Hi all and sorry for the long first post.

I picked up a 928 s4 5dp manual a couple of weeks ago. The car is in great condition, however I do have a problem with the drivers seatback, which will recline, but will not return forward. The seat is a 12-way seat with memory, although the memory function doesn't appear to be working.

After reading various threads on here, I've removed the seat and checked and cleaned the switch internals, but it still isn't working. I also swapped over one of the switches to confirm it not a switch fault.

I then applied 12v directly to the seatback motor and switched the polarity to confirm the motor is working in both directions. However, the seat would not move from the fully reclined position. So looks like there is a problem with the mechanism.

Unfortunately I've got no idea how the recline mechanism works, or how to access it, other than it appears to be located in the seatback. Does anyone have any advice on how to access the mechanism and motor?

At this point I just want to get the seat into a drivable position, as I haven't had chance to drive the car properly yet, I can worry about the electrics later.

 

Managed to get the seat back separated from the base this morning, and think I've found the problem. The twisted square section steel rod that runs through the mechanism from the seat base has snapped on both sides. Looks like one side has been broken for a while.




Should thus be twisted, or is it just a length of 6mm square bar?

 

I've never dismantled the seats, but there's a very useful video on YouTube where it looks like that part is just square section bar, but with round end. Attaching screen grab from the video and link to the whole thing. I've no idea what kin d of force it would take to twist/snap that bar, or why anyone would have given it that treatment. File under PO horror shows! The bar just forms a pin a few inches long which locates into base of the seat back, so it's baffling why anyone would have even twisted it like that.

 

Managed to find the part number for the seat rod, 928-521-717-02, and it just looks like length of 6mm square bar with a tapered end. No stock in the UK , so managed a temporary fix by grinding down a couple of door handle spindles. Mechanism now working. I'll order the poper part when in stock andreplace later. Now back to the electrics.........

 

Good cheap, fast fix!