Seat lever broken

My passenger side seat handle (the one that lets you tilt the back) broke. Does anyone know if I have to replace the whole seat or is it fixable separately? I can't see any way to fix it- at least looking at it with seat in place. It is a 2003 XLT, std cab .

 

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Welcome to the forum! That should be a plastic handle, should be able to replace just the handle itself. Try lifting the skirting by the handle, its easier to work on if you pull the seat out and flip it over. See if its screwed on like the newer style seats. If you can, post pics of it here and we can guide you through the fix

 

Handles metal, and I just broke the driver side one on mine yesterday...I havent really looked to see if its repalceable yet or not.

 

Thanks for the welcome and quick response!
It would make sense for the handle to be replaceable. I'm afraid to pull up upholstry until I know what I'm doing. Even with mirror and light can't see any fasteners on handle shaft- just shaft going into release mechanism. If it screws off you think it could be a reverse thread? There is no plastic skirting just cloth cover that goes under and inside where it is tacked or glued. Will pull seat out as suggested and see what I can from underside.
I notice that the seat hold down fasteners seem a little different (looser) than my torx of that size. Are these something like special "star drive" or something other than torx? Just don't want to crank on them and maybe strip out heads.
On pics I'll have to get my son to help me upload them. I'm barely computer literate outside of e-mail.

 

Lol...I am not too well versed in computers myself, thank god for kids huh?! The seats are held in with a standard Torx size, Only four bolts to remove BUT make sure you disconnect the airbag sensor wiring under neath so you dont stretch the wiring. Once you get the seat out, you will see how the handle is attached. I upgraded my seats so I cant even remember what mine looked like now lol. If you run into a problem with the Torx bolts try using the next size up. Sometimes if air tools are used to remove them, they can strip out. I suggest a standard ratchet and breaker bar to take them out

 

Seats should be a 5/8 bolt shouldnt they? The Torx bolt is what holds down the buckle assebly Either way...they're a bitch to get out. Good luck!

 

Yes, some were but from what I remember pulling some seats at the yards, there were some torx bolts, I even have spares just in case. I could be wrong, maybe some were swapped into torx bolts, I've stripped a few trying to get them out lol

 

you can take the seat apart to remove the foam and cover and weld it back on, I had to do this to a friends truck

 

Ah I should look into this my passenger handle is broken, the plastic dry-rotted.

 

Checked with the dealer and the part is available for about $60. So now I know for sure it is servicable separately. I think I'll go junking tomorrow to see if I can find compatable seat assy and try to remove there. I'll find out how difficult it is to change out. Might be the W/E before I can get out to some yards.

 

Thats good news!! Where are you located Dan?

 

I'm in Adrian MI (between Jackson MI and Toledo OH, SW of Detroit). A little research into the fastener drive type makes me think the 4 seat hold down bolt heads are Torx-Plus on my '03. I tried the standard torx T-55 I have and it broke one loose okay, but I wouldn't want to put much force on it. The std torx has sharper points than the torx plus which is more rounded with deeper (straighter sided teeth if that makes any sense) inset points.

 

I hear ya on the torx thing! I've broken a few at the junkyard myself! Good luck at the junkyard

 

Here is what I've found out so far:


1) Took the day off to go junking. Found several seats but all were in too bad of shape to be any good to me. All mechanisms I looked at were rusted up and I wouldn't put those on even if I could. Would have been a waste of time except finding out how it worked by getting a good look from the underneath. The upholstery is held on the bottom with plastic clips sewn into the fabric. So the cover comes off and internals are accesable.

2) Called about twenty yards in three states (MI, IN & OH) with no luck. The junkers tell me Ranger seats very hard to find (must be many others with similar problems) and none liked the idea of me distroying a seat just for this part. (can't blame them there). I don't think I could find a seat of the right color and material and in as good condition as mine anyway so buying a seat is out of the question.

3) Back to the dealership. They had the wrong part number yesterday. The plastic shaft that is broken is not replaceable- It is the entire recliner mechanism that must be replaced at $170.

4) The part has recently been discontinued by Ford but the parts guy found one left in stock in Wisconsin. I bought it.

5) Good luck all others who might have similar problem. Ford designed this part poorly ie. The outside handle itself in plastic was fine but the separate shaft into the mechanism needed to be steel. Now Ford does not support with replacements. Good thing I'm a fan of all the other aspects of my Ranger or I'd be looking to trade it in before something like this bites me in the ass again.

6)I'll try to post some pics of the old part.

 

Good lord dan!! Did you pay the 170 for that part? If it were me I would have just swapped in Explorer buckets and a center console!

 

As often is the case I didn't take time to look for all options just got in a hurry and wanted to get it fixed. Also not sure I could have found Explorer seats any easier than Ranger seat. I saw another good idea though- that is to take any color/fabric seat and just change covers with my own. That might have helped getting a decent seat with working mechanism. There again though I didn't find ANY seats worth having for less than $100 each and if I got two (with console) that would be about what I'm paying. You guys are much better at custom work than I am. I just want to keep my truck looking and working its best in original config. Thanks for all the thoughts.

 

I completely understand. I had my old seats, same as yours, in my garage when I upgraded. They sat there for a year and no one wanted anything from them so I threw them away!!! Is the lever attached to the frame base? I have them somewhere and may have it so I will look later. Maybe I have the part, I didnt even think about those bases

 

Oh damn! By my experience and splitting the difference, those could have been worth $80 ea.for each of us! But I'm learning that one can't keep everything around that *may* have value later. My garage all ready gets so full with speculative accumulation that I can barely move. It might be better to try Craig's List or Ebay for a week or so before dumping stuff. I'm just so far behind in the information age I don't think of those things in time.

 

I hear ya! Feel free to list miscellaneous things for sale here, its not just for Ranger stuff and ya never know...it may sell here!

 

Got the seat back fixed. see pic of broken part- (attachment because I haven't figured out how to bring it into the body of the post.). The break is pushed back so the fracture zone is visable. Have one more pic while part was being removed when I can get it uploaded from another phone.