Info needed on 2nd Row "Flip and Fold Seat"

[bobinyelm]

We have a 2007 Yukon which we bought brand new that we didn't know had "Power Flip and Fold 2nd row seating."

My wife found out when she attempted to turn on a map light, and our 20 pound grandson was ejected from the seat (thankfully, we had just gotten in so his seat belt was not yet on).

We went to the dealer and first they said no such feature existed, and after I showed the service advisor what happens by actually pushing the button, he asked someone else, then came back and said there was a sensor that would have prevented this from happening with someone in the seat. He demonstrated by sitting back there and my wife pressed the button.

The seat kicked him pretty hard (but didn't eject him).

He suggested that if we were still nervous, we just put a piece of red tape over the switch, but my wife is nervous about another grandchild pushing the button just because of the red tape.

His response was that we should just leave the seat folded when we carry the grandkids, and put them in the 3rd row seats, since they cannot possibly do this. Obviously this is a dumb solution (at least in our minds).

I am wondering if there is a way to disable this feature (pull a fuse, disconnect the switch, or the motors themselves)? The service guy said they are not authorized to do such things, so couldn't help us.

We have never WANTED to fold the seat, but if we DID disable the electric feature, is there a manual back-up to fold it manually if for some reason the electric folding function is broken, or is disabled?

This is a rather dangerous device in my mind!

Thanks,
Bob

 

[StevenFromTexas]

Since I'm not in a very good mood with the OnStar fiasco and the removal of cabin air filters in Tahoes, try filing a complaint with the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission if someone doesn't come up with a satisfactory answer for your problem: http://www.cpsc.gov/ .

 

[jd08]

I have it in my Tahoe. There is a switch in the overhead console and there is a switch on each side of the seat by the seat belt. Only thing I can think of is disconnect the switches.

Also I flip up my seats all the time manually so you should not have any worries.

 

[bobinyelm]

I have it in my Tahoe. There is a switch in the overhead console and there is a switch on each side of the seat by the seat belt. Only thing I can think of is disconnect the switches.

Also I flip up my seats all the time manually so you should not have any worries.

Just curious if you have ever accidentally activated your overhead switch (the one my wife hit by mistake) with anyone actually in the rear seat?

And if so, did it try to launch them like an ejection seat, or is there indeed a sensor in the seat to prevent this?The local dealership said they'd never worked on the system, so other than figuring it HAD such a sensor, he didn't know anything about it (which I thought was rather poor form).

If we have a bad sensor, I'd just as soon fix THAT rather than disconnecting switches everywhere.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[jd08]

I just went out and sat in the rear seat and hit the rear switches and it made the noise and tried to fold twice. But it did not move me at all.

 

[ghoster]

My 2011 has the power folding seats, but they have deleted that button on the overhead console. The only buttons to activate the fold are by the seat belts in the rear, right where someone in the 3rd row would need them to be to get out. Seems like you should be able to pull the power to the motors or the switches without too much hassle.

---------- Post added at 09:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 PM ----------

I just looked at my owners manual, it looks like if you pull fuse #1 in the fuse block on the inside of the truck it should kill the rear seats.

 

[bobinyelm]

Thanks, guys!

I'll go try the fuse tomorrow. Our book was removed in a dealership visit when they said it was misplaced when they were going to validate an inspection. I should order another, or look for one on ebay.

I guess it's normal for the seat to TRY to operate even w/ someone sitting there-I'd have thought there'd be a sensor to stop it from trying-maybe they use a clutch mechanism that slips with weight in the seat. Perhaps our grandson didn't have enough mass to keep the seat in place as the service rep and "ghoster" did.

Thanks, all.

I feel kind of dumb having had the car not knowing what the switch on the overhead did!

 

[ghoster]

I think if you go to the Chevrolet site and sign in to the owners area you can download a copy of your owners manual.

---------- Post added at 12:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:12 AM ----------

If you go to this link you can download a pdf verision of your owners manual. I would go crazy without my owners manual!

http://www.extendedgmwarranty.com/owners-manual/gmc_owner_manuals.html

 

[domin8]

I know the sensor for the front passenger airbags only detects weight that exceed 50 pounds. I wonder if the folding seat feature is the same way. I can't test it out as my seats are manually operated.

Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using Tapatalk

 

[02Lightning]

I thought the seats were just spring loaded and the switch released a latch for the back and then a latch for the bottom?

 

[ghoster]

I thought the seats were just spring loaded and the switch released a latch for the back and then a latch for the bottom?

Yes, they are mostly spring loaded. There is some sort of motorized mechanism that releases the latch's. If he can pull power from the electric part of the latch's, he won't accidentally eject his grandson.

I played with mine this morning. The struts seem to be made so that they can only lift the weight of an empty seat..... +/- a little. I put a 10 lb weight in the seat to test it. The seat back flipped down as it should (which shouldn't eject a child in a proper car seat) then the latch released as its supposed to. With the weight on the seat, the strut wasn't strong enough to flip the seat up.

So my conclusion is, if the child is properly belted in to a child safety seat, the position of the child safety seat alone will prevent the seat from releasing. If the back of the seat doesn't fold flat in the first motion, the latch's will NEVER release, so the seat can't fold up. If your seat does attempt to flip up with the back in the upright position, then you do in fact have a malfunction.

Any child that is 20 lbs MUST be in a child safety seat by law. If that seat is properly belted in, and the seat is functioning properly, the child safety seat will prevent the auto fold and flip function from happening.

Also, I don't have a way to test this now, but I suspect that these buttons will only function when the vehicle is stopped. Just like the power lift gate.

 

[GM Customer Service]

Bobinyelm,
If you would like to send me your name and VIN number I can do my best to exhaust my resources and see what I can find out for you.
Breanne
GM Customer Service

 

[THE YETI]

20lb Grandson? My son is 30lbs and 3years old and in a carseat? I cannot imagine having a 20lb child without a carseat... but anywhoo... I would certainly disconnect the switch.

Glad your grandson was okay and not seriously injured.