New member and owner. 5th seat stuck. HELP!!!

[Gavem]

Hello everyone. We’ve just taken ownership of our T5 California. Firstly. These forums and this website are amazing. What a great resource.

However. We’ve got a stuck 5th seat. There has already been a thread about this subject which related to a bar missing on the lever system under the seat. Our issue doesn’t appear to be that. The chair won’t slide more than 1 inch forward or back. So I can’t take off the end rail covers as the chair is currently sat on top. If anyone can help I’d be extremely grateful. Thanks

I’ve attached some photos. We’re located in Bedfordshire. Any recommendations of someone (garage, mechanic) who may be able to help with our Cali would be also very helpful.

 

[Wish]

Likewise South Bedfordshire… sadly MK VW van centre isn’t great on the camper side of things (own admission). I hope you work it out soon

 

[Drpps]

Was the seat in when you bought it?
I wonder if it was put in for sale but the bed positioning stopper is still in the kitchen-side floor rail. Not seen it before but that was my first thought. That would stop it moving back and the covers stop it moving forward. The covers can be force fitted back end first but much harder to get out that way.
If so then slide the seat the inch back it will move, and try to lever up both the covers at the rear-most edge. There is a flap to push in on the leading/rear edge to release the catch. A right angle tent peg should reach it even if there is only a cm to spare.Once that back edge has cleared the silver bit they can come out forwards/up on a slot in the cover.you might need a spatula or screw driver to lever it upwards. .

once you get it out the bed positioning stopper is to set bed position and can be removed. It is only for positioning not to stop the seat moving.
Hopefully that works.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Put a long screwdriver through the rubber dust flaps and check for any obstruction at the rear / tailgate end of the van, which might me preventing the seat from sliding backwards.

From the photos I don’t think It’s designed to slide that far forwards, so get above the seat, pull the release lever and use a bit of elbow grease / brute force whilst shaking the seat to get it to slide backwards. Might be easier to have them seat back up to give more leverage. Hopefully it will drop back into the runner and then slide.

 

[OceanView2023]

California Chris has a video on You Tube dated 9 Dec 23 which shows the 5th seat removal from a 6.1 & mentions the difference to the T6. Not sure if it would be of any help to you, but could be worth a watch. (He also has a more recent video from April 25 but that is putting the 5th seat into the van)

 

[Stargazing]

Agree with @Ch1pbutty re: get above the seat (ie) sit on it and rock it whilst pulling the lever up fully - will need some muscle. It would be worth spraying the rails and under seat mech as well first.
Have you tried teasing the end cap up from the driver's seat side with a plastic trim tool?

 

[Drpps]

I can’t quite orientate the pictures but it does look like what I think is the front right roller isn’t quite on the rail in the right place and the rubber is deformed beneath it. There is also gubbins in the trim at that edge. Could something be jamming it there?

 

[Gavem]

Thanks so much for your reply. I think that was indeed the issue. I did however (not sure how) get the end rail covers off. Thanks long screwdriver! And it happily slid forward and then out.

 

[Gavem]

I can’t quite orientate the pictures but it does look like what I think is the front right roller isn’t quite on the rail in the right place and the rubber is deformed beneath it. There is also gubbins in the trim at that edge. Could something be jamming it there? View attachment 138042

I can’t quite orientate the pictures but it does look like what I think is the front right roller isn’t quite on the rail in the right place and the rubber is deformed beneath it. There is also gubbins in the trim at that edge. Could something be jamming it there? View attachment 138042

Thanks so much for your reply. I think that was indeed the issue. I did however (not sure how) get the end rail covers off. Thanks long screwdriver! And it happily slid forward and then out.

 

[Drpps]

Thanks so much for your reply. I think that was indeed the issue. I did however (not sure how) get the end rail covers off. Thanks long screwdriver! And it happily slid forward and then out.

Great. Pleased you got it out! So was it the stopper in the rail?

 

[Gavem]

Was the seat in when you bought it?
I wonder if it was put in for sale but the bed positioning stopper is still in the kitchen-side floor rail. Not seen it before but that was my first thought. That would stop it moving back and the covers stop it moving forward. The covers can be force fitted back end first but much harder to get out that way.
If so then slide the seat the inch back it will move, and try to lever up both the covers at the rear-most edge. There is a flap to push in on the leading/rear edge to release the catch. A right angle tent peg should reach it even if there is only a cm to spare.Once that back edge has cleared the silver bit they can come out forwards/up on a slot in the cover.you might need a spatula or screw driver to lever it upwards. .

once you get it out the bed positioning stopper is to set bed position and can be removed. It is only for positioning not to stop the seat moving.
Hopefully that works.

Thanks so much. Got it sorted with the peg idea. A long screwdriver did it eventually

 

[Gavem]

Great. Pleased you got it out! So was it the stopper in the rail?

Yes. Looks like it. Thanks so much