Troubleshooting Lumbar Supports

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Nov 29, 2010 | 04:40 PM

hzz

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Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 2006

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From: Toronto

Troubleshooting Lumbar Supports

On my 99 driver's seat, none of the lumbar supports inflate.

I assumed that it would be the bladders, so I opened up the back of the seat today.

I was surprised to find all the bladders were fine, and hold air when I blow into them. The fittings were also OK.

Since none of them work I think it could be either the air pump, the switches, or the device that sends the air to the different bladders.

I have the seat at home, car is in storage.

Any way I can troubleshoot this problem with the seat out of the car? I would like to get it fixed while the car is in storage.

Thanks

Nov 29, 2010 | 06:46 PM

dgrant3830

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From: Van Buren Arkansas

Wounded Warrior Escort '11

First off, does the air pump come on when you command a bladder to inflate? If not, look at the fuse in the passenger footwell.

Nov 30, 2010 | 10:16 AM

hzz

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Melting Slicks

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From: Toronto

Seat is in basement now, but when it was in the car I could hear a hum from the pump when switch was activated.

Although the passenger seat, which works, did sound different when the lumbars were inflating

Nov 30, 2010 | 12:04 PM

dgrant3830

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Joined: Dec 2006

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From: Van Buren Arkansas

Wounded Warrior Escort '11

Get a 12volt power source like a battery. Then run a couple of leads to the small compressor motor since you have the seat out. Disconnect the existing leads to the motor, then touch the wires from the power source to the motor leads and see if it runs. If it does, then the motor is ok and if not, its dead. It should sound like a buzz as such as its running and in this test, you should easily feel it rotating. Check the plastic tube from it to the solenoid circuit board assembly and insure there are no cracked tubes. Also the tubes lead away from each solenoid to the bladders, check for cracks.

Nov 30, 2010 | 01:08 PM

hzz

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Melting Slicks

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From: Toronto

Tubing all looks good, as do the tubing connections, which surprised me.

I'll hook up 12 volts to the motor tonight and see what happens.

Does that solenoid circuit board go bad, or is it more likely the compressor motor?

Nov 30, 2010 | 01:19 PM

dgrant3830

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Joined: Dec 2006

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From: Van Buren Arkansas

Wounded Warrior Escort '11

I would expect the fuse to the compressor which is in the passenger footwell fuse box, would be bad before anything else. I seriously doubt that solenoid board will ever go bad.

Nov 30, 2010 | 09:50 PM

hzz

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jul 2006

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From: Toronto

Hooked up the compressor pump to 12 volts, and it does spin.

Didn't pump any air but it did spin. I only have 12 volts with a few milliamps so it probably need a lot more power to pump air.

I am leaning towards the control switch as the problem....it was sticking on sometimes anyway so I ordered a new one.

Hopefully that will solve the problem.

Nov 30, 2010 | 10:23 PM

dgrant3830

Tech Contributor

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 10,962

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From: Van Buren Arkansas

Wounded Warrior Escort '11

Check that fuse...mine was doing the same thing. I tore into it, schematics in hand, meter and etc.. went through the entire everything till I discovered it was only a blown fuse but at least I know how the bladders work now!