Seat Removal When Power Seat Switch Not Working

[Shadetree930]

The set-up:

87 Carrera with 8-way power seats. The passenger seat is stuck the full-back position. The 8-way power seat switch to move this seat forward on the track does not work. All other directions on the passenger seat work fine.

The story:

I went out and bought a Halon fire extinguisher after reading the recent spate of Porsche engine fire threads. I got the extinguisher mounted in front of the passenger seat with some contortionist moves, but it would have been easy if I had been able to detach the seat from the rails first.

The question:

With the seat in its current position, I can not get to the back 4 allen screw/bolts that hold the rear part of the seat frame to the track. If I cant get to those allen screw/bolts, I can't remove the seat to do stuff like replacing the switch.

Any ideas?

[hoosierdaddy]

Can you hear the seat motor run when you try and move the seat forward ?
Jim

[Jeff]

Prials, On the bottom of the front of the seat base there is a manual adjustment screw (allen bolt). You can use this to move the seat forward and aft.

In regards to you power seat switch. You may just need to clean the contacts. It worked for me and saved $$$ for a new switch.

[Shadetree930]

Thanks for the quick replies!

No noise when I depress switch to make seat go forward. I have always suspected corroded contact but needed to get seat out to do this task, right?

I will go out and try the manual adjustment right now!

Woohooo Pelican BBS rocks!

[ECSjr]

Does it work when you press the switch to make it go backwards? I have switched the connections in order to move the seat the other way when one way stopped working.
Right now my passenger seat will not go back... so i reversed the connections on the motor under the front of the seat, and press the forward switch again...and the seat goes back.

Ed
'92 C2 Cab

[Shadetree930]

Yes, it works in all directions but forward.

How hard is it to open up and clean the contacts on this switch? I thought I remembered reading that it is quite a process to perform a reassembly of the switch once it is opened up.

[Teutonics]

It's a pain, but can be done..... especially since it will save you about $65!

Reassembly is tricky, it took me a couple of tries to get it back together with all of the parts in the right place. It helped to use little (tiny!) dabs of di-electric grease to hold the little pieces in place during re-assembly.

[ChrisBennet]

I don't know if this is the same problem you are having but maybe it will apply. From my archives..
-Chris

If you have electric seats that are jammed but the motor still works (or
tries to work), read this. It applies to 928 S4/GT, 911 Carrera 2/4, 944
S2 models. This is one of those jobs that takes 30 minutes to figure out
and 5 minutes to do. I hope that my explanation helps reduce the time.
The seats on my '88 928-S4 have worked perfectly since I applied this
TSB.

Porsche Technical Bulletin #79003 December 1990

928 S4/GT, 911 Carrera 2/4, 944 S2 electric seat jammed in backward stop
position. Electric seat motor not powerful enough to pull seat from
stop.

The stop washers on the seat rail threaded rod are modified (harder
material) from production date June 5, 1990. The color of the new washer
is white (previously light brown). Note: Some of the washers on my '88
928 S4 were black and some were dark reddish brown. The washers are
about 3/4" in diameter and 1/4" thick.

The stop washers are not available as spare parts. If the seat is jammed
in the backward stop position on earlier cars, cut the stop washers with
a side cutter or similar tool (dykes) and discard.

Keep in mind that the rear stop washers are actually on the front part
of the threaded rod, in front of the stationary nut that the threaded
rod acts on. The forward stop washers on the drivers seat were missing
on my car as though somebody tried to install the fix but cut off the
wrong washers.

The method that I used on my '88 928 S4 was to raise both the front and
rear of the seat and put the seat almost all the way forward. I found
that on my car if I hit the forward switch many times with the engine
running (for higher voltage) it would come unstuck and finally move
forward. If your seat wont go forward, don't try to hand crank it with
the "speed wrench,"You will probably only break the plastic gear. Pull
the cables out of the motor and try to free each side individually.
There is a nut at the end of the threaded rod that imbeds itself in the
stop washer and keeps the threaded rod from turning. As a last resort
you may be able to cut the stop washer off with a knife to free the
threaded rod.

It's hard to see under the seat and the stop washers are all the way
forward on their threaded rods and you can't get to the stop washers
from the front of the seat. Looking forward from behind the seat, look
behind (to the rear) of the stationary nut, you can see what the front
stop washer looks like. It is identical to the rear stop washers (which
are at the front). Reach under the seat and follow the threaded rod all
the way to the front with your fingers. The washer will slide back on
the rod with some effort. Pull it back almost to the stationary nut. You
can see it now. Cut it off with your diagonal cutters. It is made of
hard rubber. Do the same with the washer on the other threaded rod. Also
do the other seat.

The TSB also says to move the seat at least five time against the
backward stop position with someone sitting in the seat and if it still
jams, replace the outer seat rail.

Left Seat Outer Rail: Part Number 928 521 489 08 Right Seat Outer Rail:
Part Number 928 521 490 08

It is relatively easy to remove the stop washers yourself so it would
probably be easier to do this job yourself rather than take it to a
Porsche dealer. I don't know if this is a free fix or not, you could try
Porsche. If you remove the washers and still have the problem it would
be worth a try to have the Porsche dealer replace the seat rails.

Earl Gillstrom '88 928 S4 5-Speed

[Shadetree930]

The plot continues to thicken:

I tried the old "allen wrench in the manual spot routine". No Luck. The little plastic gear is missing more than one tooth and when I do get it to grab... it ain't going nowhere!

Switch is dead in the water so it is not a sticking washer situation.

Still can not get to the back allen screws.

Given this scenario, what do I do next?

[Jeff]

Prials, My manual gear acted like it was missing teeth also. Catch, skip, catch... but it just had a flat spot in it (Maybe made that way). Anyway can you turn the manual screw while "helping" the seat forward?

[Shadetree930]

Its definitely missing teeth.

I will try the helper pushing whilst I am turning trick.

[Shadetree930]

OK, I tried to turn the manual crank while someone pushed on the seat from behind. It did not budge. I am stumped. How on earth do I get to the these allen bolts if the seat will not move forward? There has to be a way right?

[fitz]

Prials,
I had to change the drive's side switch on my 88 cab. I to have two switches for eight way power adjustments on my car. The same switch as yours (fowards and backwards) didn't work. At the time I replaced the switch I didn't know about this board. So, I scapped the heck out of my hands and changed the switch while the seat was still bolted in. I don't recommend doing this because it kills the hands and it took me several hours and I still need to change some things. Also, now my passenger side is going and I would also, like you, like to hear from others on how to do this the right way.

As a friend would say to me "I really feel for ya man?" Ron Fitz

[mick's picks]

My switch for longitudinal and vertical movement was crushed.
The seat is fairly far back. I have a new switch but have 2 questions:
How do I remove the seat in that position?
The switch is in a double switch housing which I cant figure how to release the broken one. Help?