Passenger back seat

Would anyone be able to tell/show me how to make the back seat lay down? The lever action isn't working so I watched a video on how to check to make sure the wire is connected. I went ahead to check it down at the bottom left of the seat, and everything was in tact. So now I am thinking the issue is up at the lever at the top of the seat, right hand side but I am not sure how to get into it without ruining the back of the seat...

 

In mine you just pull the lever on side of seat to recline it. I never went all the way back so I don’t know how far it goes.

 

I assume you are talking about the seat leaning back. If you want it to lay down for storage, it folds forward. First raise the seat bottom forward then fold the the seat back forward. Then the entire rear is open and flat for storage assuming you don’t have 3rd row seats. The owners manual describes these features.

 

Okay so now we have a little confusion. Stephanie, let me ask a
question. Does your SR5 have 3rd row seats? The reason I ask is because the rear seats on 4Runners without third row seats have a button up high at the shoulder which is used to fold the seat back down, while those in 4Runners with a third row have a lever up high, as you describe.

If your 4Runner has third row seats, then try this. Use the lever on the side at hip level to slide the second row seat forward, like you would if you wanted to get into the third row seat. Then put the seat back onto its normal position, making sure it latches like it should. Then use the upper lever to lower the second row seat back again. I think there may be a safety feature that prevents the seat back from folding if the seat bottom is not latched into its rearward position.

 

If it does not have a 3rd row the below steps line up with the diagram below (borrowed from @rmiked above) ...

1. The bottom lever only reclines or sits the seat straight up (like if you were on an airplane). It has nothing to do with folding the seat.
2. The top button on the shoulder of the seat will fold it forward. But first grab that little strap in the back of the butt area (you can see this in the rear center of the seat area in the pic) and pull that forward. Then tilt the headrest forward/down with the little lever on the headrest. Now you can use the shoulder button (top of the seat to the side) to release the top of the seat and fold it into where the butt used to be.

I hope this helps

 

Just drove > 1000 mi frm Bay area to Durango, CO and my 23 y/o daughter and 16 y/o son did not commit homicide on each other. Says a lot for those seats. Lean or no lean. Adding some color commentary, feel free to disregard.

 

I have a magical talent for making OP’s with extremely low post counts disappear. All I have to do is answer their post and POOF! Happens all the time.

 

I think it goes one way or the other ... I fell in love haha