seat jammed!!
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 15
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seat jammed!!
Just purchased a 96 Targa. (Yes, pics will be coming) The driver's seat worked fine till I got it home. I called the dealership (four hours away) and they said it was probably a drive cable. I replaced them both. Seat won't move! The motor works but the seat remains stuck all the way back. Dealer said maybe some change is stuck in the seat track and I'll have to bring it back for them to look at it.
I can get to the front seat bolts but not the rear ones. Before I make an eigth hour round trip - any ideas on how to remedy this situation?
Thanks
Tim
I can get to the front seat bolts but not the rear ones. Before I make an eigth hour round trip - any ideas on how to remedy this situation?
Thanks
Tim
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati
Tim,
If you are really into solving this yoursellf, the seat needs to come out (unless you spot an offending "coin of the realm" as you dismantle it!) As mentioned, plenty of info in the archives on getting them out... you don't mention what the issue is with back bolts... rounded-off heads? It's all well documented.
Once out and upside down it's real easy to see what's binding. An external 12v source made t/shooting simple when I had the d/seat out to fix a lot of slop backwards & forwards. Turns out the screw rod mounting was loose and the mounting of the plastic slider that rides on it was also loose. Added together I was moving forward 1/4-3/8" everytime I hit the brakes hard. Feels disconcerting!
Opposite problem to you I know, but could be the same "bad actors".
I got lots of photos and thoughts if you need help with it once out.
Good luck,
If you are really into solving this yoursellf, the seat needs to come out (unless you spot an offending "coin of the realm" as you dismantle it!) As mentioned, plenty of info in the archives on getting them out... you don't mention what the issue is with back bolts... rounded-off heads? It's all well documented.
Once out and upside down it's real easy to see what's binding. An external 12v source made t/shooting simple when I had the d/seat out to fix a lot of slop backwards & forwards. Turns out the screw rod mounting was loose and the mounting of the plastic slider that rides on it was also loose. Added together I was moving forward 1/4-3/8" everytime I hit the brakes hard. Feels disconcerting!
Opposite problem to you I know, but could be the same "bad actors".
I got lots of photos and thoughts if you need help with it once out.
Good luck,
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati
Doh! Seat jammed back = can't get to bolts... sorry about that.
Can you raise the seat to see/feel under there? You mentioned the motor works... Are the threaded rods "torquing" when you push the button? Watch your fingers under there!! Is there ANY fwd & back play in the seat? Assuming there is at least some, work through the "system" to what's moving in respect to what. I'll dig out those under seat pics it may help.
Can you raise the seat to see/feel under there? You mentioned the motor works... Are the threaded rods "torquing" when you push the button? Watch your fingers under there!! Is there ANY fwd & back play in the seat? Assuming there is at least some, work through the "system" to what's moving in respect to what. I'll dig out those under seat pics it may help.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Texas
It is not necessary to remove the seat. Get a square bit driver that fits the seat side of the drive cables and turn the screws manually until the seat unjams. Make sure the seat is moved an even # of turns, then reconnect the drive cables and the seat should work.
Try not to run the seat all the way in or out as this seems to exaserbate the binding of the seat.
Hope this helps
Try not to run the seat all the way in or out as this seems to exaserbate the binding of the seat.
Hope this helps
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Nova Scotia
I've found that when the seat is all the way back ( all the time for me), it helps to raise the rear prior to racking it forward: I ended up with two broken cables doing otherwise.
At this point, it may be a good time to unclip the cable sheathes from the motor and pull the cables for an inspection - if the motor turns and the seat doesn't move, the cables are a casuality ...
You can take an old cable and chuck it in a electric drill - rack out the two tracks progressively.
At this point, it may be a good time to unclip the cable sheathes from the motor and pull the cables for an inspection - if the motor turns and the seat doesn't move, the cables are a casuality ...
You can take an old cable and chuck it in a electric drill - rack out the two tracks progressively.
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Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 15
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Thanks for the ideas. So far I've tried a square bit driver in the seat screw - no movement at all. I've tried rocking the seat - no go.
Does anyone know if the seat cushion and frame can be removed without taking the seat out? I see the four motors into the underside corners and two pivot points in about the middle of the seat base which screw in. Better access to the drive mechanism may help me get it moving.
Tim
Does anyone know if the seat cushion and frame can be removed without taking the seat out? I see the four motors into the underside corners and two pivot points in about the middle of the seat base which screw in. Better access to the drive mechanism may help me get it moving.
Tim
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From: Boston
This is common. You need to try the "rodeo" method ... hold your finger on the button to move it forward and shake your a-- like crazy, back and forth, side to side ... it will free up and move forward again. (The key is holding your finger on the button so the motor will catch it when you move it just right.) You can also hit it sharply from the back with your finger on the button (sounds suggestive, doesn't it?) and it might do the trick.
Then try to avoid having it all the way back and it won't stick anymore. If you like it all the way back just move it up a fraction of an inch in the future and it should be fine.
Then try to avoid having it all the way back and it won't stick anymore. If you like it all the way back just move it up a fraction of an inch in the future and it should be fine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
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Another unique Porsche quirk. Sit in the seat and use your power forward button while using your weight like another member suggested to help the seat move forward. This should work but if not, try it again with the car started. Sometimes the seat motor needs a little more power surge from the battery. This condition usually happens in the passenger side and when someone with long legs powers the seat back to the limit. You'll have to ask Porsche Germany why this happens, but I have had this happen with all of my P-Cars.
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From: Shrewsbury MA
When I re-assembled my drive cables, I took the suggestion to added a revolution to the jammed side. The theory is that the seat will tarvel with the motors slightly off parallel and the seat will come to a stop before jamming in the fully rear postion. Might be coincidental but my seat has not jammed since I tried this.