Rear Headrests

[eneg]

Okay, picked up my 2011 hybrid last night.

Everything is fine so far, BUT, aren't you supposed to be able to see out of the back window?

The headrests are blocking too much of the view.

The car that we had test drove was a 2010 and I purposely checked that the rear window was not blocked.

And, it wasn't.

Anyway, to get to the nitty gritty:

Has anybody removed their headrests, and if you did, cold you please send along instructions?

I'm pretty sure that I could get the seat out, but I'm not sure that I want to play around back there near the battery.

 

Any and all help appreciated. . .

 

Eneg

[lolder]

Okay, picked up my 2011 hybrid last night.

Everything is fine so far, BUT, aren't you supposed to be able to see out of the back window?

The headrests are blocking too much of the view.

The car that we had test drove was a 2010 and I purposely checked that the rear window was not blocked.

And, it wasn't.

Anyway, to get to the nitty gritty:

Has anybody removed their headrests, and if you did, cold you please send along instructions?

I'm pretty sure that I could get the seat out, but I'm not sure that I want to play around back there near the battery.

 

Any and all help appreciated. . .

 

Eneg

There's a little button built into the side of one of the headrest mounting holes that you press to release and remove the headrest. I remove them when there are no rear sear occupants and put them on the floor. The headrests in the 2010 are also too low for comfort when fully extended. I wrapped some electrical tape around the shafts so they are about 2 inches farther up than the last notched position. A pain!

[eneg]

There's a little button built into the side of one of the headrest mounting holes that you press to release and remove the headrest. I remove them when there are no rear sear occupants and put them on the floor. The headrests in the 2010 are also too low for comfort when fully extended. I wrapped some electrical tape around the shafts so they are about 2 inches farther up than the last notched position. A pain!

Hi lolder,

 

Thanks, but I'm lost.

I see the buttons that I think that you are referring to, but when fully extended, the headrests hit the roof of the car and I can't get them out.

What am I doing wrong?

Please be as specific as you can be because my head is spinnig with all of these new electronics! :)

 

Thanks again,

 

Eneg

[lolder]

Hi lolder,

 

Thanks, but I'm lost.

I see the buttons that I think that you are referring to, but when fully extended, the headrests hit the roof of the car and I can't get them out.

What am I doing wrong?

Please be as specific as you can be because my head is spinnig with all of these new electronics! :)

 

Thanks again,

 

Eneg

The 2011 headrests may be different. They may have solved the problem. Can you just put them all the way down for the best visibility? Mine are OK that way. Mine would not go up far enough for comfort and still be in a detent.

Read the Owners Guide several times. Almost everything you need to know is in there. Most everything else is on this forum. Use the "Search" function. Sit in the drivers seat and explore the dash menu with the Owners Guide with you. Read everything in the menus on both sides of the dash. View the tutorial. Once is not usually enough. You have bought much more than a normal car. If you wish, you can make it a hobby. Or you can get in it, turn the key and go.

[xmech2k]

when fully extended, the headrests hit the roof of the car and I can't get them out.

 

LOL! Slight engineering slip-up! And I think I saw thw FFH rear seat backs don't fold down? Oops... Although I guess, how often do you really have to totally remove your headrests?

[rfruth]

All the way down = no problem for me but I'm gonna try to remove mine in the next few days (weight savings, even better visibility)

Edited November 3, 2010 by rfruth

[lolder]

All the way down = no problem for me but I'm gonna try to remove mine in the next few days (weight savings, even better visibility)

They should be in place for rear seat passengers for whiplash protection. They don't weigh much.

[CometFlash]

I may be able to help with the confusion, even though I don't own an FFH yet.

 

I would hazard a guess that the rear headrests in the 2011 are significantly larger than those in the 2010 model, even though it's basically the same car.

 

I say this because they did the same exact thing to the F-150. In 2009 the rear headrests were small and easy to remove. In 2010 Ford changed the rear headrests to these big huge hulkin' things that are next to impossible to get out because they are so big, and they take up a lot of visibility room as well.

 

I'm guessing Ford decided to do this on the Fusion for 2011 as well.

 

No idea why. Perhaps a saftey issue? Comfort? But if comfort, why sacrifice visibility (ie: safety) over comfort??? :doh:

 

So I can understand exactly what the OP is speaking of; if this is indeed the case.

Edited November 4, 2010 by CometFlash

[xmech2k]

When I first got my Fusion, I hated the auto-dimming mirror because it just was hardly dimming. Then one day I was the driver when some coworkers and I went out for lunch. I mentioned it, and one of the guys in the backseat pushes the center headrest all the way down and says to try that. Worked fine (pretty much) ever since...

[eneg]

Well, getting back to my original question:

Is there anyone that can provide a schematic or instructions on removing the rear seat?

No, I don't want to electrocute myself, but I would like a good view out of the rear window. . .

 

Thanks,

 

Eneg

[Buster1]

Well, getting back to my original question:

Is there anyone that can provide a schematic or instructions on removing the rear seat?

No, I don't want to electrocute myself, but I would like a good view out of the rear window. . .

 

Thanks,

 

Eneg

 

 

Whatever you do, DO NOT REMOVE THE REAR SEAT! I hope that was a typo. The rear seat will not move or fold...by design due to the high voltage batteries.

 

On the other hand, you can remove the headrests as described above. I personally leave the two side headrests in, and remove the center one for better vis out the back. I have noticed poor vis as well, but removing the center one will help a lot. Lower the left and right ones too.

[eneg]

I'll try it this way.

Here is the drastic difference between the 2010 & 2011 rear headrests.

The 2011 is pushed down as far as it goes. . .

[eaglewatch]

"The rear seat will not move or fold...by design due to the high voltage batteries."

 

Actually, both sides of the rear seat can be folded down. There are small levers under the rear window decklid that can be accessed through the trunk (near the speakers) which release the entire seat back. This provides access to the high-voltage disconnect switch (not that you should ever need to use that).

 

Google "Ford Fusion Hybrid Emergency Response Guide" which has instructions and diagrams.

[CometFlash]

I'll try it this way.

Here is the drastic difference between the 2010 & 2011 rear headrests.

The 2011 is pushed down as far as it goes. . .

 

Exactly. I figured it was just like the F-150 after the first year of the new model - they made the rear headrests huge for some reason. Eneg, sorry I can't help you with your question, but I did try to explain what I thought the issue was, and I was correct. I think most members here probably have the 2010, thus they don't have the same problem and they don't know that the headrests have grown exponentially in just one years time. :drop:

[eneg]

"The rear seat will not move or fold...by design due to the high voltage batteries."

 

Actually, both sides of the rear seat can be folded down. There are small levers under the rear window decklid that can be accessed through the trunk (near the speakers) which release the entire seat back. This provides access to the high-voltage disconnect switch (not that you should ever need to use that).

 

Google "Ford Fusion Hybrid Emergency Response Guide" which has instructions and diagrams.

eaglewatch,

 

You sir, are da man!

They are out!

They are sitting on top of my washing machine waiting for my wife to come home from work so she can put them away somewhere (probably will never be seen again!)

I can't thank you enough!

A very easy fix. Just needed the knowledge that you provided.

 

Thanks again!

 

 

And to all of you other guys, thanks for your input too.

 

Gonna get up tomorrow, take the car out for a spin, and enjoy myself!!!!

 

Adios Amigos (till the next problem!)

 

Eneg

[runutzzzzz]

I'll try it this way.

Here is the drastic difference between the 2010 & 2011 rear headrests.

The 2011 is pushed down as far as it goes. . .

 

Holy huge ugly rear headrest! WOW, I'd buy 2010 headrest and put them in.

 

Those new headrest must have been cheaper to make... LOL

Edited November 5, 2010 by runutzzzzz

[akirby]

Holy huge ugly rear headrest! WOW, I'd buy 2010 headrest and put them in.

 

Those new headrest must have been cheaper to make... LOL

 

They're not head rests - they're head restraints. It's part of the new safety standards.

[runutzzzzz]

They're not head rests - they're head restraints. It's part of the new safety standards.

 

So all 2011 cars with rear seats will have huge honking ugly "head restraints" in the back?

Edited November 5, 2010 by runutzzzzz

[georgeny]

Eneg,

 

Good luck with new wheels!!! Now it is up to you to convince me I need one, even though I don't :)

Edited November 5, 2010 by georgeny

[georgeny]

I'll try it this way.

Here is the drastic difference between the 2010 & 2011 rear headrests.

The 2011 is pushed down as far as it goes. . .

 

Wow that is some difference, I can see why removal has to be considered an option.

[Oman]

Holy cow! I'm glad I got the '10. I did some checking and it seems first the front headrest changes were mandated now they have to carry through to the rear. I'm sure the Gubment meant well. Seems you were supposed to put up the headrests on the '10 when people were back there. No one ever did so when there was a rear-ender any back seat passengers could suffer neck injuries. Now the lowest position meets the safety standard.

 

I haven't had an accident in over a dozen years, but I still would not let a passenger in the back seat without a headrest.

 

PS: Have you tried moving your mirror up? It is mounted on an arm with two ball joints. I actually keep my mirror up next to the roof of the car, then adjust the angle to see out the back properly. This makes the auto-dim work better and gives better visibility both out of the front window (no mirror in my front field of view) and back (the higher angle gives me a better angle to see what is behind with less obstruction)

 

Jon

 

 

Wow that is some difference, I can see why removal has to be considered an option.

[akirby]

So all 2011 cars with rear seats will have huge honking ugly "head restraints" in the back?

 

Not all but I'm sure a lot do since that's now part of the testing. That's also why the front head restraints tilt forward so much.

 

Mfrs who don't get aggressive with the head restraints risk poor safety ratings.

[Davidoo]

eaglewatch,

 

You sir, are da man!

They are out!

They are sitting on top of my washing machine waiting for my wife to come home from work so she can put them away somewhere (probably will never be seen again!)

I can't thank you enough!

A very easy fix. Just needed the knowledge that you provided.

 

Thanks again!

 

 

And to all of you other guys, thanks for your input too.

 

Gonna get up tomorrow, take the car out for a spin, and enjoy myself!!!!

 

Adios Amigos (till the next problem!)

 

Eneg

 

Eneg, can you give me a description or pictures of those levers? I have the 11 FFH and looked in my trunk tonight and swear I do not have those levers. I pulled the black flexible cover back from around the speakers in the trunk and still can't find them.

[eneg]

Eneg, can you give me a description or pictures of those levers? I have the 11 FFH and looked in my trunk tonight and swear I do not have those levers. I pulled the black flexible cover back from around the speakers in the trunk and still can't find them.

Hi Davidoo,

 

First, you have to Google "Ford Fusion Hybrid Emergency Response Guide".

They list the 2011's in the response. There is a drawing in there of the lever's locations.

You'll need a flashlight to make it easier. When I first looked in there, after removing the liner,

I saw 3 metal things that i thought were the levers. I tried to move them, but they didn't budge.

When I shined the flashlight on them, I could see that they were screwed in.

Anyway, once you know the approximate location of the levers, shine the flashlight in there and look UP.

They are up and further back than they appear in the drawing.

You will see, on each side, what looks like the bottom of a bolt. It's not a bolt, it's the lever! Just push them towards

the side of the car and you will hear a click. You don't have to push very hard, as they move very easily.

Lemme know how you make out. . .

 

How do you like the car?

 

Eneg

[Davidoo]

I looked at the diagram earlier and still can't find the releases. Behind and above the two side speakers there is a big black bolt sticking through, and just behind that a bronze colored metal wall. There's nothing else up there. I guess I'm just not going to find it or they are not on my car.