I way really trying to figure out why my GTA has a release latch on the backside of each seatback so that you can unlock them and push the seatback foreward to get in or out? When you can just push the seatback foreward at any given time without using the release.....seem really useless to me. Or should the seatback click into somekind of lock when pushed back into position?
Also the passenger seat in my GTA really rattles and shakes. It's the noisiest part in my whole interior!!! It creaks and rattles all the time! Is this something more F bodies are plagued with? I really like my GTA but the rattling is driving me totally crazy

 

The seatbacks are only supposed to lock when there's enough G-forces applied to lock them in place, i.e. hard braking, wreck, parked on a hill, etc. They should normally open and close without using the release button.

Mine just stopped working correctly in fact. Now it sucks trying to get things into the back seat with both hands full because I have to flip the friggin button...

The rattle might be an adjustment lever or a loose seat spring. Have you looked underneath the seat?

 

I thought they are supposed to latch regardless of conditions and mine was just worn out. I replaced the seats with Sunfire seats and that lever needs to be flipped to push the seat backs forward all the time. I thought it was a safety thing, at least on the driver's side so someone in the back couldn't push into the driver.

 

Nope, it is a safey thing.

 

According to my trusty shop manual for my 90 RS, bnoon is correct...they only latch when the forward g-force is hih enough.

 

Thanks for letting me know that they need g forces or such to latch.
Every other car I've owned before latched all the time so I thought something was wrong because these don't.
At least now I know there's nothing wrong. (except for that rattle, gonna try and see if I can tighten so bolts or so!)

 

Does the same principle apply for the seatbelts? I have a t-tops if that would make any difference but I can tug on those belts all day and they will never tighten up.

 

yes



if you are on a hill they may latch also

 

The handle is there just to adjust the seatback position. Like everyone's said, it's not meant to latch the seat unless enough g-force is applied.

 

If the seat rattles, the recliner is probably bad. I had the same thing in my 01 TA that had only 6000 miles on it at the time. I took it to the dealer and bitched, they replaced the recliner and the rattle was gone. I don't think there are any other moving parts to go bad in the seatback.

Matt