Socal_Tom

Hello gentlemen. The seat switch on my passenger side 1987 model year seat just stopped working. More specifically, the back rest recline switch gave up the ghost and, of course, it’s stuck in an unusable position.

That adjustment switch worked briefly and then stopped working, that to me suggest the switch rather than the motor?

All of the other switches work.

It looks like someone else is been in there because when I pulled the cover that holds the switch panel on the seat in place there were missing screws, so my guess is this is not the first time there’s been a problem with it.

Any Hail Mary things to try or do I need to just suck it up and replace that switch? If I do replace the switch is it the switch panel that has both switches mounted?

Thanks!

Tony

If you can get to the connector for the recline function and add 12 volts to it, you can get the motor running...polarity determines the direction....

so so happens I have a set of s4 seats in front of me upside down working on seat electrics...

for 12V I’m using my battery charger set on manual..12 v...2amp...plenty to drive the motors. Then alligator clips to the jumper leads. I’d imagine the connector maybe tough to reach while the seat is in. Try raising as high as you can front and back.

Socal_Tom

Hi Tony, thanks for the follow up. Fortunately the seat is out. Let me see if I can trace the wiring to the recline motor and get power to it.

Clever idea on the charger, had not thought to do that.

Thanks!

linderpat

This is a right of passage with a 928. One of my first jobs. Pull the switch and repair it or replace it. There are a number of DIY's on how to fix these switches. Also, make sure the plastic bits and gears in your rails that control forward and aft motion aren't about to crumble, since the seat is out, it's an easy inspection and maintenance item.

Socal_Tom

Thanks Ed - will give Tom/Mark a ring on the replacement switch.

Socal_Tom

Found the wiring, put power to it using the clever idea from Tony on the battery charger and corrected the angle.

I will likely just wire up a stand alone switch to allow for adjustments ad-hoc for now since I want to drive the darn car.

Thanks gentlemen!

Billu

Just set it at a usable angle and drive it. It’s the passenger side, and you’d need two switches to be able to adjust both ways.

Socal_Tom

Or I can just reverse the polarity of the connections as needed to adjust it, but per your suggestion it is going back in as I have bigger fish to fry.

Thanks all!

Billu

I love fried fish

Tony

Just did the autopsy on my bad switch. From my used seats. They all work now as advertised except Pax side recline and up and down.

Here's why... Some one was in the switch before.

Missing two ball bearings, a spring and oddly one spring was broke in half with the other half nowhere to be found inside the switch.

Socal_Tom

Bummer on the missing bits, Can you source those or do you need to replace it?

Wisconsin Joe

No 'official' sources for them.

But part of owning these cars is using a bit of ingenuity and creativity.

The ball bearings are pretty easy. You just have to match the size.

Springs are a bit more challenging. But lots of things use small springs like that.

Guns are one. Model trains & Radio controlled stuff (cars, planes, helis) are a few more.

There is a very small spring in the 'alarm switch' section of the door lock cylinder. I managed to lose it while going through mine.

I went to a local hobby shop and manged to find one that was close enough to work. IIRC, it was the brush spring from a slot car.

sendarius

Call Roger.

IIRC the replacement switch for when I broke the "hat" off one of mine was something less than fifty bucks.

I took the seat out and had the opportunity to properly clean under there, lube all the greasy bits, AND I found 600 yen in coins - WINNING!

Mrmerlin

Germans love ball bearings and springs and wine colored leather/interiors

Socal_Tom

Thanks for the education.