Front Seat Backrest - 20 Percent: Removal

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Ford Pickup, 2003 Ford F550 Super Duty, 2003 Ford F450 Super Duty, 2003 Ford Excursion, and 2003 Ford Cab & Chassis. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: Always wear safety glasses when repairing an air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) vehicle and when handling an airbag module. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.

WARNING: After deployment, the air bag surface can contain deposits of sodium hydroxide, a product of the gas generant combustion that is irritating to the skin. Wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.

WARNING: Never probe the connectors on the air bag module. Doing so can result in air bag deployment, which can result in personal injury.

WARNING: The safety belt buckle pretensioner and safety belt retractor pretensioner are pyrotechnic devices. Always wear safety glasses when repairing an air bag equipped vehicle and when handling a safety belt buckle pretensioner or safety belt retractor pretensioner.

WARNING: The safety belt buckle pretensioner and safety belt retractor pretensioner are pyrotechnic devices. Never probe pretensioner electrical connectors. Doing so could result in pretensioner or air bag deployment and could result in personal injury.

Vehicles without seat integrated restraints (SIR)

Remove the front seat. Refer to FRONT SEAT - 20 Percent .
Vehicles with SIR
Disconnect the battery ground cable (14301) and wait at least one minute. Refer to BATTERY, MOUNTING AND CABLES .
WARNING: To avoid accidental deployment and possible personal injury, the backup power supply must be depleted before repairing or replacing any front or side air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) components and before servicing, replacing, adjusting or striking components near the front or side air bag sensors, such as doors, instrument panel, console, door latches, strikers, seats and hood latches.

The side impact sensors are located at or near the base of the B-pillar.

To deplete the backup power supply energy, disconnect the battery ground cable and wait at least one minute. Be sure to disconnect auxiliary batteries and power supplies (if equipped).
Deactivate the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Refer to Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Deactivation and Reactivation .
WARNING: To reduce the risk of serious personal injury, read and follow all warnings, cautions, notes, and instructions in the supplemental restraint system (SRS) deactivation/reactivation procedure.
Remove the front seat. Refer to FRONT SEAT - 20 Percent .
WARNING: To reduce the risk of serious personal injury, read and follow all warnings, cautions, notes, and instructions in the seat removal and installation procedure.

All vehicles
Remove the LH trim panel.
NOTE: The top of the LH trim panel is press fit onto the top of the bracket.
1. Release the safety belt guide by pulling out the pin-type retainers.
2. Remove the two screws.
  
  Fig 1: Removing Two Screws
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Pry the RH trim cover from the attachment tabs.

Fig 2: Prying Rh Trim Cover From Attachment Tabs
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the right side seat trim.
NOTE: The right side seat trim panels are mounted to the seat adjuster with pin-type retainers.
1. Remove the upper seat trim.
2. Remove the lower seat trim.
  
  Fig 3: Removing Seat Trim
  Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the seat backrest mounting bolts from the right side of the seat backrest latch bracket.

Fig 4: Removing Seat Backrest Mounting Bolts From Right Side Of Seat Backrest Latch Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the seat backrest mounting bolt from the left side of the seat backrest mounting bracket.

Fig 5: Removing Seat Backrest Mounting Bolt From Left Side Of Seat Backrest Mounting Bracket
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the seat backrest.