1962 Six-Way Power Seats

[Gary Christensen CLC # 21112]

As part of replacing the electrical system on my '62 Eldorado (thanks Naragansett Reproductions), I just installed the harness that controls my 6-way power seats.  Unfortunately I have discovered that the power mechanism isn't working right (horizontal won't work either direction, tilt works in one direction not the other).  It clicks but doesn't move in the troubled directions.  So now I know its the solenoid and cables.  Are these fixable, or should I just try to find a new unit?  Is the '62 solenoid/motor interchangable with any other years?

I have to laugh -- all this work to deal with the harness only to find that the mechanism doesn't work right.  Arrghh.

Thanks.

Gary

[cadillactim]

If you're sure the harness is correct, and connected properly, I would first check the seat switch.  A faulty transmission will work in none, two, or four positions.  If forward works, backward will work, tilt up works, tilt down will work, etc.  When you have an odd number of positions working, the switch or wiring is usually the problem.  The switch controls the transmission solenoids and the seat motor relay.  If the seat motor works in any position, the motor is probably okay.  If the motor runs at all, the relay is okay.  Part of the switch contacts can be bad, which can cause power to go the motor, but not the transmission solenoid, and vice versa.  When a cable is bad there will be binding on the seat travel, as one cable would be working with the other side bad.  First place I would check is the seat switch.   Tim

[Edward Kenny]

The power seat in my '62 will not go forward or backward, but the other 4 directions work fine. I hear a click when I try to move the seat forward or backward, but get nothing else. Is this a solenoid issue?

Thanks in advance for the due diligence.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Sounds like a Solenoid issue to me.

They do burn out.

The best way to check is to physically check by removing the cables and operating each one with a battery drill, but move them the same amount before connecting them back up.

The one in the picture worked exactly like you said, and when I stripped it down, the Solenoid had internally melted the plastic, not allowing the plunger to move.

Bruce.

[Gary Christensen CLC # 21112]

Thanks for the advice.  I can see that the plastic bushings on the cables coming out of the solenoid are broken and the unit "torques" when I'm engaging the switch.  It's as if the cables get stuck.  I'll focus first on the switch, but I think it's the solenoid.  I get the aforementioned clicking too.

It looks like I'll be pulling the seat out.

[cadillactim]

If you can see the cable try to turn, then the solenoid is working.  Unscrew the cable from the seat track on both sides, then see if the cable spins free.  If so, then the gear on the seat track is stuck.  You can do this first before you take the seat out.  If the cable still won't spin disconnected from the seat track, then the gear is stuck in the transmission (which is rare).  Tim