Drivers seat

[D R Oldfield]

I have a problem with my drivers seat in my 1.9 1997 Z the seat is stuck at its furthest most back position and i cant get it to move forward to get to the fixing bolts , i have taken the flexible shafts out and tried the trick with the drill and even modified a allan key to fit the input but it turns quarter of a turn the goes sold the up and down motor works fine and the seat goes up and down ok , its MOT time so i need to get it fixed any one have any ideas how i can move it and gain access to the bolts ?

 

[GazHyde]

Are you getting any response from the motors when using the switch? Trying to figure out if jammed lor motor dead.

 

[D R Oldfield]

HI motor runs fine i have discconnected both flexible shafts and seat goes up and down ok on the motor

 

[t-tony]

Try tapping the motor with a small hammer whilst operating the switch it will usually free a motor which has been in the same position for a long time.

Tony.

 

[GazHyde]

HI motor runs fine i have discconnected both flexible shafts and seat goes up and down ok on the motor

There are two motors, one for each direction. At least we know the motor runs so I’d suspect something trapped in the rails like a coin.

 

[D R Oldfield]

Thats what i am thinking is this a Mot failure ?is there any way to remove the seat or free it off ?

 

[Peter12345]

Mot fail depends on the tester & if he's a jobsworth. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-ins...-body-structure-and-attachments#section-6-2-5

If you've removed the flexible shafts, then it's either the 90-deg gears, or long thread seized. I had this on son's passenger seat.

The solution was to get some 3mm square rod & 3mm spanner (eBay). Then every day:

1. Squirt loads or penetrating fluid into the gearbox, and down the shaft using the spray straw that most cans come with.
2. Move the gears back & forth with the spanner & square rod.

Eventually it should start to move. Ours took a week or squirt & wiggle, but eventually it started moving. Turned out the bevel gears were badly worn & thread really rusty on door side.

Finally, once you get the seat out, do the bushes, clean threads & replace what's required. Ideally put the seat upside down on bench or workmate, and test with the motor before re-installing.

 

[t-tony]

If the fore and aft movement of the seat does not work as intended.

What is hard to accept about that. It is in black and white. A tester who rejects that car is doing his job. End of.

Tony.

 

[D R Oldfield]

it got to be right i have borrowed a endoscope to see if i fan find anything in the runners

 

[Peter12345]

@t-tony yes you’re right, but testers vary !

 

[t-tony]

@t-tony yes you’re right, but testers vary !

Agreed. But one doing his job properly does not make him a "Jobsworth", it makes him, or her, conscientious. You should try carrying the responsibility of doing a thankless task is all I'm saying. There are some Testers who do not do the job correctly and they make it more difficult for the ones who do.
I did it from 1977 until the end of 2018.

Tony.