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As your car’s power seat eventually fails, and you won’t be able to modify the car seat to your liking. An electric seat can fail for a variety of causes, the most common of which is a defective power seat switch. Whatever the reason for the seat’s inability to move, you must learn how to move an electric seat manually. In this basic power seat repair instruction, I’ll show you how.
What’s the point of learning how to repair an electric car seat? For the same reason, you should learn how to change a flat tire. When driving your car, you must be prepared for anything that may occur. If your power seat won’t move or won’t move forward, you won’t have to wait long for a professional to come out.
You may also modify the seat to reach the brakes or alter the motorized seat rapidly to suit a large passenger. You may even save time and money by using the right tools and following the right techniques for power seat switch repair.
Read also related articles: Minivans with stowable seats, Lumbar support for cars, and Nissan Rogue have 3rd row seating?
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Common causes of faulty power seats
A power seat can become stuck for a variety of reasons. A broken power seat switch is the most likely cause of a motionless power seat. You may be unable to adjust your seat at all, or you may be able to move it only in certain directions. To discover how to replace the power seat switch, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
In some circumstances, trapped debris in the power seat system may be the cause of the problem. If this is the case, you should obtain professional assistance to reactivate the power seat.
Quick fixes for a faulty power seat
If you’re dealing with a failed power seat, master these simple remedies before going on to how to manually move a power seat. You may be able to solve the problem in your own garage. If all else fails, manually move your power seat until you can get it checked out by an expert.
Simultaneously move and push down the seat
When your power seat is acting up, try this suggestion first if nothing is impeding the seat movement and the motors are still on. Simply push the seat backwards or forwards while applying significant downward pressure to the seat. The side movements can be done in the same way.
Another easy repair is to hold the switch and try to adjust the seat in the desired direction while holding the switch.
Loosen the bolts on the seat
Accumulated stress between the seat and the bolts connecting it to the rails is another common cause of a stuck power seat. Loosening them may provide more maneuvering space for the seat, allowing it to return to service. The issue of a stuck power seat may be resolved by loosening the bolt.
Check for bad contacts
Electrical transmission failure can also be caused by bad contacts, which means the seat will not be able to move. Examine the contacts on the seat switch mechanism for cleanliness, as well as any connection points, to ensure that the seat is correctly powered.
Realign the transmission cables
The three cables that link to the power seat transmission can be found beneath the seat. Check to see if they’re all connected. One cable may be disconnected, which is a regular problem with an immovable power seat.
All you have to do now is return the cable to its original location. For proper alignment, you should hear a definite click. You may need to replace the wires if they are worn out due to tangling between the seat and the rail.
If none of the above methods work to free your stuck power seat, don’t despair; there is still a way to temporarily relieve your pain. With the following basic tools and methods, you may learn how to manually move a power seat.
Moving a power seat using a winder tool
There are two ways to manually move an electric seat. The first is to use a winder tool, which is normally included with your automobile when you buy it. This one-of-a-kind tool comes as standard equipment in almost all car manufacturers and models, and it can be used to service all types of power seats.
If you have a winder, plug it into the electric seat’s motor through a specific port. Locate the seat’s electric motor, which is normally found in the rear of the seat on either the right or left side.
Turn the winder to the right to move your car seat backward, or to the left to move the seat forward, with the tool in your hand. Remove the winder tool once you’re satisfied with the adjustment.
Moving a power seat by taking the seat out
The second approach for adjusting an electric seat is to remove the entire seat and operate on the car seat’s inner mechanisms, which is a time-consuming process. Here are the items you’ll require:
What you’ll need
- A pair of pliers or a hand drill
- A pair of scissors or a knife
- A screwdriver
- Safety goggles and gloves
- Boots and an apron
- Bolt cutters (optional)
Step 1: remove the seat from the car
Do this in the safety of your own house, in your garage. If your power seat becomes stuck while driving, you may have to deal with it until you arrive at your destination. Even if you have all of the necessary materials with you, tinkering with your car seat components while driving is dangerous.
Remove the car seat from your automobile if you’re at home and ready to fix your stuck power seat. You can do this by removing the chair seat or using a pair of scissors or a sharp knife to open the back.
To avoid any accidents, make sure to turn off your car’s engine and remove your car batteries. When working on your car, always wear safety equipment.
Step 2: expose and move the shafts
Once the seat is removed, use a bolt cutter or pliers to cut the mesh under the car seat. By removing the mesh, you’ll have access to the lengthy shaft that adjusts the seat’s position. Only the wire mesh should be cut, not the rest of the seat.
You can now manually adjust the shafts to the proper seat angle after exposing them. To move the long shaft in the right direction, use a pair of pliers. To move forward, turn this to the left, and to the right to move your seat back.
This is a lengthy operation that could take up to 15 rounds of the pliers to get the shaft to run. Continue twisting the shaft until the automobile seat is at the proper angle. Adjust the seat to your preferred level of comfort.
Step 3: return the seat
Replace the mesh on the car seat mechanism and put the seat back in the car properly now that it’s in the proper position. Check if your car seat is in the proper position by sitting and driving. If you need to make more adjustments, just remove the seat and make the necessary adjustments. Read also: Best mechanic toolset for starters.
Final tips
Don’t forget that power seat switch repair is best left to the pros. This is only a band-aid solution; you should still take your car to a mechanic.
If you still can’t adjust the power seat in your car after following the steps above, you should take it to a mechanic. The mechanical element of the switch may be dusty, or debris may be lodged in the mechanism, making electronic switches difficult. These can be checked out by a professional power seat switch repair specialist.
