1986 Seat Adjustment Motor Replacement - Advice?

[Bitte ein Bit]

Getting ready to try and check/replace/fix the motor in the backrest in my 1986 seat. I haven't had the "pleasure" of taking the seats 'apart' as the leather/material is good, but I have had the seats out in the past so no issues there.

Just wondering if there is any advice on breaking the backrest down and putting it back together - I will check all connections and do have a spare motor so no problems on that end. I don't feel like it's a very hard task, found a few old threads on replacing the leather and will use them as guidance once I get the motor working.

I do have all brand new seat controls as an FYI. Both seats are electric and everything runs perfect other than not getting any response to the motor in the one backrest and now it's stuck too far back.



This forum has been so helpful through the years and as always thank you everyone for any advice, insight or guidance -

Regards,
Erik

[GH85Carrera]

I am answering this only for future searches.

Yes, indeed that recline motor is buried up inside the headrest.



I had to skin the seat back, and the motor is up in the area of grey material.



Once the seat has no covering it is possible to pull back the material of the headrest and you can see the motor. You can see the two connectors where the wires attach. The two wires are run inside of a plastic conduit along the side of the seat.

After going through all the effort of skinning the seat I discovered to was indeed my black wire that had a short.



It was about there at the bend in the conduit where the arrow points. In the end, I did not have to take the seat skin off, as the short was accessible. The conduit had no damage and looked fine. I started cutting it off and found this.



So I suggest you carefully remove the plastic sheath or conduit and look for a break in either wire. If no break is found, you will need to remove the leather or whatever covering is on your seat.

[Bitte ein Bit]

Perfect timing! I am about to tackle the backrest motor issue in the coming weeks as the weather here in Texas is cooling off.

Many thanks for responding and even more thanks for the photos. This should help a lot of us in the future.

Erik

[john walker's workshop]

9 out of 10 it's the switch, but you're probably past that.

[Bitte ein Bit]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

9 out of 10 it's the switch, but you're probably past that.

Swapped switch with an established working one then bought new and still no dice.

It's a good reminder though...always start simple.


Erik

[GH85Carrera]

It is real easy to put 12 volts to the wire going up inside the seat back. It does not matter which wire gets + or - if it does not move reverse the wires. It should move one direction then the other when the wires are reversed.

On mine, it would not move or make any noise as the short in the wire was the issue.