marmer

Let's try that again.

AlistairW

looking at the ETKA diagram, that matches the bolster in 2003 model. Did you actually take the bolster off, or just twist it upwards, so you could get access to the latch from below.

I was following your instructions, but couldn't see how to disconnect top of bolster, as seemed to be fixed to trim where seatbelt comes out.

Al

marmer

I took mine all the way off by lifting and twisting. It has a metal loop which fits over a recessed tab near the seat belt thing. It's not clear from ETKA what that little circle on the bolster is -- could it be necessary to unscrew the pin that the seat latches to? Or is it just a little clip that fits over something? Can you fold the other side and see?

AlistairW

That's part of the trouble I'm having getting at the latch. I've a retractable luggage cover taht fits across the back seats, which stops me folding the seats down. And the only way to take it off is with the seats down!

I'll have another go at getting the boster off tomorrow - it is too wet here just now!

Thanks again

Al

Kjeld

Where could I find replacement for plastic handle

Mine broke as well I have an Audi a4 2002 and would like that piece replaced as glue won't be enough.

Thanks in advance!

marmer

Kjeld, you are probably going to have to go to a dealer and get the whole cover assembly. The plastic handle is not a separate part. Once you get it apart you will kinda see why.

Mine wound up being a different part # than the one in ETKA or the one on the part itself. You can try ECS tuning if you can get a good part #, maybe.

Mine was about 80-something $ US at the dealer.

WilliamM

Attached is a photo showing the disassembled release lever.
I think the simplest way to get this out is to;

1. Access the back of the seat through the loadbay,

2. Release the seat back by using a fairly large flatblade screwdriver, use the flat of the blade, insert it about 1/3 of the way from the top of the seat latching recess and pull/lever upwards this should pop the latch and allow the seatback to swing forwards.

3. The release lever assembly is held in place by a two fasteners
- a torx head screw under the release lever
- a phillips head screw by the latch point
If your release lever is broken, then you can get at the Torx screw,(if you are trying to remove this and the lever is not broken it should be possible to disengage the lever but it will be fiddly. Look at the pics to see how its held in.)

!! If reassembling then don't put the release lever into place until you have screwed the rest of it back onto the seat.

Disengaging the lever without removing the main seat fitting.
- The assembly is not designed to make removal of the lever easy.
It is retained by three one-way clips which are moulded into the seat fitting, one of which is under the lever (!)

To release the two clips that you can access (relatively) easily.
1. To understand where the clips are located, first look at the lever from above. Using the arm of the lever as the clockface 12 o'clock position, the clips are at approx 4 and 8 o'clock.

2. Using a thin screwdriver between the lever arm and the seat fitting your should be able to spring these clips.

3. The lever will now be held by the third clip which is under the lever, this is quite easy to break. The clips hooks onto a seat which is a continuation of the circular shape of the lever arm with a gap in the moulding towards the back of the lever arm. This can move towards the centre of the lever arm pivot point if you can find a way of getting under the lever.

DennisOz

I broke my S4 B5 Avant ('99) latch handle for the second time in 3 years recently. First time 2 pack resin fixed the cleanly broken handle and I used it without the return spring. This time it broke into 3 pieces. On removing the broken pieces I used angled pliers to rotate the latch to the unlock position, removed the Torx screw and Phillips screw to release the cover. I used cable ties as a temporary fix and will fashion an unlocking tool from light metal tubing (curtain rod?) to avoid the A$300 being asked here for an entire latch. Photos below show the stages of my fix.

Seat back upright before inserting tool to rotate latch

Seat back down showing Phillips screw to remove

Mechanism exposed after cover removed

Locking tab in unlocked position

Angled pliers and broken plastic latch handle

Cable tie in place to provide temporary utility

sredni

I've just designed and 3Dprinted one for my friend, fits and works perfectly!
Hope that helps!

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2418933

rollercam

This whole thread was super helpful, Thank You!