Headrest Issue.

Handle placement is supposed to be to the left of both rear headrests - which lets me know they are facing the correct way. I also swapped left and right rear headrests with no luck. After work tomorrow, I'll see if WD-40 on the posts will help any... a little frustrated right now.

 

This is common.

I've not seen a "fix."

 

Forgive me for the bump, but I know I'm not the only one who's going to run into this issue. As we all contribute our findings or "fixes" for problems, I believe we can individually contribute to this forum.

Here is my update:
Problems noted after leather install. (You can also see the rear center headrest is not flush as well.)

I began to remove the plastic posts to further investigate...

And found the root of the problem...

If you look carefully, there are tabs halfway down that hold the posts in place within the frame. (I am NOT referring to the adjusting metal tab. Look down further to the plastic tabs that stand in the way.) These tabs also act against our favor when they do not completely spring back out upon complete removal of the plastic post or headrest.

Here is another view as to what the tabs should look like IF it was mounted inside the frame. (Best picture I could do to demonstrate this was to slide plastic posts on rear center headrest while out of seat frame.)


Notice how the center tabs stick out - which would hold the plastic posts in place. This is its proper position but they get pushed back in upon install, or in most cases, when people remove the headrest.

Upon my next free oil change service from the dealership, I brought this problem up to the customer service advisor. He insisted that a little silicone would help re-installation. Of course they tried something I already did and it didn't work! After another kind complaint from yours truly, they then came to the same conclusion I had previously come to: that the plastic post tabs do not spring out like they should. The manager said he would "goodwill" the parts for the center headrest. After the next weeks appointment, the center headrest was flush.

Let's not claim victory just yet, I have to see if the other headrests will go down flush when they come back. If they do not, I'll have to order more plastic posts. (The headrests are now on their way back from TW member John Huey.) I will post pictures of the entire set up over on his thread. He has been extremely helpful through the install.

 

Sorry for bumping this but how were you able to remove the plastic posts? Im trying to do this on a first gen but the design looks the same from what i can tell. The only way I ever heard was to disassemble the seats so you could get to them. Thanks

 

I tried to scan the forums really quick so I could come up with a 1st gen related answer for you - failed. All I can say, is that these headrest "guide brackets" pop right out with a little force when it comes to 2nd gen. I ended up slipping a long neck screwdriver under the plastic post and pried it right up.

Let me know if you tried this and if it works for a 1st gen as well. These types of posts help people. I know I searched high and low for my questions at original post. Surely, this can help others as well...

 

Ok, thanks. The design looks the same for the first gen as far as I can remember, I could just never reach the tabs to press them in. I will give it a go this weekend and report back. Posts on topics like these seem pretty rare so if i can figure it out maybe it can help the next guy

 

So I finally got around to messing with the headrest posts on my 1st gen and you really just have to get tough with it. I ended up having to twist it 90 degrees then pull up to pop it off, but doing this sheared off an indexing post that keeps it from spinning when mounted.
This is a pic when I first got it off:

Here you can see the indexing tab that basically got sheared off:

And it fits into a slot in the metal tube of the seat:

Once I got the piece out I just used a sharp knife to cut off the damaged portion and the post went right back in. There was enough friction that i didn't have to worry about it spinning but if it gives me trouble in the future it can easily be hot-glued in place or something. I will make a separate tutorial for these in 1st gens but just thought I would share my findings here like i had promised.

 

You were right all along. The design is very similar. Glad you could get them out.

 

You don't actually show the headrest post itself, but it appears it must be rounded on the ends, hanging up on the tabs.

Wonder if grinding the rounded post ends to more of a spike, would get beyond the tabs during initial headrest insertion, and force the tabs back as the headrest fully slipped down?

 

Wow, I never considered modifying the metal posts. Maybe that would have assisted the installation as well.

I'm just glad the problem is now over with. One pair of plastic posts were replaced by the dealership. The inner tube tabs from other 4 plastic pairs of posts met the end of my long neck screwdriver. As the plastic slowly started shaving away on the screwdriver, I was able to install the other headrests. The spring release metal tab still holds the headrest in place, so all is still safe. Small headache, but easy once you figure it out.