Tilt problem with passenger seat back, different

[danieltharris]

Hi,

I'll upload a video of the seat at some point today to show this better, but it's like the mechanism in the seat is out of sync with where the seat back is actually fixed.

Hopefully somebody with a good understanding of the recline mechanism will be able to offer some advice of how I can get this back to working, as at the moment the front seat is totally unusable, so passengers need to sit in the back.

If you push the seat back backwards the seat reclines right back and will keep going back for as long as you push it, when you let go it will spring back into the resting position it is currently in.

It won't tilt forward anymore, it's almost like the mechanism is in reverse. You can push it backwards without actually pulling the handle forward, so the mechanism could be out of sync in some way to where the seat is, almost like it needs to be forced or adjust back to the correct position.

I'm praying this doesn't need a new seat to fix, the car has Black and Red Leather seats, no electrics on the seats (Not sure if some models have electric hight adjustment etc). Any help at all appreciated massively!

Thanks so much for any help.

[danieltharris]

I've uploaded some photos, and videos showing the problem itself (The video that shows the seats in full, how they push back etc.) and then some closer up on the cable of the seat.

If this sheds any light on what could be wrong please let me know. In general if any parts of the seat are damaged are they replaceable, or is it pretty much a whole seat if something like a spring was damaged in it?

This is the link to the pictures and the videos. I managed to pull off the cover from the passenger seat on the side. Pushing the handles back or forth does nothing they don't move as if they are stuck for some reason.

I've tried to post a link to them on my OneDrive account but the forum won't let me. Any way around that without getting banned?

[Capncol]

You need 10 post before you can put up links (we had a lot of trouble with spammers)

PM me the links and I will do it for you.

[danieltharris]

I'll take some more pictures tomorrow as i've re-fitted something into it's correct place (Which hasn't solved the issue) since taking the pictures and videos, so i'll get up to date ones tomorrow morning and PM the link over to you so as to rule out one potential problem.

Thanks very much!

[danieltharris]

I've not been a member here long enough yet to send a PM.

I'll post something relevant in some other forums to bring my post count up before I add in the link. The video showing the problem is still relevant, but I need to get new pictures of the mechanism at the moment as one small issue was fixed with something out of place, but something is still jammed.

[Capncol]

OK I will PM you my email. Send the link that way. OK?

[danieltharris]

Thanks a lot. I've email the link over.

Hopefully the video showing how the seat behaves will help identify with others who have had this happen.

The handles do nothing as they barely budge in either direction. I've taken off the handles and put them back on tight etc.

Starting looking to source a replacement seat already...Just in case

[Capncol]

From Dan


This is the video that shows how the seat behaves:
http://1drv.ms/1xtGqyu

Some of the other images and vids are out of date .I’ll have 10 posts under my belt by the time I get to take them again.

Cheers.
Dan

[danieltharris]

I'm going to replace the seat I think, as the frame seems to be damaged in some way that can't easily be fixed without sourcing a frame from another seat anyway, so whichever I do i'll have to take out the current one.

When removing the seats, is it necessary to disconnect the battery (Due to Airbags / Connectors)?? The guide on this site doesn't mention needing to, so can I go ahead and just switch out the seat and then reconnect the airbag switch underneath it at the end?

[Capncol]

Easiest way to remove the seat is with the roof down. Switch ign off with doors open and remove key, leave for 3 mins or more to allow BSI to sleep, then remove plugs from seats

[danieltharris]

Cheers I put in a replacement seat with working tilt / recline mechanism.

I need to try and give it a bit of a clean, and maybe grease the runners a little bit.

The leather isn't as soft as on the original seat, but it's been sitting around for a couple of months. Going to try and get some leather treatment to try and soften it up again, otherwise it's in pretty good condition, at least you can have a passenger in the front now.

Still got the original seat which i'll try and fix now it's out the car, if it can't be fixed there's a good number of spares if I strip it down. Airbag, Runners, Seatbelt Clip, Head Rest, Leather covering, and the (possibly irreparable) frame itself.

Thanks for all your help trying to solve the issue. If I can figure it out now it's out of the car i'll post up the solution.