I'm needing to replace the middle seat belt retractor on my 05 Grand Cherokee. It was involved in a minor fender bender by the first owner and there was a child in the back. Instead of unbuckling the belt, some overzelous rescuer took their knife to it! Anyhow the carpety like back of the seat appears to have a zipper around it but I cannot for the life of me locate a tab to unzip it. Does anyone know how to get to this retractor without damaging anything? Also any help for removing the bottom cushion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hard to say, You may need to take the rear seat out entirely. Which is a huge PITA. The bolts are brutal to get out. There are a couple bolts that you cannot get to the nuts as they're welded into frame. If you're not careful you'll break the weld on the nut and the bolt will just spin.
I suggest not using pneumatic tools for this job if you have to remove the seat.
1. Remove the left rear seat back panel (4) from the vehicle. (Refer to 23 - BODY/SEATS/REAR SEAT BACK - REMOVAL).
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1. Remove the rear seat cushion (Refer to 23 - BODY/SEATS/SEAT CUSHION - REMOVAL).
2. Loosen outboard lower anchor bolts (1) and slide the rear seat belt anchor (2) off the bolt.
3. Remove the four rear seat back mounting bolts (1) and remove seat back from vehicle.
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2. Remove the trim from the left rear seat back.
3. Disengage the seat belt lower anchor through the web guide loop integral to the top of the seat back panel.
4. Disengage the retractor lock cable (2) end fitting from the seat back latch mechanism (3) on the upper outboard corner of the seat back panel.
5. Disengage the lock cable from the back panel between the latch and the retractor (1).
6. Remove the screw (2) from the back of the seat back panel (1) that secures the retractor.
7. Remove the rear center seat belt and retractor unit from the front of the left seat back panel.
Thank yall for the help, this is probably awesome information but it's really beyond my realm of understanding. Where did you obtain this info, I would like to be able to "(Refer to 23 - BODY/SEATS/REAR SEAT BACK - REMOVAL)."