Reclining back problem

Did you try scrap yard?I bought for $50 seat.

The gears for the recliner has been misaligned/broken. Disassemble and look for broken parts. Refer to service manual to realign,

I had the same seat recliner/raiser problem and worked around it. There is a gear shaft that runs across the back of the drivers seat just behind the split between the seat and seat back. It is broken.

The motor that runs the gear shaft is located on the side of the seat closest to the drivers' door. It works fine but only moves the gears on the drivers door side of the seat. On the console side
of the seat the gear doesn't turn at all because the shaft is broken where it meets the gear on that side. You can see the end of the gear shaft on the outside of the seat hinge on the console side and if the shaft is broker it will not move when the lever is pushed to raise the seat back.

I removed the seat (basically pull off the plastic button covers, remove four seat bolts, and disconnecting two wiring harness clips) and I was able to raise the seat "manually" as follows:

On the very end of the gear shaft itself you'll see a small alignment groove in it that would normally align with another groove on the seat hinge frame. (I suppose when they are aligned, that is the factory setting for the upright seat back position)

I put a straight slot screwdriver in the groove on the gear shaft and used a hammer to drive the gear clockwise (to raise the seat back; you'd go counter-clockwise to lower it).
With each hammer strike the gear moved a little bit until the grooves were aligned. The angle of the seat back raised a bit with each clockwise movement of the gear shaft. (I actually went a little further than the alignment of the markers to assure the seat was raised far enough). When I was satisfied with the seat back position, I reconnected and rebolted the seat.

Anyway, the seat back is now raised to about where I wanted it. The shaft is still broken, of course, and the vertical motor is now bound up and doesn't work... so this is now my permanent driving position... but it's much better than driving with the seat reclined!
And for a 1998 Avalon XLS with over 300,000 miles, I can certainly live with that.

Hope this helps someone else. I'll be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

check for something jammed under seat ? Does it make a noise when you try to raise it ? You smell anything unusual ?

There are multiple fixed recline positions. It sounds like your seat is not catching properly once the recline bar is pulled. Please contact Britax (888-427-4829) and make them aware of the situation.

The problem:
The set belt stop has been lost so the seat belt retracts too far when the seat is laid flat. When laid flat the release mechanism locks as it should when not level so the seat cannot be raised up as the belt is too tight and locked.
The Solution:
1) Push the two little clips to release and remove the headrests.
Pull the grey lever on the right of the seat base, lift seat base up and forward toward the front seat..
2) See two red capped leversat the back of the two seat hinges and lever them to the upward position, this releases the seat.
Rock the very heavy seat unit upwards and lift complete unit upwards.
3) Take it out of the car and turn 180% so that the back of the seat and base are in the upward position and the seat belt will pull out as it should
4) Replace the missing belt locking stop (I used a tie pin permanently fixed using super glue).
5) Fold seat back down and test then either re-fit seat unit or leave out to decrease fuel consumption..

TO FOLD STROLLER
• Close the canopy as described in the canopy section. Recline seat by releasing buckle as described in seatback positioning section.
• The stroller is folded by simultaneously pulling each trigger fold. . When the fold latches are released, the handle will begin to fall toward the floor. Release the fold buttons and press downward on the stroller handle until the stroller is completely folded. Secure the stroller in the folded position by hooking the fold latch, located on the right side of the stroller, over the rivet that protrudes from the frame.
CANOPY
* The canopy features a ratchet system that allows the canopy to be moved forward to block the sun or wind. To adjust the canopy’s position, push forward or backward on the canopy until the canopy is in the desired position. See figure 23.
SEATBACK POSITIONING
* The seat has a multiple position recline that is controlled by a strap and buckle assembly behind the seat. . To recline the seat, loosen the strap through the buckle and adjust to the required recline position. To place the seat back in the upright position, press upward on the seat back with one hand while pulling the strap through the buckle with the other. The strap will lock automatically.
http://www.babytrend.com/download/2007061021349109CT_instructions.pdf

Viewed from behind, there are two cords with pull tbs that are gathered together in the center of the seatback with a black plastic gather. These two cords are loosen or tightened to raise or lower the seat back recline position.

I know this post is old but I figured somebody w/the same problem might come across this. I had the same problem with my Marathon today. I also own a Roundabout & had no problem changing the recline myself. When my husband came home he took a look & fixed it. All he did was put it in the upright postion , held it in place & turned the seat on it's side & pushed up on the base and it clicked! he pushed on one of the corners (but I don't know if that even matters)

On the back of the the seat back is a plastic tab connecting two lanyards/cords. These cords are used to adjust the seatback angle from the recline to full up-right position.