# Seat track lock **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 24, 2019, 6:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880 "2019-06-24T06:46:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mperry\_153483](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@mperry\_153483](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mperry_153483)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 6:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/1 "2019-06-24T06:46:09Z")
Does anyone know a source for a track lock for the seat rails? I had them years ago, but can’t find one today. These were a small piece of metal you’d lock in the seat tracks, preventing it from moving past a certain point, very much like the locks for sliding patio doors in your house. I have a pet barrier in my car. For some reason, mechanics shove the seat all the way rearward, and the barrier is knocked loose. It’s inconvenient and damages the headliner. I want to prevent this in my new car. Maybe they are no longer made or I’m using the wrong term? They were also useful to keep your significant other, or your kids, from driving your car. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 12:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/2 "2019-06-24T12:01:58Z")
I have never seen such a product. If you don’t want your passenger seat slid back by mechanics, leave a note on the seat when you take it in for service. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 12:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/3 "2019-06-24T12:22:39Z")
If you find one, and stop them from sliding it back far enough to safely drive your car, They’ll just recline it and probably do just as much damage. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 1:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/4 "2019-06-24T13:22:25Z")
> [@mperry\_153483](#): > > I want to prevent this in my new car. Maybe they are no longer made or I’m using the wrong term? Just how hard is it to remove before taking the vehicle to a mechanic . And how often do you need to have it in a shop anyway. Seat lock sounds like a solution that will make a minor problem into a major one. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/5 "2019-06-24T13:57:46Z")
Are these power seats? If so, doing what you describe could damage the motor. Keeping a laminated sign on hand that you put on the instrument panel each time seems like an easy solution. If the mechanic can’t follow those instructions, then that might be a sign that you want to go elsewhere. However, have you considered that the mechanic is doing this so that he or she can drive your car safely? Perhaps in the lot the seat could be left in your position, but this wouldn’t be reasonable for anything involving a test drive. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/6 "2019-06-24T14:01:32Z")
You could get a piece of plywood cut to fit the rear seat footwell, and just long enough to stop the seat where you need it stopped. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/7 "2019-06-24T14:46:10Z")
> [@texases](#): > > You could get a piece of plywood cut to fit the rear seat footwell, and just long enough to stop the seat where you need it stopped. “Natural wood interior!” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mperry\_153483](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@mperry\_153483](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mperry_153483)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/8 "2019-06-25T02:01:12Z")
Yes, that works sometimes. Another time I had a package crushed. ---
**Author:** ![mperry\_153483](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@mperry\_153483](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mperry_153483)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2019, 2:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/9 "2019-06-25T02:39:48Z")
Thank you. The plywood brace is practical. Others: Thanks, I do use a sign and have it in my dealer’s printout. That helped some. These are not power seats, the mechanic does not need the seat back that far, it’s 30 minutes to R&R the unit (kneeling in the driveway, usually in the rain), and he can safely drive the car. I am 5’ 11" but can’t reach the pedals. The car is serviced 4 times a year. Last time the seat was shoved back, it broke the barrier and ripped the seat. I just don’t want that to happen with the new car. I’m thinking no one makes these any longer. They used to be handy for 2 drivers before people “needed” the $2000 optional seat. One set goes in front, the other behind. Slide to the bump and it’s adjusted. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2019, 2:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/10 "2019-06-25T02:52:27Z")
> [@mperry\_153483](#): > > Thank you. The plywood brace is practical. > > Others: Thanks, I do use a sign and have it in my dealer’s printout. That helped some. These are not power seats, the mechanic does not need the seat back that far, it’s 30 minutes to R&R the unit (kneeling in the driveway, usually in the rain), and he can safely drive the car. I am 5’ 11" but can’t reach the pedals. The car is serviced 4 times a year. Last time the seat was shoved back, it broke the barrier and ripped the seat. > > I just don’t want that to happen with the new car. I’m thinking no one makes these any longer. They used to be handy for 2 drivers before people “needed” the $2000 optional seat. One set goes in front, the other behind. Slide to the bump and it’s adjusted. Since it is not a power seat take a drill & drill a hole right behind where you keep the seat & put a bolt & nut so the seat can’t go back any farther, ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/11 "2019-06-25T12:53:20Z")
Take the package out of the car before you have it serviced. ---
**Author:** ![pyrolord314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@pyrolord314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pyrolord314)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2019, 1:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/12 "2019-06-25T13:18:46Z")
> [@mperry\_153483](#): > > the mechanic does not need the seat back that far They might if they need to do some work under the dash ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2019, 1:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/13 "2019-06-25T13:38:00Z")
> [@mperry\_153483](#): > > The car is serviced 4 times a year. 4 times a year ? Is this just oil changes or what. ---
**Author:** ![mperry\_153483](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@mperry\_153483](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mperry_153483)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/14 "2019-06-25T21:04:08Z")
True… but oil changes don’t take place under the dash, on my car. ---
**Author:** ![mperry\_153483](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@mperry\_153483](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mperry_153483)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/15 "2019-06-25T21:10:10Z")
Yes. It had unlimited oil changes, recommended @ 3 months. It also required normal maintenance and an occasional headlight. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 9:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/16 "2019-06-26T09:04:35Z")
> [@mperry\_153483](#): > > It had unlimited oil changes, recommended @ 3 months. Oil changes recommended every 3 months. Are you using pre-1970’s oil. or are you actually putting on the mileage that quickly. I had a delivery type job that required an oil change about every 6 weeks due to mileage. I just haven’t heard of a 3 month time interval in years. ---
**Author:** ![mperry\_153483](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@mperry\_153483](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mperry_153483)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/17 "2019-06-26T21:05:04Z")
Yep. The factory called for 5K changes, but they were recommending 3K. It cost me nothing except 90 minutes. ``` They were frustrated b/c nothing was ever wrong, just ``` maintenance. It was over 16K in the last 3 years. Front pads wore out at 140K and $300/labor after 180K… so it was worth maintaining. (At 190K, I passed it to a relative.) Not bad for a 2005 Neon, that cost $10K new. ---
**Author:** ![pyrolord314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@pyrolord314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pyrolord314)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 12:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/18 "2019-06-27T12:28:00Z")
> [@mperry\_153483](#): > > True… but oil changes don’t take place under the dash, on my > car. true…but other things do ---
**Author:** ![mperry\_153483](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@mperry\_153483](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mperry_153483)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 4:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/19 "2019-06-28T04:34:32Z")
Yep… but not once on that car. Maybe they just like the low ride. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 6:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880/20 "2019-06-28T06:54:50Z")
I can tell you this, I only got to 6’ 3" but most of it is legs. If I could not get the seat back on a Neon, I could not pull it into the shop because I would not be able to get my foot up on the brake pedal. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/seat-track-lock/142880.md?page=2)