts/tensioners are not putting any kind of pressure on the seat back. The seat back appears to somehow be stuck in the two rear brackets identified with letter A in BT-36 of the FSM. Could it be that these brackets are bent out of shape and catching the engaging ring on the seat too tight?

[josegonz]

With my apologies. Upon closer inspection I found that there is a third bracket and bolt holding the seat back to the car frame. It is not in plain sight as the other two but hidden under the noise insulation (thick black stuff) material. I stand corrected and apologize again as the FSM (BT-36) shows the right information. I will continue with the seat removal early tomorrow moning and hope not to run into new problems while removing the rear shelf in order to get to the rear sunshade. Thanks

[maxnix]

10-1 the rear shelf brackets are best accessed from the trunk. They are on the G50.

I think it is BT-48 in the 2000 FSM.
Modified by maxnix at 8:06 AM 4/30/2008

[josegonz]

I was finally able to completely remove the rear seat. That is after I found a fourth bracket also hidden under the noise insulation material. The big surprise was the rear shelf. Not a clue on removing this one. The extensively detailed post for fuel pump removal (I read it several times) by Tangalora a while back was of some help but being for an older Q, it did not quite make in my case. So any additional help, other posts and advice on removing the rear shelf AND troubleshooting the rear sunshade will be appreciated.

[maxnix]

Perhaps if you can explain what's preventing you from releasing the parcel shelf cliips and removing it we could help you.