Rear centre head restraint removal

[k_rider]

Anyone know the trick to removing the rear centre head restraint?

I can pull the headrest up one 'click' (and push back down again) fairly easily, but that's it. Pressing the catch as described in the manual doesn't seem to release it any further. I've applied as much force as I thought reasonable (don't want to break anything if I'm doing it wrong).

No problem removing the left and right headrests.

[Martin]

Same problem here - can't work it out - I'm sure it's another IQ test I've failed

[malamute]

I am pretty sure there is a spot on one side you need to insert a small flat blade screwdriver.

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[dArK5HaD0w]

I am pretty sure there is a spot on one side you need to insert a small flat blade screwdriver.

Bingo.
I did that when I had to fold my seats flat to carry the Ikea stuff.

[Martin]

I am pretty sure there is a spot on one side you need to insert a small flat blade screwdriver.

Doh, I definately failed another IQ test

[donweather]

I am pretty sure there is a spot on one side you need to insert a small flat blade screwdriver.

Well that's bl00dy intuitive isnt it!!! Why do they do this (and not make it obvious) and yet the left and right ones come out so easily. What is the purpose of this on the centre one only? I too struggled to get the centre one out when trying to lay the seats flat to put in a 60in TV. Ended up giving up and just pushing it down as far as it would go before laying the seat flat.

[malamute]

5 minutes after taking delivery of my octavia I was trying to fit child seats in the back, I couldn't work it out either and had to drive back to the dealer to get help
I agree it is a strange design, they should make it the same as the other two.

[BottomScratcher]

I am pretty sure there is a spot on one side you need to insert a small flat blade screwdriver.

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Yep. In the book, Seats and Stowage, Middle rear head restraint. A pic shows the slot that a screwdriver goes into, but it's a PIA to have to have one hand pushing the screwdriver into the slot, simultaneously pushing the button in on the other side with you're other hand, leaving only the backs of both hands to lever the thing up past the bottom locking notch before it can be lifted out.

Skoda says, "Press the locking button in the direction of arrow A, press simultaneously the locking button into the opening B using a flat screwdriver with a width maximum 5mm and pull the out the head restraint."

How many bloody hands do they think I have?

[aware]

Seems 'Simply Clever'.

[gldgti]

I find that you can leave it in if you are just folding the seats down for large cargo.

If you are adding a child seat then you probably don't need to take it out and put it in often, so the extra hassle is not much.

[BottomScratcher]

I find that you can leave it in if you are just folding the seats down for large cargo.

Might be OK for the vertically challenged, but if I try that my steering is impeded by the fact that my knees are in the way.

[gldgti]

Might be OK for the vertically challenged, but if I try that my steering is impeded by the fact that my knees are in the way.

I have my seat a fair way back.... im 6' exactly. People do seem to be getting taller though.... :p

more to the point - the centre headrest shoudnt really be behind the drivers seat. If it is, you might have been in an accident.

[k_rider]

Thanks guys for the responses. I obviously have to read the manual more carefully, I completely missed the bit about the screwdriver, I just saw the bit about pressing in the little catch on the side (like the outer two head restraints).

Agree that it's a bit odd to have it work differently from the two outer ones. Ah well, ours is not to reason why...

Normally the centre restraint doesn't get in the way when just folding down the rear seat backrest, but if you fold the seat bases forward so that the backs can lay flat, then the centre head restraint fouls the folded up seat base (although if the front seats are all the way forward it may not).

[gldgti]

I must be more rough.... i just fold it down there and push it past the folded up seat base. Its all foam anyway, it squishes
I like the way the headrest sort of keys into the narrower part of the seat base to keep the backrest sitting flat.

[BottomScratcher]

....more to the point - the centre headrest shoudnt really be behind the drivers seat. If it is, you might have been in an accident.

The centre headrest is wide enough to touch the sides of both front seat backs with the back seat folded flat.

I must be more rough.... i just fold it down there and push it past the folded up seat base. Its all foam anyway, it squishes

The rear seat pads have protruding metal locking pawls. The headrests are covered with leather. Come the day there's even a tiny burr on the metal locking pawl that you squish the headrest past you may possibly regret not having removed the headrest.