FREAKINHEAT

I've searched the forum, but can't find a post that shows exactly how to disassemble the drive cables to the seat that prevents it from going foward. I'm a newbie at best when it comes to fixing things so, any help is greatly appreciated. I basically have a stuck passenger seat that won't rise nor move foward.

Mark Anderson

This is a common problem and can usually be fixed simply and easily buy pulling the cabels out of the junction in front. The cable is square at the end and you can put a wrench on it and twist it slightly to unlock the track.

Nicole

On my previous 91 GT, the drivers seat would get stuck in the most backwards position. If I pressed the forward switch, I could hear the motor trying to move something without success. I found out that pushing the seat forward while pressing the button would get it out of its stuck position, and it would then work normally.

This only happened at the very end of the backwards travel.

nsantolick

I've got the same problem on my 1989S4... Planned on dealing with it soon whilst fitting a fire extinguisher mount forward of that seat. I'm hoping to also relocate the after market stereo amp that is currently fitted under the carpet, on top of the fuse box panel plywood cover. (overheats and shuts off in ~30 minutes of max volume...)

What causes this problem in the first place? I'd assume that most passenger seats don't get a lot of use, relative to the drivers side. My drivers seat functions properly...

FREAKINHEAT

Does anyone have a photo of this? I see the cables that meet at the front junction, but the square ends I have no clue where this would be.

fbarnhill

I researched and found an answer to this somewhere. It is an issue with a stop washer on the end of the cable that gets stuck when the seat is pushed all the way back. My 88 had the same issue. The tech bullitin said to simply cut the rear most stop washer off from the rear end of the cable. I haven't done mine yet but am planning on removing the seats to do it. It said it could be done from under the seat but I can't get my arm in mine far enough. I did the same as Nicole and pushed while using the switch. It worked on the drivers side, not on the passenger. Since most of the time it was empty anyway it got put on the can wait till later stack...

Good luck,

dr bob

Pull the plastic cover off the drive motor on the front of the seat. Two phillips screws IIRC. The motor drives the cables via a small gear case, end of each cable fits into the gear case one on each side. There's a wire bail that holds the cables into the gear case. Pop the wire bail with a screwdriver, and you can pull the cable housings (black tubes) clear. This will expose the squared ends of the inner drive cables. Use a small crescent-style adjustable wrench on each one, turn a few turns to get the seat to move slightly forward. Do both cables the same amount, then fit them back to the gear case there, refit the wire bail, and you should be able to use the seat motor to move it forward now that it is un-stuck from the rear. Don't go too far--you still need to put the cover back on.

FREAKINHEAT

Thanks everyone for the advice. I found the clips and just pulled the cables out and finally saw what everyone was talking about. I was able to move the seat foward by taking a crescent to each cable. The problem is not only that it was stuck, but now come to find out the switch for forward doesn't work, but back does. I sprayed some wd-40 in the switch per previous post, and it help with other seat movements, but not forward!!! GRRRRRRR

Any suggestions?

White Lightnin'

Replace or rebuild...

A recent thread on same issue: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...at-switch.html

astvic

I have just finished a frontseat mechanical makeover

My front passenger seat had the same problem !! so beside the electrical things already mentioned, do the following (remember also to have a "fresh" battery). At least this worked for me !

It's very simpel ! Loosen all the bolts (6 I think) that holds the seat-rails to the botton of the car. Don't remove the bolt's , just so that the seat is loose. After I did that the seat could actually move back and forth !

Drive the seat to one of the end positions and tight up opposite ends bolts slightly. Do the same in the other end position.
The seat will then postion the rails to "perfect" fit !! run the seat back and forth a couple of times. then do the final tighting of the bolts to correct XNm.

Hope it's works for you ?????

martinss

I had the same issue on the passenger seat of my '88 S4 - it was stuck in the rearmost position. I was able to free up one side by turning the disconnected cable with a vise grip, but the other side was so stuck I risked breaking the cable. In the end I had to put the vice grip on the threaded shaft and break it loose - after removing the seat I found there was no damage to the shaft. I had planned to write this up and took some pics; here's the one of the disconnected cables - the inboard one has the vice grip:



BTW, after removing the seat I was able to clean up the filth under it easily.

FREAKINHEAT

I guess I know what I'll be doing tonight. My problem seems to be electrical besides breaking all the teeth off of the manual gears. Anyone make a replacement metal gear instead of the weak plastic ones?

Thanks everyone for the advice and photos.

Mark Anderson

Forget what I said, read above

Dave928S

What is the permanent fix for this issue? What has been said above, and I'd like more info on that if that's the case, or what Dr Bob said ... I have the same issue on my GTS intermittently on both seats.

martinss

They didn't break! They are designed to have a section where the electric motor can turn without turning the manual override. If you read one of the old threads a RLer thought the same thing, bought new gears, and found they had the same section missing.