Starting to use ChatGPT a lot more for loads of things. In particular the Deep Research function is extremely handy. It scours everything online and gives you an in depth response.

Try it - you’ll be amazed by the results.

About to tackle the removal of my rear seat bases with its help.

Rear Seat Base (Cushion) Removal – 2012 Range Rover L322

Tools & Materials: Torx screwdriver or bit set (typ. T30–T40), ratchet or driver, flat-blade screwdriver or trim tool, pliers, gloves, and a helper (cushion is heavy). You may also need clips or fastener pliers if your cushion cover uses hog‐rings (see step 6 below).

Precautions: Always disconnect the battery (negative lead first) before working with any seatbelt/airbag components . The rear cushion edges are held by strong spring clips – use gloves and be prepared for resistance . Note hidden fasteners: the seatbelt anchor is secured by a Torx bolt under the cushion . Have a secure grip or assistant ready, as the cushion is bulky and heavy once free.

Removal Steps:
1. Fold and clear. Fold the rear seatback(s) forward to access the cushion. Remove any trim or panels at the base of the seat (e.g. the “valance” or kick panel) to expose the hinge and wiring. On L322 models, the seat base trim (under cushion) is removed by unclipping or unbolting it .
2. Remove folding mechanism. Locate the seat folding hinge (side hinge or release lever). Unbolt the hinge from the floor (often Torx screws on the hinge’s mounting) and/or remove any spring clips. In many manuals, this is simply noted as “remove seat fold mechanism” . Once detached, the rear seat will no longer be locked in place.
3. Disconnect electrical connectors. Under the seat base you may find electrical plugs. For heated-seat models, unplug the seat heater cable connector from the retainer . (Non-heated seats won’t have this.) Also disconnect any other visible seat wiring harnesses or sensors . Push in the tab on each multi-pin connector and pull it apart.
4. Unbolt cushion-to-frame fasteners. Slide the seat cushion rearward to expose any fasteners at the front or sides. Remove the Torx bolt(s) that join the cushion frame to the backrest frame . On L322s, there is typically a single Torx fastener at each side or center (release the bolt(s) and separate the frames).
5. Free the cushion upholstery. With the frames separated, release the upholstery edges: the cushion cover is usually clipped or hog‐ringed to the frame. Pull out the staples or clips along the sides and front of the cushion (some manuals say “release both sides and front of seat upholstery” before lifting ). In practice, simply grasp the cushion at the edges and start lifting; the front edge is held by hidden spring clips. Insert a hand or screwdriver under the front edge, rotate the spring clips upward/forward, and pull the cushion upward to disengage them . This may require effort – those clips pinch hard.
6. Lift cushion and remove seat belt. Once the upholstery is freed, raise the cushion straight up. There is usually a Torx bolt anchoring the rear-seat belt to the cushion frame. As the service manual notes, remove and discard the Torx bolt securing the seatbelt anchor  (you will likely replace it on reassembly). Feed the belt out of the cushion and cover. Now the cushion is free to be lifted completely out of the car  .
• Optional: If you need to clean the seat cover separately, the workshop procedure shows removing trim pins and then releasing the upholstery from the foam (removing ~11 staples and ~25 hog rings) to slide the cover off . This is only needed if you intend to wash the cover or replace it; otherwise the cushion (with cover) can be cleaned as a unit.
7. Extract the cushion. Carefully angle the cushion out of the vehicle. Guide it past seatbelt buckles and any floor fixtures. Check for any remaining hooks or clips on the carpet or seat frame that could catch the cushion. Once clear, set the cushion on a protected surface for cleaning.

Reassembly: Reverse the procedure: refit cushion, reattach seat belt bolt (torque ≈31 Nm ), re-clips/prongs, plug in connectors, remount hinge, and snap trim back on.

Variations: The above covers both left and right cushion sections (60/40 split) – each is removed similarly. Heated-seat models have the extra wiring in step 3; non-heated seats skip that. On power-fold seats (rare in L322), disconnect electrical connectors on the hinge as well. Always replace any single-use bolts (seatbelt anchor, etc.) with new ones at reassembly.

Sources: Detailed disassembly steps are given in the Land Rover L322 workshop manual    and confirmed by owner forums  . These specify the hidden clips, bolts, and wiring harnesses involved. The manual also cautions to disconnect the battery before SRS work .

I am a Luddite first class, I'm sure it all very clever and saves a lot of searching but to me that is part of the learning curve in repairing and maintaining the fatty.

Will

It takes multiple sources, including the user manual, repair manual, forums etc etc then assembles it into a summary/amalgamation of all the into. It also references the sources.

I have asked many questions on here and always had very helpful answers, however I’m conscious that there will be certain things that people may not know and ChatGPT is effectively the same as doing all the research yourself, understanding it and putting it into practice.

In about 1 minute.

As long as you ask the right questions it's ok ish, but can only get better, sometimes it's way off the mark

Dyor 😎

Please do not trust these so called AI tools, so far there is no such thing as AI, just ask Alan Turing, oh sorry you cant he's no longer with us. But so far no system has passed his test set in the 50's. There is a lot of controversy around this but IMHO his test still stands.

All these tools are is a relatively simple piece of software that can trawl through huge amounts of data very quickly so they rely on the data that they find so the old principle of Garbage in Garbage out still applies.

That means you should treat the results in the same way as if you did the search yourself, ie do not believe everything you read, there are a lot of people who's only interest is getting "likes" otherwise called money!

David
Now I wonder do I need to duck? Range Rover 4.2 Supercharged 2006
Ford Focus EcoBoost 1.5 2017
MG TF 2003

Previous Cars of note
Land Rover Discovery 2
Jaguar Mk2 3.8 - Company car
MG Midget 1974 - Concours

No need to duck David

Just look at the AI generated eBay descriptions lazy eBay sellers opt for - generally drivel and can be spotted as AI generated a mile off.

No doubt it will improve at pace and at some point in the future may be indistinguishable from text written by humans (these days poor grammar and spelling mistakes would probably help!) but not right now.

Related, my neighbour is a lecturer in law at Oxford Brooks University and has recently marked this years papers - he reckons the majority had at least some AI generated content and it’s almost taken as acceptable now

Or perhaps I’m just an old Luddite  Jonathan

2010 L322 5.0 SC Autobiography Black
2007 Defender 90 XS Hardtop

I'm on the Luddite side as well.
There is a lot of well informed usefull information all over the internet, however there is almost as much utter , I'm not convinced any magic computer programe can tell the difference.

I’m in the luddite corner too. There is a whole load of private equity money staked on AI; hence all the PR. It’s basically corporate BS from what I can see though. The IT infrastructure needed also requires vast amounts of electricity and water for cooling, so hardly green……

Don’t get me started on the embedded predictive text which is now a feature of most software. Drives me nuts….. 2024 - >. 2021MY L405 5.0 SC Portofino Blue
2018 - 2024 2016MY L405 4.4 SDV8 VSE Aintree Green
2017 - 2018 2017MY Jaguar F Pace Portfolio 3.0 SDV6 BRG
2013 - 2017 2010MY L322 3.6TDV8 VSE Buckingham Blue
Various RR Sports and Freelanders before that!

Addressing all Ludites.

I used it a few times almost as a search engine and quite pointless as a search engine.

I have a legal thingy going on… I’m using a fully paid up solicitor..and a soliciting mate gives me a hand in the background. I asked my mate something and he said he was busy( at the tip!) but would get back to me. He forwarded a chat GPT answer… obviously he had reviewed it.

I then spent the weekend on and off asking chat GPT about my issue. Adding more and more detail. It was complicated, new information changed the severity of the reply, but each time came up with a letter for the solicitor , rather than my rambling, and my status of proceeding…. gobsmacking …
eases my mind as I don’t have to wait for the solicitor to get back to me….

I care not, I just said to my solicitor this is what chatGPT says, what do u think?

Try it for something really complicated… eg what’s the answer to life  Filters are in fact so good that in certain circumstances, when the ambient air is already polluted, a diesel car will tend to extract more particles from the air than it emits. Emissions Analytics worked with........etc etc

He who dies with the most toys wins...

Bill,

Everyone knows the answer to life is 42….. 2024 - >. 2021MY L405 5.0 SC Portofino Blue
2018 - 2024 2016MY L405 4.4 SDV8 VSE Aintree Green
2017 - 2018 2017MY Jaguar F Pace Portfolio 3.0 SDV6 BRG
2013 - 2017 2010MY L322 3.6TDV8 VSE Buckingham Blue
Various RR Sports and Freelanders before that!