Can't lift rear bottom seat up to put down back of seat for cargo hauling. Seat bottom will not budge and I can feel the strap is still attached to the bar that should be moving up but isn't.

As far as I can tell, the only part that comes down is the little door in the middle of the backseat. Your key goes in there and unlocks it and you can put it up or down depending if you are hauling anything. it is available when you pull down the strap that gives you the cup holders and center console in the backseat.

will need to try and see if latch is damaged or debris is jammed in latch with the other side up look under at latch also check the cable --you can try kneeling on seat and bounce and pull on tab to try and get it to release

so there was a strap there but now its gone? Are you sure it will pull down? you will need to lift up the bottom of the seat and pull it out, then see if the back pivots down, or if you need to unbolt it (2 bolts) then lift up on the back to disengage it from the back support.

I searched the owner's manual and there was no mention of folding the rear seats down. If you don't have a manual, you can get one here: http://www.extendedgmwarranty.com/owners-manual/buick/1999-Buick-Century.pdf

You can remove the seats following the instructions below from autozone.com.
Rear Seats
SEAT CUSHION

Fig. Typical W-Body rear seat cushion removal

1. Locate and remove the small bolts at the front lower edge of the seat cushion.
2. Pull the tabs on the rear cushion retainers.
3. Remove the seat cushion by lifting up and pulling out of the retainer.
4. Installation is the reverse of the removal procedure. Make sure the retainer tabs are snapped into place. Tighten the bolts to 18 ft. lbs. (25 Nm).

SEAT BACK

Fig. Typical W-Body rear seat back removal

1. Remove the seat cushion as described above.
2. Remove the anchor nuts securing the rear seat retainer at the bottom of the seat back.
3. Grasp the bottom of the seat back and swing upward to disengage the offsets on the upper frame bar from the hangers.
4. Lift the seat back upwards to remove from the vehicle.
5. Installation is the reverse of the removal process. Make sure the hooks on the seat back are properly installed to the hangers. Tighten the anchor nuts to 89 inch lbs. (10 Nm).

I have had a similar problem. I solved it by keping the seat back raised, get someone to rock the seat back violently while you pull on the balck strap and try and remove the seat. This may not happen 1st time if not spray WD40, and lots of it all over the seat linkages and locking mechanism under the seat.

When you get the seat out turn it upside down and spray with WD40, do this with all the other emovable seats.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

1. Clamp the seat belts to keep them from retracting.
2. Locate and disconnect seat wiring at the connector(s).
3. Move front seats forward or back for access to the hold down hardware.
4. Put the rear seats in the stowed position.
5. On Durango 3rd row seats, lift the cushion upward and forward to floor cargo position.
6. Remove the hardware securing the seat.
7. On split bench models, lift the center seat upward to clear attachment stud
8. Remove the seat from the vehicle.

NOTE Do NOT activate the track adjusters once the fastening hardware is removed.

1. Installation is the reverse of removal.

Fig. Disconnect the wiring from under the seat




Fig. Seat track mounting hardware locations-typical




Fig. Bench seat components: seat (1), nut (2), stud (3), floor pan (4), bolt (5)-Ram




Fig. Split bench seat assembly-Ram




Fig. Bucket seat mounting components-Durango shown




Fig. Rear seat removal/installation


I hope help you with this; good luck (rated this help).

pull up the bottom of the seat, where it joins the back seat.if it a flip forward design, there will be a ******** the bottom of the back seat to release it.

The rear seats have a pull strap located between the bottom cushion and the backrest of the rear seats used to disengage a lock to lift up the bottom cushion. The pull straps will only stick out an inch or so, or they might have fallen down between the seats and then you wont see them. Before you can lower the backrest of the rear seats, the bottom cushions have to be lifted up and forward out of the way so that the backrest may lie down flat. If your pull straps are not visible between the bottom cushion and the backrest, you may have to stick your hand between the cushions and feel for the straps. Once you find the straps, pull upward on the while lifting on the bottom cushion where the pull strap is located and the seat should tilt forward. Once you have manged to do this, the lever for the backrest is located on the top of the backrest. Just slide the lever and tilt the backrest to the desired position.

the middle seats come out easily. There are 2 handles you have to lift up on each of the bucket seats, they are in the front of the seat down by the seat tracks. After you lift them, tilt the seat upward in the front and rotate them backward. Then lift out of the hooks. Each seat is held down by 4 hoks.

The 3rd row seat is not designed to come out xcept by a technician. It does slide forward all the way up to the front seat. It has a sliding seat track.
First, lift the T handle under the seat cushion on the left front side of the seat. This will allow you to lift the seat bottom up all the way to lcok in the full up position.
Then, lift the lever on the same side of the seat and slide the seat forward. It will stop in 4 places.
Rear -Rear
6 inches forward of that.
another two ft to the second row seating position
full frward against the front seats.

Pleae rate as fixya if this helps.

Seat —Third Row Bench Removal
CAUTION: Removal of the third row bench seat requires more than one technician.

1. Remove the second row seats. For additional information, refer to Seat—Second Row .

1. Remove the floor mats.

1. Lock the seat cushion in the upright position.
   1. Lift the handle to release the cushion.
   1. Lock the seat cushion in the upright position.

1. Move the third row bench seat to the second row position.
   • Lift the seat track release handle.

1. Remove the two bolt covers.

1. Remove the two seat track front bolts.

1. Remove the four seat track rear bolts.
   1. Position the rear seat cushion floor cover aside.
   1. Remove the four seat track rear bolts.

1. Remove the third row bench seat.

Got it, with the help and eyes of my wife. The rear latch releases as the seat back is lowered. This release is ALMOST seat back down (about 3 inches above the seat bottom). As the seat back lowers, apply constant lift on the rear latch, and it will release as the seat back lowers. Hard-won knowledge - I think I invented some bad words in the process.