Drivers Seat Jammed

[goodvibrations]

Help,

Can't free up my drivers seat to slide it forward. Lever seems to be ineffective. All I succeed in doing is pulling the plastic lever grip off and get red in the face trying to usher the seat forwards.
Having looked at it I would guess the previous owner must have slid it back hard and its gone too far back on the runners and jammed the release mechanism. Have tried plenty of WD40 on the runner mechanism too.

Apart from taking a hammer to it which I dont want to do, I'm a bit flumuxed!

Getting pretty desperate as I would like to check the battery condition. Has anybody else had this problem or can suggest a solution?

Would be grateful,

Chris

[yorkierob]

mine was a tad 'stiff' to say the least but it was just a case of using my body to jerk the seat forward whilst holding the lever up - my knob slipped off a few times too as far as I know it can't go back too far and can't slide off the rails so maybe get someone with some muscle to help out

[whitevan woman]

Had a similar problem myself yesterday while stripping out my cab, with the double cab seat. Tried all the products we had, but still it didn't shift. Looked for any extras that had maybe been drilled in prior to my having it, runners were straight, lever worked ok etc. Resorted to wielding a lump hammer (sheer frustration) but after a few whacks it was clear I didn't have the womanpower to deliver the amount of whack needed while also holding the release bar....so...enter my man, who took a few more whacks and it slid out. Rust from a well hidden hole under the runners had jammed it solid. Of course, I am sure that my preparation had made it easy for him lol....Like opening a jar of pickled onions and all that!
Hope you get it sorted

[New Kentish Campers]

Once you have freed the thing up, avoid using grease and use oil instead on the runners. Grease is great stuff inside sealed areas, i.e ball joints,, but does attract grit and dust & hair etc which sooner or later gums everything up. WD40 type sprays, unless they, like GT40, include a silicone, are no good as they will evaporate quickly
Good luck!

[goodvibrations]

Hey! thanks for info and good advice everyone,

T25 owners really do share and help in this club.

I guess it will be the hammer method that I'll be trying. Definitely a case of "When I nod my head hit it!"

I'll let you all know when the seat is freed up.

Many thanks,

Chris

[keith2]

Hi

Had a similar problem, and found that one of the machine screws used to fasten the slider on the seat base had come undone, and dropped into the lower channel jamming the seat runner mechanism.

As my seats had swivels, I could remove the whole seat on the swivel base, turn it upside down whereby the screw dropped back into place and I was able to slide the seat off its runner. The only other problem is that I could not then screw the machine screw back in as the fixing in the seat seemed to have come loose - so fitted SAAB seats.

Hope this helps.

Keith

[tabbytiger23]

- my knob slipped off a few times too

[goodvibrations]

Well here's an update.

Took a rubber mallet to the rear of the seat and it know slides easily about half an inch back a forward but no further. Still can't see what is jamming it! Checked it against the passenger seat and nothing seems amiss. I think I may have to take out the fridge so that I can hit the seat more squarely from behind as I could only hit one side of it. I did glue the knob back on though! can't have your knob falling off!!

Upon inspection it looks as though the previous owner may have hit the front offside corner of the seat with something heavy as it is dented there. This may have caused the problem. Doesn't seem to have damaged the runners or slide mechanism though!

Gonna have to get to that battery someday!

[goodvibrations]

Had another more detailed look at the problem last month. (Battery is still holding it's own thankfully).

It really is a problem! In fact I don't know how the previous owner got it into this state.

1 Inboard runner is completely free.

2. Outboard, bolts that should hold seat to moving part of runner are missing. The seat lifts up clear of runner by about 1/2" The release arm bar is all that stops the seat runner sliding forward but when operated to clear the detent runner won't run forward as seat isn't attached. And as the bar is fitted through the seat nought happens.

3 Only way I can see at the moment to solve the problem is to either cut the operating bar with a junior hacksaw, not easy! or destroy the seat to remove it from the runners. Either way I will need a new seat I think.

[AllenTheHat]

Goodvibrations, how did you get on with your seat?? Mine is in exactly the same way at the moment. Not had the time to have a go at it yet, but was wondering if you had any luck.

[goodvibrations]

Hi AllenTheHat,

I'm still wondering wether to cut the release arm bar or destroy the seat to remove it. I think before long I may have no choice as battery condition has not been good after the winter hibernation of the van. I really don't want to wreck the seat!

I can just reach in from the front of the seat box to connect the crocodile clips from my battery charger unit to the battery terminals. But of course I can't remove the battery topup/inspection plugs to stop build up of charging gas or to check level of fluid. Not ideal at all! It does take a charge though and will start the engine. Can't wait to get back on the road at Easter to give it a proper charge.

I just can't comprehend how the previous owner could make such a mess of a simple and very robust seat operating system.

[CovKid]

Mine wouldn't budge last week. Turned out an old ceramic fuse had somehow wedged itself just under the runner. Removed that and it moved easily

Only takes a small coin or screw and it'll jam it solid.

[goodvibrations]

Final Update!

Had to get the job done as batteries and terminals and seat adjustment are now part of the updated MOT regulations

It's Free!!!!! Turned out to be one of the screws that hold the seat to the runners. It had completely dropped out and was fouling everything up. Managed to get a long thin screwdriver up the inside of the runner and dislodged the screw where it had jammed against the lower runner. Was then able to gently tap the seat forward on the runners over the screw using a rubber mallet from behind. When I finally got the seat off I found that both screws were missing from the runner under the seat on the offside. Decided to pop rivet the seat to the runner and then cleaned down and regreased all the runners.

Refitted the seat. Good job done! I also discovered the battery leads were not even clamped tight to battery terminals, they were just bouncing around loose on top. Amazed the battery ever charged up let alone started the engine.

Again thanks to everone for all the posts on possible solutions.