So my driver's side power seat has been acting up a lot. Sometimes it works fine but not all the time. My wife is really short and it seams when she needs to drive it, it won't go ahead.

Sometimes only the forward/back doesn't work and all the others work fine. Sometimes it all works except the seat won't move ahead. When I try to move the seat ahead and it doesn't work the lights dim down so I know somethings going on, not sure if it's a short or if the motor is going. Sometimes nothing works at all. If I keep trying I can get everything working eventually. I'm going to test continuity tonight on the switch to see if that's the problem.

Any ideas?

 

So I took the switch apart and cleaned it and filed the contacts a bit and checked continuity and it all works like it should but it works the same as before. It will move all positions except for forward when it fails. If I keep trying I can hear a clicking in the dash area. I assume it's a relay or curcuit breaker I'm hearing. After trying a few times it seems like it kicks the whole system out because it stops clicking and nothing works. If I leave it alone for a few minutes it works again.

I want to check the wiring out, does anyone know which wire is what under the seat? I'll bypass everything just to see if the power is dropping out. If the motor was bad the seat wouldn't move back and not forward would it? How do I get the motor out to check it?

 

You probably have a gear mesh problem with the seat not moving forward. There are 3 motors on the seat so the only one you need to look into is the front one. There are 2 bolts that hold the motor to the frame, loosen them and you can remove the motor. There are 2 torque tubes coming off the motor, plastic housings and steel inserts. Put one of these back into place on the seat drive and try turning it to move the seat forward and back. If it moves easily try the other side to see if the seat track drive mechanism is the problem. The torque tubes could also be the problem since they are plastic and the cables could be hanging up on them. Try turning the drive cables in them and be sure they turn smoothly. The clicking you hear is a circuit breaker operating. Do not keep playing with the seat like you are since you could do what we sometimes call a "smoke test".

 

I have a 99 dodge ram sport pu. I have been having a similar with the driver's seat. I have no up or down control, all the others work fine. I do not hear the motor working and I see nothing turning when I watch what is happening under the seat. I figured the motor is shot, but find that hard to believe. If it is I would think rebuild locally would work to get it going. What else is there I could do to get it going. Sure do not want to buy new motor or have dealer do the work, new motor cost $450.00.

 

Disconnect the plug at the motor and operate the switch using a meter or test light to check for voltage. You should check between the 2 contacts on the harness side of the plug for voltage. If you have it the motor is shot, if you don't the switch is shot.