Power Seat Issues
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Crown Point IN
Power Seat Issues
I bought some used C5 Driver and Passenger Seats last year and finally put them in my 98. My 98 had some after market seats and I wanted to put the factory original seats back in.
I replaced the seat covers with used ones that were in better shape without a problem. After placing the driver seat in I noticed the seat will only move barely forward and will not move back. The up and down switches work but the seat barely moves backward.
I have looked all over the internet but have not found where or how I can replace the motors.
Can I replace the forward and backward motor or what else can I do to fix this problem?
I replaced the seat covers with used ones that were in better shape without a problem. After placing the driver seat in I noticed the seat will only move barely forward and will not move back. The up and down switches work but the seat barely moves backward.
I have looked all over the internet but have not found where or how I can replace the motors.
Can I replace the forward and backward motor or what else can I do to fix this problem?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 161
Likes: 82
St. Jude Donor '19
From my experience I would check the wires associated with Seat Control Module. I had a +12 v wire to the SCM that was broken and would work intermittently, just barely making contact. Pull the seat and tug on all the wires, they should be tight. Good Luck
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Crown Point IN
Well.....I took the seat adjuster control and the relay box from the passenger side seat and no go. The driver side rack doesn't move just makes noise.
I have checked both shafts in the rails and there is no binding there.
I have checked the relay box and there is no indication of burnt connections or unconnected sodering.
I only paid $100 dollars for both seats but aggravates me to death that I cant figure out whats wrong.
I have thought about taking out the motor from the top front of the rack but it looks like that will be a job in itself.....plus I have checked on the net and have not found any motors for sale. Ebay is only selling passenger side racks which makes sense since they hardly get used in the first place.
Im looking to purchase another set of seats with proper operating motors and functions.
I checked VETTNUTS but they want $1400 for reconditioned racks and new seat covers.
I don't know if I want to spend that amount.
Any ideas I would appreciate it.
I have checked both shafts in the rails and there is no binding there.
I have checked the relay box and there is no indication of burnt connections or unconnected sodering.
I only paid $100 dollars for both seats but aggravates me to death that I cant figure out whats wrong.
I have thought about taking out the motor from the top front of the rack but it looks like that will be a job in itself.....plus I have checked on the net and have not found any motors for sale. Ebay is only selling passenger side racks which makes sense since they hardly get used in the first place.
Im looking to purchase another set of seats with proper operating motors and functions.
I checked VETTNUTS but they want $1400 for reconditioned racks and new seat covers.
I don't know if I want to spend that amount.
Any ideas I would appreciate it.
Last edited by ricoumc1; Apr 29, 2020 at 11:03 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 218
Likes: 53
From: RI
One would initially suspect that the thing making noise is the motor. There's not much else that could be making a noise.
If the motor is making a noise one would also suspect that it's getting electrical power.
If the motor is indeed okay then it's a matter of making sure that the mechanical linkages are correct.
Did you examine the mechanical parts when you had the seat out? At any point did you remove the carriers from the tracks?
Are the metal shafts that go into and out of the transmission properly seated? Are any flanges broken (a common problem)?
dan kowall
If the motor is making a noise one would also suspect that it's getting electrical power.
If the motor is indeed okay then it's a matter of making sure that the mechanical linkages are correct.
Did you examine the mechanical parts when you had the seat out? At any point did you remove the carriers from the tracks?
Are the metal shafts that go into and out of the transmission properly seated? Are any flanges broken (a common problem)?
dan kowall
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Crown Point IN
I have no broken flanges.
The shafts in the carriers in the track are fine along with the shims.
There is something binding the cable that runs along the top of the track into the motor.
Im gonna have to take the motor out and tear it up open to see.
A Terrible engineering stand point on those seats.....
The shafts in the carriers in the track are fine along with the shims.
There is something binding the cable that runs along the top of the track into the motor.
Im gonna have to take the motor out and tear it up open to see.
A Terrible engineering stand point on those seats.....
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 218
Likes: 53
From: RI
You didn't answer my question about removing the carriers.
Did you at any point remove the threaded shafts that the carriers run on? If so, did you mark the position of the carriers on the shaft? Were they reassembled with the carriers in the EXACT position that they came out in? The shafts are not interchangeable left to right. Were those interchanged?
I don't know what you mean by "the cable that runs along the top of the track into the motor". The threaded shaft has a short, square cable that goes into the transmission. Another cable goes from the transmission to the motor.
A motor failure is uncommon. Mismatching the carriers or a problem with the cables would be more common.
Have you watched the videos that C & S Corvettes have posted? They're quite helpful.
dan kowall
Did you at any point remove the threaded shafts that the carriers run on? If so, did you mark the position of the carriers on the shaft? Were they reassembled with the carriers in the EXACT position that they came out in? The shafts are not interchangeable left to right. Were those interchanged?
I don't know what you mean by "the cable that runs along the top of the track into the motor". The threaded shaft has a short, square cable that goes into the transmission. Another cable goes from the transmission to the motor.
A motor failure is uncommon. Mismatching the carriers or a problem with the cables would be more common.
Have you watched the videos that C & S Corvettes have posted? They're quite helpful.
dan kowall
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Crown Point IN
I did remove the threaded shafts and did replace the plastic shims.
I also did watch the video on utube from C&S which helped me with that task which included marking the threads with tape.
Like I said I troubled shot everything which included removing the threaded shafts and looking for any kind of bind. None were found.
Then it must be the transmission or the motor which is the problem
I also did watch the video on utube from C&S which helped me with that task which included marking the threads with tape.
Like I said I troubled shot everything which included removing the threaded shafts and looking for any kind of bind. None were found.
Then it must be the transmission or the motor which is the problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Crown Point IN
Well....I finally decided to recheck my shafts inside the rails and I did find the shaft lengths not equal. I put the correct shafts back in their rails and the seat did work but now I know why I was able to pick the driver/passenger seat up for $100.
Driver side very slow but it works.
Once these seats explode I am going to buy seats that are refurbed.
Thanks for some of the comments...
Driver side very slow but it works.
Once these seats explode I am going to buy seats that are refurbed.
Thanks for some of the comments...
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 128
Likes: 26
From: Oak Ridhe MIssouri
If anyone has previously done a rocking seat repair by adding washers then check they didn't get washers too thick and used a hammer to put them back in the carriers. That plastic nut must have some play in it or it won't self center on the threaded shaft and gets in a bind. Which will cause the motor to lock up or run slow. Had a friend do this and found out the hard way. His locked up the motor.