I have a 2007 S2000. The cable that is connected to the lever that allows you to move the seat has broken. I can't remove the seat because one of the bolts that holds the seat to the floor is covered by the seat track. I can't fit a socket over it, and there is not enough room to do it with a box end wrench.

I went to one dealer. He says that it can do it, but wants $356 in labor. That seem high to me. ($200 would be ok.)

Looking at a diagram from the 2000 to 2003 shop manual, it looks like the seat is attached to the rails with four bolts, though they might not be easy to reach. Does anyone know whether the seat can be removed this way?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

 

I'd get the help of a friend to find a picture or diagram of the seat upside down and pull the wire by hand, moving it forward.. If you cant get to the bottom bolts how do you expect to get to the upper (rail to seats) bolts? If all else fails, you COULD drill out the bolts from the bottom and use a locking nut/double nut a regular bolt afterwards.

 

I never tried this, but if mine was broken, this is what I would do.

Learn how the lever works. Reach underneath the good seat. Follow the cable to the side away from the lever. Reach with one hand until you get to the end. Pull the level with the other hand and if you are feeling the part that moves, then you are at the end. If not, keep groping and tugging until you learn what's down there.

After you have a good understanding, loosen whichever bolts you can, if any. If you can't, then you'll just have to move the seat twice. If you can tie down or secure the lever it might help, otherwise, you'll just have to hold it or have someone else hold it. Then after the lever is depressed, you need to reach to the end of where the cable should be and manually retract that. You should be able to slide the seat forwards.

You might need a tool to wedge in place and use as a lever because it's a pretty strong spring you're fighting. If this doesn't work, I suggest removing the good seat in order to determine a new course of action. This thread has some pictures of seat removal.

 

All you need is some needle nose pliers, maybe a long flathead screwdriver, either to grab the wire before the break to release the locks one at a time or to push the locking tab up and out of the channel so the seat will slide forward. Its a simple enough mechanism, it just requires some finesse and flexibility on your part, and you will have to "hop" the seat up one channel lock at a time.

 

Thanks. There are some good ideas here. Keep 'em coming.

 

Get the skinniest guy you know to help you because there's no room for a normal sized arm under those seats.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions. I bought a 14mm offset box end at Sears, and I'm able to loosen the bolt. It is going to take awhile to remove, but it looks like it is going to work.

 

The Vise Grips are an awesome idea.