How to get back seats to fold down in toyota corolla 1998

I'm not sure which version of the rear seats you have fitted. If there is no button or pull lever visible you will have to get physical with the back seat. You will need to lever the corner of the back seat forward, insert your arm and trip the release with your finger.
Try this youtube link as it shows how to do it simply. Toyota Corolla Locked Trunk Back Seat Access 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Many times you can get to the trunk by taking off the back of your back seat (some even fold down for trunk access). Something is stuck or caught. If you can try a key, do so. Be sure to find and fix the problem. Could be a broken cable or the lock mechanism needs lubrication. Check and lubricate the trunk panel lifters as well. They may need replacing. Good luck!

it sounds like the lock actuator is seized on the trck look... it is really difficult to get them to open once this happens. best bet is to see if you can get in the trunk by folding down the back seat and get a flashlight and try yo open it that way...

i am talking from memory,and i may be wrong........but
look under the front base of the rear seats,you should find 2x screws,undo these and lift the seat squab up and frontwards out the flat possition then you will be able to find the screws that hold the backrest in possition and remove....

If you have rear seats that fold down you can access the latch mechanism from the left side rear seat....if you are flexible. pull the corner of the seat forward to allow your arm to slide in behind. about 14-16" in, feeling up inside the trunk you can feel 3 quarter size holes in the sheet metal. The second hole has the cable release arm. stick your finger up there are pull towards you. this will release the seat allowing it to fold down. Crawl into the trunk. there is a glow in the dark release handle on the inside of the trunk lid to open the trunk. Note, these are instructions for an '04 corolla but I think it should work

My 05 Corolla trunk would not open. I used a broom handle shoved between the rear seats to activate the emergency release handle on the back of the trunk lid. It took about 2 minutes. When I tapped it just right the lid popped open. This was better the damaging the rear seat by bending it to reach the seat releass mechanism. It turned out that the cable came off in the asembly probably from slamming the lid shut. Once the cable was returned to its location I used needle nose pliers to sqeeze the metal tighter around the cable.

Check to see if there is a ripcord, it may look like a small strap like loop, pull it away from seat and move the seat to the lower position.

Yes, or you may have to remove the rear seats to gain access to the trunk area.Roll your windows down or leave the doors open to ensure there is sufficient air flow inside of the car. You do not want to run out of oxygen.

Open the back trunk, look near the top of the trunk, and pull the two black levers. They have a seat folding down symbol. That will release the locks to fold the back seat down.

Open the trunk & pull the 2 small knobs, one on either side, inside the top area of the trunk cavity, right under the rear glass area.
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