Seat adjustment issue (4th gen seat in a 3rd gen)
#1
Seat adjustment issue (4th gen seat in a 3rd gen)
I recently installed 4th gen seats into my car. I removed the 4th gen seat track and installed my previous 3rd gen power seat track instead.
Now, whenever I sit down and my back makes contact with the seat, I hear a popping sound and the seat feels like its slightly moving backward, diagonally rearward toward the left. If I try to sit up more, the seatback feels like it will move slightly forward again and return to the position it was in before a person was sitting in the seat.
I'm assuming that the culprit is somewhere in the adjustment lever assembly (the part pertaining to where you would lift the button to allow someone to enter the backseat area behind the drivers seat).
Does this sound/description sound familiar to anyone? The threads I searched never really got too specific about where the movement was coming from. If this problem does sound familiar to you and it has to do with the seat tilt adjuster, is there a repair that needs to be done, or a tightening of something?
Regarding any questions for me you may have, the power seat track is fully operational in all positions, the floor mounting studs are intact, as are the floor pans. Also, the seat track was mounted on equal numbers of washers to keep it level. The leather seats are from a 97 Formula that had minimal wear and low miles and still plenty of cushion and the tilt button still works with smooth movement.
Thanks in advance!
Now, whenever I sit down and my back makes contact with the seat, I hear a popping sound and the seat feels like its slightly moving backward, diagonally rearward toward the left. If I try to sit up more, the seatback feels like it will move slightly forward again and return to the position it was in before a person was sitting in the seat.
I'm assuming that the culprit is somewhere in the adjustment lever assembly (the part pertaining to where you would lift the button to allow someone to enter the backseat area behind the drivers seat).
Does this sound/description sound familiar to anyone? The threads I searched never really got too specific about where the movement was coming from. If this problem does sound familiar to you and it has to do with the seat tilt adjuster, is there a repair that needs to be done, or a tightening of something?
Regarding any questions for me you may have, the power seat track is fully operational in all positions, the floor mounting studs are intact, as are the floor pans. Also, the seat track was mounted on equal numbers of washers to keep it level. The leather seats are from a 97 Formula that had minimal wear and low miles and still plenty of cushion and the tilt button still works with smooth movement.
Thanks in advance!
Last edited by majobis; 09-21-2011 at 01:13 PM.
#2
Re: Seat adjustment issue (4th gen)
The more I've sat in it, the more I'm thinking that it could be an issue with the power seat track instead. The seat rocks back and forth, but diagonally; down to the left and then straight upward again. Anyone know if the corners of the track (between where the bolt goes into the seat and where it attaches to have springs or is it strictly hydraulic?
#3
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Re: Seat adjustment issue (4th gen)
power seats...
Your power seat assembly has NO HYDRAULICS.
Simply put - it has one electric motor that is attached to a power seat transmission.
The transmission has 6 square cables going to actuators.
The actuators are gear driven by the square cable
the two in back are for rear tilt, the front two are for front tili and the middle are for front & back. Up and Down turns both front and rear tilt.
If you have a popping noise, adjust the seat all the way in the up position.
You should be able to look under the seat while someone is in it, see what is "rocking"
The opower seat assembly from a 3rd gen may not bolt all the onto a 4th gen seat without a washer or two, maybe. I am not sure
Th eactuators do get some play in them eventually, you will know more when you get a good look at it.
Your power seat assembly has NO HYDRAULICS.
Simply put - it has one electric motor that is attached to a power seat transmission.
The transmission has 6 square cables going to actuators.
The actuators are gear driven by the square cable
the two in back are for rear tilt, the front two are for front tili and the middle are for front & back. Up and Down turns both front and rear tilt.
If you have a popping noise, adjust the seat all the way in the up position.
You should be able to look under the seat while someone is in it, see what is "rocking"
The opower seat assembly from a 3rd gen may not bolt all the onto a 4th gen seat without a washer or two, maybe. I am not sure
Th eactuators do get some play in them eventually, you will know more when you get a good look at it.
#4
Problem Found!
I recently installed 4th gen seats into my car. I removed the 4th gen seat track and installed my previous 3rd gen power seat track instead.
Now, whenever I sit down and my back makes contact with the seat, I hear a popping sound and the seat feels like its slightly moving backward, diagonally rearward toward the left. If I try to sit up more, the seatback feels like it will move slightly forward again and return to the position it was in before a person was sitting in the seat.
Today, I removed the seat from the car and the power track from the seat. It was then that the problem stared me in the face; a support plate (drivers left rear) is cracked!
To make matters worse, I have a spare power seat track and when I dug that out, the same location plate on that one is cracked as well! I'm going to see if I can somehow remove a non-cracked plate from the spare. Below, are two photos of the spare track showing a cracked plate in the same spot as the one that was installed in my car. A full shot and a closeup. Any ideas?
Now, whenever I sit down and my back makes contact with the seat, I hear a popping sound and the seat feels like its slightly moving backward, diagonally rearward toward the left. If I try to sit up more, the seatback feels like it will move slightly forward again and return to the position it was in before a person was sitting in the seat.
Today, I removed the seat from the car and the power track from the seat. It was then that the problem stared me in the face; a support plate (drivers left rear) is cracked!
To make matters worse, I have a spare power seat track and when I dug that out, the same location plate on that one is cracked as well! I'm going to see if I can somehow remove a non-cracked plate from the spare. Below, are two photos of the spare track showing a cracked plate in the same spot as the one that was installed in my car. A full shot and a closeup. Any ideas?
#7
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Re: Seat adjustment issue (4th gen seat in a 3rd gen)
so you fixd it? I also took out my manual 4th gen seats and put the 3rd gen power tracks on there and i also have that "up and down rocking" mine is on the back left side. I found out that it was the spring, it doesnt want to stay all the way extended like my right track does. Im thinking about just completely taking the power ones off and putting back the manual tracs back on, not really a big deal to me but oh well lol.
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#8
Re: Seat adjustment issue (4th gen seat in a 3rd gen)
I'd suggest removing the power seat track from the seat bottom. I did this and the wires were long enough to let me lay the track on the ground while still being plugged into the power source.
This way, you'll be able to do a good cleaning and lubing of the track and afterward, you can monitor all movement of the track. Be sure to check carefully for stress cracks like the one I showed above. Note also that a spare power track I acquired had cracks in these places as well so I'm assuming it's a trouble spot.
This way, you'll be able to do a good cleaning and lubing of the track and afterward, you can monitor all movement of the track. Be sure to check carefully for stress cracks like the one I showed above. Note also that a spare power track I acquired had cracks in these places as well so I'm assuming it's a trouble spot.
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