Drivers Seat Problem

[FinallyVXRed]

Hi All

Having a problem with the drivers side electric seat in a 6.0 VXR.

was working ok but all of a sudden it started moving in jerking movements move stop move stop move stop when holding the switch continuously to move it. Then nothing, wouldnt move at all. after trying several times to get things moving it did work again ok for a few minutes but then stopped again. Passengers side woks fine. both up and down, forwards and backwards dont work so I guess that eliminates the motors.

In case its of any relevance, problems started when I moved the seat all the way back to get at the petrol filler mechanism which I am still struggling to get the cover off of so if anyone knows the secret to getting that off to that would be great.

Thanks

[vxkev]

could be a coin got in the runners I had that with my Omega and although I had a good look around and hard to see, it ended up being a 50p stuck in the rails managed to prise it out with a few swear words and cuts to hands but works fine now

[FinallyVXRed]

Cant really see a thing in there. I've looked in under/from the back, front and sides and nothing obvious.

Anyone any idea how to take the driver seat out so I can have a proper look?

[Lincsls1]

FinallyVXRed said:

Cant really see a thing in there. I've looked in under/from the back, front and sides and nothing obvious.

Anyone any idea how to take the driver seat out so I can have a proper look?

The front seat is secured down with 4 bolts if I remember right. Just normal stuff. The bolt heads are hiding under 4 pieces of trim which carefully pull off. The biggest problem is that ideally the seat needs to be able to motor forward and backward so you can get to the bolts!
I did have a problem with my passenger seat and it turned out to be a part broken wire behind the trim the switches are on.
It was hit/miss making contact. I repaired the wire and all has been well since.
Try removing this trim, I think it is held on by 2 screws, one behind an obvious screw cap and the other tooked under the front edge facing upwards. Then it pulls off and reveals the control box and some wiring.

[mfp4073]

I seem to remember someone on here had a problem with their electric seat, and it turned out to be dirty electric contacts on the switch. I believe you can get electric contact cleaner for this type of job which will be better than wd40.
If you remove all four bolts that secure the seat, you can then tilt the entire seat back and check the runners.
The plastic covers over the seat bolts are a pain to remove and you can break them. I used wd 40 to lube the retaining clips.
Be aware that there is a fine earthing Spring under the seat which was fitted under a Vauxhall recall, it's an anti static wire.
If however you disconnect any electric wires and then turn the ignition on you will probably trigger a fault code, which is a pain at the best of times!!!!!!!!

[FinallyVXRed]

Ok, Ive had the seat out and checked all plugs and contacts and runners and all seem fine, no broken wires etc. All I can think of now is I read somewhere there is a seat reset procedure but cant find it anywhere. Does anyone know what you have to do to reset this seat control unit?

[Lincsls1]

Seems very odd the all motions of the seat have now failed. Almost like a fuse has gone.
Just double check there aren't separate fuses for the two seats. I doubt it, but worth a quick check.
Most of the fuses are behind the panel under the steering wheel in case you didn't know.
Since all the wiring, and contacts look ok, I wonder if the control box for that seat has simply failed.
I would definitely double and triple check all visible connections and wiring.
Good luck.

[FinallyVXRed]

Thanks for your reply.

Got some more info which might help pin down the problem.....

As I wanted to be able to move the seat forwards into a comfortable driving position once it was back in the car I took the motor cover off to expose the rotor which I can spin with my hands manually to move the seat forward. I put the seat back in and all the trims back etc, manually moved the seat back forward, replaced the rotor cover and thought I'd try it just in case. Nothing worked

I started her up to get her back out the workshop and parked up and just before I got out thought I try it again and blow me down if it didnt all work. moved the up/down into a better position and moved the back forward as this wasnt quite right either, checked forward backward which both worked although strangely forward moved it back and backward moved it forward so thats reversed somehow.

Then went to do a final adjustment and all stopped working again.

So am thinking more like control unit too but can eliminate fuses.

Still wondering if anyone knows how to do the control unit reset?