Power Seat Transmission

[John Serfling]

I have figured out why the power seat in my '63 convertible moves so slowly.  The motor works fine by itself, but the gears in the power seat transmission are really sticky.  When you turn the input shaft by hand it is hard to make it turn, they are so sticky.  What do you clean the old stuff off with?  The gears are nylon.  I don't want to melt them with a solvent.  After getting the sticky off, what type of lubricant should I use as I put it back together?

[john chalk]

contact cleaner is a must in the tool box for sure Tony and Ginny

[Jason Edge]

Good deal!  Wiring is one of those things you really need to have wiring diagram in hand and think thru what is going on before you start tearing into everything. It will often save you a lot of time (and busted knuckles and high blood pressure) in the long run.

[john chalk]

job done --- no signal at the yellow wire -- pulled out switch in armrest (may have been loose connector could not tell as the switch panel lifted -- generous douse of WD40 and firm reconnect of switch connection and fixed.... thanks!

[Jason Edge]

See shop manual Fig 16-140.  pink wire to relay feeds forward and up, which is working for you. Yellow wire feeds down and back. Sounds like your culprit.

Disconnect connector and check yellow wire when switch is engaged up or forward.  Just look under left front of seat and the relay and connectors will be there. Unplug the 3 wire connector with red, yellow and pink wire feed to relay, switch ignition on, connect multi-tester to ground and yellow connector, and move seat switch to forward. I just tested mine and took about 1 minute to test with tester and small light in hand.

If no current to yellow wire it is your culprit. If you have current, look at relay and forward to motor. Motor may not be operating in the one direction and may need to test by applying current to red and green for rotation in one direction (I believe this is reverse)  and red and yellow for other direction. If motor turns in both direction by bypassing the relay, relay is probably the culprit. Here is a test with the motor out bench testing:

[john chalk]

I am thinking Russ that maybe if the seat is going forward and up but not back or down and I can hear the relay clicking then it must be a power signal missing to the motor to tell it to reverse? Will check wiring as well. Will advise outcome or seek more good advice!

[john chalk]

thanks Russ are they the two bots at the front of the seat I can see?

[john chalk]

OK just found this post.  My 6 way power seat will go forward and up at both ends but not back or down.  I can hear a click but nothing.  Can the transmission be taken out without the seat removed? I think from reading this you can.. Why forward and up but not back or down. thanks

[Jason Edge]

For the inner casings and metal only items I always do a final wipe down with Acetone as it evaporates almost immediately. Craig, those are excellent example pictures.  I might steal a couple of these for reference if you don't mind.

[Jason Edge]

I believe any degreaser or solvent left behind can break down the grease. Point being you want all foreign material removed before packing with grease.

[Jason Edge]

It's been a while since I took one apart but believe I just used paper towels and maybe a bit of WD40.  I repacked with white lithium grease.