When you slide the slide forwards, causing the red tab to pop up, something on the inside should move easily and positively in order to release the hook. This is not happening.

I sawed away the plastic cover on the rear (why its not simply screwed in place...) and I can use a screwdriver to cause the hook to rotate downwards to release the latch. But its difficult, I have to jiggle with the slide potion at the same time to get it just right.

I can't see the mechanism well enough to figure out what is wrong. I need an answer or at least a diagram of the mechanism!

 

I don't have any pics or anything but you can get to it best of you remove the seat and open the covers up.

 

How do I remove the seat back from the floor? Without going out to the car to look -- are there simple nuts & bolts holding the hinges?

Then how do I non-destructively remove the plastic which covers the side/back of the seat back?

 

There should be screws I forget exactly but you should be able to see how it comes out.
As for the plastic there should be a couple of screws and some clips that are one time use only.You have to push the centers in to get them to release and the centers fall into the seat.