Bed Stuck

[ElDioude35000]

Thanks a million @Shuftie once again for this post and the detailed explainations for the T6.1 (note to T6.1 owners, a lot of other older posts refer to older California versions where mechanism is different) !

My bed got stuck as well in the Portuguese countryside, beginning of the holidays, with 2 kids at the back to drive ... looked like the perfect recipe for a spoilt holidays until I eventually found your post ! Spent 3 weeks using my beloved screwdriver to unfolder/fold the bed but we could continue our trip ...

Posting a shot video showing the issue and the work around to unlock it as explained before.

Appointment is now booked at VW in Sept to get it fixed. How was this fixed at your end folks ? What is an easy fix ? On my side it is one of the 2 latch that is not "responding" anymore when pulling the strap. Let's see, but

 

[Detritus]

glad to hear you managed to continue your holiday - @Shuftie I think there are several family holidays that owe you a lot of thanks, not least mine!
@ElDioude35000 mine went into local VW garage not long before our holiday this week and they said it was the cable has failed. Post was on back order so had to wait a week for it to come in, but was then a relatively quick fix and cost a few hundred in total.
However, we then went on holiday and two days in it failed again! So back to using my tool for releasing it. But then for extra fun on the morning we were moving from one side of France to the other the mechanism was extra stiff to operate and my tool snapped! No shops for miles around to buy a replacement, 2 hours until we had to be off the site, and a 7 hour drive ahead of me if I could fix it! Cue much searching through my kit to find something else that would fit through the gap and was strong enough - several things ended up just bending. Eventually found something, got on the road and made a detour to buy a selection of suitable screwdrivers !
Van has since been back into the garage who said the part has failed so covered under the past warranty. It’s on back order again (so I’m assuming there is a high demand!!!) so currently waiting for it to come in so I can take the van back to get it fitted.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Thank you for these helpful posts. I have added three different flat head screw drivers to my car tool kit - as a precaution.

 

[Alison C]

Arrgh! I joined the 'Bench Stuck in the Bed Position' club over the weekend. Gave the strap a tug, and after the usual 'clunk' - nothing. Cue an hour of frustration trying to get the bench back in it's usual position. Tried moving the bench on the rails, pushing and pulling on the bench back, and even pulled out the multiflex to see if anything was stuck back there.

View attachment 49355

I read a few helpful threads on the forum and it was clear something had gone wrong with the bench mechanism, but I wasn't really in a position to start taking it all to bits - besides, it's still under warranty.

So I eventually managed to find the mechanism that keeps the bench locked 'down', and pry it free. I took some photos of the process in hope that it'll be useful to anyone else with a stuck bench!

First, pull up the seat cushion - reach into the gap where the bench release strap comes from and pull up and back toward the driver's seat - the bench cushion will hinge from the front.

View attachment 49358

You might need to remove the webbing strap on the right hand (kitchen) side that prevents the bench cushion from fully opening - this is easily done with a short screwdriver with a posidrive bit, or a pair of scissors I suppose.

View attachment 49359

When you have the bench cushion up, you will be able to see the slider arms that the bench back slides on to form the bed position - there is one on each side, left and right. At the bottom of each f these slider arms there is a locking latch. It's this locking latch that causes the bench to be stuck in the bed position. It's next to the cross headed screw in the photo below.


View attachment 49361

It's possible to slide a medium flat headed screwdriver behind this pin, and move it upward into the slider arm which will enable the bench backrest to move freely again. If it's stiff to move it, put your bodyweight on the bench back (kneel on it) and it should free up the tension on the latch to enable you to move it.

View attachment 49360

If you're able to successfully pop the latch upwards toward the screw, then you should hear a 'click' and the bench backrest will able to return to it's 'seat' position again! Phew!

View attachment 49362

I hope this is useful, and saves someone else the pain of wondering how to get the bench back into 'seat' mode, after it gets stuck!

Thank you so much for posting these detailed instructions and photos. I joined the ‘bed stuck club’ last week whilst away and after two days of frustration finally managed to release the side that was stuck and got the seat back upright - albeit in the slightly reclined position.
I have been searching the forum in the hope of finding a way to fix the problem so I can use the bed again. (Thankfully, I generally sleep ‘upstairs’, whilst the dog is ‘downstairs’).
I was pleased to read the VW Van Centre in Edinburgh had been able to quickly fix the issue for @suzanne1 and am hopeful that in my case it’s a simple fix. But having read about so many different experiences and garages not seeming to have experience of how to repair it, resulting in hefty bills (if not under warranty, (which mine isn’t, being 10 years old), I’d really appreciate some advice about how to remove the back of the seat to check out the mechanism. Can anyone help, please?
I am booked on the ferry to the Outer Hebrides (I am currently on Skye) on Wednesday and would like to get this resolved before I go, or know that I need to change my plans to get the bed sorted first.