98 Jeep Wrgler- pass.seat won't lock as it should

[Jim Spahr]

The passenger side seat on a 98 Wrangler with manual controls. It reclines when it shouldn't . It won't lock down in position. Is this a common problem. Any ideas on what to check? Why is one of 4 hold down bolts a Torx type while other 3 are hex?

 

[Tree Hugger]

I don't know why the bolts are different, but my rear outside bolt is TORX and the rest are hex heads...

As to the reclining, there's a lever to release the recline mechanism to allow the seat to slide and fold forward for easier entry to the back sest. If this jams, it can cause this result. When that mechanism works right, it allows the seat to be pushed back into position and automatically reclined to the same position it was in, but only if you push the bottom of the seat back, not the backrest...

It's not a common problem, though.

 

[Gary Allan]

The mechanisms vary too. On my wife's 99, one of the pull tethers broke, but you can still get the "extended forward" slide of the whole seat carriage by just pushing from the back of the seat. On my '02, which my youngest daughter and her best friend wore out both of the tethers by YANKING instead of just pulling, that utility isn't apparent. I really need to replace them ..someday ..maybe.

 

[Jim Spahr]

I posted this about my dau's jeep- she says by jiggling the release lever (see above ) she can now get the seat back to lock, but it still is not locked in the rails. IOW the seat will slide forward when you stop.

 

[Jim Spahr]

RE:Jeep passenger side seat is broken and slides forward and back when you ride in it. It is made to have a release lever to allow it to slide forward and fold up at the same time to allow access to the rear seat, so the seat mechanism is pretty sophisticated. We finally pulled the entire seat out and turned it upside down to have a look. We finally found a bolt jammed in the locking mechanism which wouldn't allow the seat to go forward completely and lock. No more rock and roll. In searching the net, a lot of Jeep Wrangler owners have had a common problem with a broken cable from the release to the seat mechanism. If that is your problem, search the Jeep forums.

 

[Jim Spahr]

To remove the Jeep Wrangler pass. side seat from the car, you just have to remove 4 bolts. Three are 1/2" or 13mm. The forth bolt is a Torx head and is T-50, IIRC. If you have the broken cable syndrome as described by Gary Allen above, Google Jeep 4 by 4 forum for an excellent write up on a step by step repair for that common problem for the Jeep Wrangler. I think the cable is 35.00 but is not listed in the Jeep dealer's diagrams. The writer has a part no. for you to take to the parts dealer counter. Also , one suggestion is to go to a bike shop and get a cable the correct length and you will pay only 2.00! Take the old cable with you so you get the right configuration.