Power Seat Broke!

[WantaVette]

Well I had my first thing break on the vette today. I was cleaning the carpet and moving the seats back and forth and the driver's side stopped working, everything else works but I cant move it back and forth. The only way I got it so that i could drive is by pressing the button and pulling on the seat. When I try to move it it just makes this grinding kind of noise. Please help, I dont know what to do. If I have to take the seat out, please someone explain in detail how to do it. I have a 96 with the sport seats.

 

[Ken]

The drive cable may have backed out of its connection. There's a knurled attachment at the end of the cable, similar to those on mechanical speedometer and tach drives. Check to see if it's come undone or loose.

 

[KOPBET]

Not overly complicated so let's take it step by step. You said everything else works so just to verify, I am understanding that the front and rear of the seat independently raise and lower. Is this correct? If not then stop here and let's discuss.

You will have to remove the seat bottom cushion to eyeball the operation of the seat adjuster. Locate the retainer wire at the lower front of the seat and while pushing down on the seat pull the wire forward and down to release the seat cushion.

There is a motor assy on one side that has three independent motors in it connected to flexible cables that pass through three plastic tubes. The other end of the cables connect to the "transmission" that has gearing inside to operate the front/rear lift and front/back operation.
Mechanical operation (rotation of the cable) should be apparent when energizing the motor. Operate the remaining working functions and you will see what I mean. If the gears inside the transmission are shot then you could have rotation of the cable but no movement of the seat unless the mechanism is bound up. In that case you should see the cable move and flex slightly against the restriction of the transmission when you turn on the motor. If the motor doesn't energize then we will have to digress a bit and look at several options.

 

[tcramstrek]

I had a damn ball point pen jamb mine before, and it was not easy to see untill I removed the seat cushion for inspection of the tracks. The pen was lodged on the inboard side of the aft portion on the inner slide.

 

[JRMaroon]

The gear box (not the motors) seems to be a weak spot with these seats. Mine is currently doing the same thing as you describe. I removed the seat and track to see if a good cleaning and lubrication would resolve the problem. My motors work fine and the damage is in the gearbox which is a sealed unit. In my research I have yet to find a rebuild or replacement for the gearbox. I have only seen new or rebuilt offerings for the whole seat track unit (motor, gearbox, track).

If anyone knows of a replacement for the gearbox, please let us know.

Jeff

 

[KOPBET]

I have only seen new or rebuilt offerings for the whole seat track unit (motor, gearbox, track).

If anyone knows of a replacement for the gearbox, please let us know.

Jeff

Hey Jeff!

No kidding about the seat track unit. $300 at gmpartsdirect.com

10137221
10137222

No motor though.

 

[WantaVette]

Ok so I've got the cushion off and it seems like the drive cable has backed out but I'm not sure. Its still connected and when I push it hard into the transmission, it works a little bit, but as soon as I let go, nothing but the same grinding noise. The cables dont seem to be binding up, they dont flex at all. Please help.

 

[WantaVette]

ok scratch that last post. I was looking at the wrong cable. The one in the middle is binding up and flexing when I try to move the seat back and forth. I'm guessing that means the gears are shot. Any ideas?

 

[KOPBET]

ok scratch that last post. I was looking at the wrong cable. The one in the middle is binding up and flexing when I try to move the seat back and forth. I'm guessing that means the gears are shot. Any ideas?

I would agree. At this point the only replacement that I know about is the entire seat adjuster sans motor as alluded to before unless you can find one on eBay or a salvage yard.

 

[JRMaroon]

The Last Detail has offered a rebuilt unit for $195 with exchange. I don't see it in the current online catalog but it is listed in their 2003 catalog.

 

[marine1975]

Rebuilt seats

If I remember correctly, Corvette Central lists the rebuilt seats in their catalog at about $180, with core exchange. Also, I know several others list them. Maybe Eckler's or MidAmerica.....

I am gonna have to replace both of mine when I get back from Iraq.

 

[G Winter]

I would do some checking . knowing GM I have a hard time believing that a gearbox for a power seat would be special for one model.Take yours to a salvage yard and have them check. May not have the same part number but put some of them side by side and you should be able to tell.

 

[Achilles]

Sounds like the track gears might be stripped. Mine did the same thing and I just replaced it last week with a rebuilt unit from Eckler's. Works great now. You'll have to transfer you track springs to the new piece before returning it for your core. In fact, just sent my core back yesterday....$ 21 UPS.