HI, I.ve recently tried taking off my 2004 seat backrest in an effort to dislodge all the water that has somehow gotten into the driver's side rear area. I searched all manner of places and forums and finally fond the description PLUS photos to remove my rear seat. Without he photos, I wouldn't have know what to try from the other explanations. That's fine but now I have to take off the seat backrest. I have the JTIS 21 that covers the 2004 and it has the area about removing the seat backrest, BUT it is cryptic with only a very few words like those used to describe removing the seat bottom. I've tried this fora few hours now and while I can pull the webbed lanyard to seemingly release the spring loaded catch I and my wife could not pull the seat backrest down. If anyone has a picture of the latches on the back and a more detailed account of how to do it, please let me know. It looks like I'll be at this for a few more days as I try and remove things and let them dry out in the sun or with the aid of a ceramic heater.

BTW, anybody have any idea why this apparently undisturbed area of the car would let water in and the other similar places not?

TIA. Best regards, Brian

 

Had mine off the other week, unfortunately I did not take any photos. It should simply be a matter of pulling down (pull straight down, not out) on the strap. 0.5 inch of travel is all that is required to release the top latch. Pull the seat back from the top edge, as the bottom is on a hinged pin. It is helpful to have a 2nd person to pull the opposite side so you can get both sides released and pull at the same time. Otherwise one side is popping out and then latching again when you move to the other side.