Inflatable seats not working
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 1
From: Montreal quebec
Inflatable seats not working
just bought an 86. I have the sports seats. I'm trying to understand what is suppose to be happening when I press one of the 3 round buttons... is it on inflate or deflate? Should there be a sound when I press the buttons. Passenger or driver, nothing happens.
Must be something that often breaks and what is usually the problem and remedy?
Also, passenger side. The button to move back and forth the back of the seat doesn't work. I hear a sound when pressing but nothing happens. Like if a gear was broken.
Anyone knows how to repair?
THanks
Must be something that often breaks and what is usually the problem and remedy?
Also, passenger side. The button to move back and forth the back of the seat doesn't work. I hear a sound when pressing but nothing happens. Like if a gear was broken.
Anyone knows how to repair?
THanks
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
The buttonms for the inflatable lumbar should make it inflate or deflate and you should be able to hear or feel it run against your back.If not,somethings wrong,either bad switch or busted air bag inside.
Now the seat tracks,alot of them go bad.If yoiu hear it grinding but wont move anywhere,remove the bottom seat cushion by reaching down in front underneath the seat and theres a thin metal handle.Lift that up and you can pull the bottom seat cushion out.Look to see if anything is jamming the track or motor.If nothing,you may need a rebuilt power seat rack.
The seats are held down by 4 bolts in the floor.You can remove them to get a better look under there and get the entire seat assembly out.
A few of the corvette companies rebuild them.I do knot know if local stores would sell the motor for it or not.I believe MAD,Ecklers or other big name corvette places can do this for you.
You can also try salvage yards for a good used unit if you need one.
One I liked dealing with in the past was http://www.tabercorvetteparts.com/
Now the seat tracks,alot of them go bad.If yoiu hear it grinding but wont move anywhere,remove the bottom seat cushion by reaching down in front underneath the seat and theres a thin metal handle.Lift that up and you can pull the bottom seat cushion out.Look to see if anything is jamming the track or motor.If nothing,you may need a rebuilt power seat rack.
The seats are held down by 4 bolts in the floor.You can remove them to get a better look under there and get the entire seat assembly out.
A few of the corvette companies rebuild them.I do knot know if local stores would sell the motor for it or not.I believe MAD,Ecklers or other big name corvette places can do this for you.
You can also try salvage yards for a good used unit if you need one.
One I liked dealing with in the past was http://www.tabercorvetteparts.com/
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,867
Likes: 3
From: Pasadena Maryland
My 93 has 1 rocker switch and 3 buttons. The rocker switch turns the pump on (Only while you hold it down). The 3 buttons let the air out of 3 different bladders, the top button deflates the top bladder....Etc.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 362
Likes: 1
From: Montreal quebec
Originally Posted by kalister1
My 93 has 1 rocker switch and 3 buttons. The rocker switch turns the pump on (Only while you hold it down). The 3 buttons let the air out of 3 different bladders, the top button deflates the top bladder....Etc.
Okay... I have a bladder problem
nothing is happening... must be the pump I guess.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 802
Likes: 0
From: What do I know anyway? I'm just a 50 year old No0b
It's not necessarily the pump by any means. Those plastic lines and bladders only last a few years and go bad. I elected not to fix mine, figuring for the cost it wouldn't last anyway. Just my .02
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 89
Likes: 1
From: ca
This is how I fixed my diaphragms.
I used 50cc Holley accelerater pump diaphragms. Grind the rivet off and carfully trim all but 1/32" of the flange with a razor blade. I left on that thin edge for a better fit and better clamping.
The finished diaphragm is at the bottom. The plunger and pump cover are shown.
Sorry, the trimmed diaphragm shown is a 30cc pump and it didn't allow for enough travel. Had to use the 50cc.
I used 50cc Holley accelerater pump diaphragms. Grind the rivet off and carfully trim all but 1/32" of the flange with a razor blade. I left on that thin edge for a better fit and better clamping.
The finished diaphragm is at the bottom. The plunger and pump cover are shown.
Sorry, the trimmed diaphragm shown is a 30cc pump and it didn't allow for enough travel. Had to use the 50cc.
Last edited by RichardJ; Feb 4, 2006 at 10:53 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
From: Tucson, AZ. L98-85 AUTO COUPE: 120k MILES: daily driver. SOUND OFF IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE. Ex-Jumpin' Junky-82nd Airborne-2/505 PIR: 1st ID-1/16th Inf: Recon Marine Retread. GOD BLESS GRUNTS.
Originally Posted by RichardJ
This is how I fixed my diaphragms.
I used 50cc Holley accelerater pump diaphragms. Grind the rivet off and carfully trim all but 1/32" of the flange with a razor blade. I left on that thin edge for a better fit and better clamping.
The finished diaphragm is at the bottom. The plunger and pump cover are shown.
Sorry, the trimmed diaphragm shown is a 30cc pump and it didn't allow for enough travel. Had to use the 50cc.
I used 50cc Holley accelerater pump diaphragms. Grind the rivet off and carfully trim all but 1/32" of the flange with a razor blade. I left on that thin edge for a better fit and better clamping.
The finished diaphragm is at the bottom. The plunger and pump cover are shown.
Sorry, the trimmed diaphragm shown is a 30cc pump and it didn't allow for enough travel. Had to use the 50cc.
nice one, froggy.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Oreland Keystone State
Check out the FAQ's for pump repair, I made a diaphragm out of a bicycle tube. Just cut out a circle the same size as the old one, punched a hole for the screw and it works great. Took about a half an hour.
DS
DS
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,867
Likes: 3
From: Pasadena Maryland
I repaired both of my 93 seats pumps. One pump i used a rubber glove (3 pieces) and on the other I used an old bicycle tire inner tube. The inner tube might be a little to thick, that pump runs slower than the 3 pieces of rubber glove. 2 of my bladders compartments bleed down quickly, now I have to look into fixing the air release buttons
