Hi 98 SC2. 140K miles.
The passenger seat mechanism which re-locks the seat track back into position after someone flips the seat forward for back seat entry, is worn out, now working inconsistently.
I’ve included pics of the worn mech.

How it seems to work:
There is a like stationary flex metal flag which stands up and catches and so triggers a lever, when moving the seat back into position. Which releases the metal fingers to engage and re-lock the fingers into the seat rail track.
But they are both like worn, mostly the lever hook, and so not engaging each other anymore.
I can’t see an easy fix for this, besides replacing the whole seat track with a non worn one from the salvage yard OR perhaps welding some metal to recreate more of a hook-tip back onto the lever that the metal flag is supposed to engage flip.

Q. Does anyone know of the best fix? Any particular model years this design might have been improved or?

I suppose I’ll try welding a tip back first since I do have a welder and some experience.

Thanks

 

I believe that is a failure area for many two door cars. It is based upon how many times the function is used. Some cars rarely have rear seat passengers, that is why a two door car was purchased in the first place. If you have a repair solution for the failure then I would proceed. However you might be able to find a seat in a wrecking yard that has had very little use. I have kids so I always purchase multi slammer cars and Suburbans as the kids got bigger. I now have a Navigator and a crewcab pickup. LOL

 

Thanks for the input. Luckily enough there was a 1998 and a 2002 which both the hook had not been worn away on the catch mechanism.
Both appeared to be in good condition. I chose to use the seat track from the 2002 since it might be the least worn because it has the wonderful third door behind the drivers door.
I’ve included pictures below.
I only needed and took the inbound track which had the needed the mechanism factory riveted to it. It was reasonably easy to remove from the seat.
A requires an 8 mm socket to remove the four seat to floor bolts. They will be tight if never removed because of the oem blue Loctite, but I didn’t need to heat the bolts with a small lighter torch. Since it’s blue lock tide and not red you can muscle through it and not damage the bolts. Definitely no reason to add Loctite when reinstalling its complete overkill.
Then tip the detached seat over.
Use a small screwdriver to remove the C clip, keep the tiny clip. You might need it if you lose yours during installation. From the underside steel a cross cable. Detached one end of the different looking a cross cable. use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws for the plastic beauty cover.Then Use 13 mm socket to remove the four side bolts which attach the track to the seat.
My salvage yard charges for the female seatbelt attached to this track so to avoid this use a 15 mm socket to remove the seatbelt you don’t need.
I guess the previous owner of my car had kids a lot.
I greased the flag and hook and oiled the rivets mechanism when installing the track so hopefully they won’t wear out anytime soon.

 

Now there's something you don't see every day.

Sticky time ( for document the removal steps AND being cool enough to come back and post them)

 

Nice job and write up. Kudos to you for derf making it a sticky!