Power Seat Switches

[crazeevw]

Hi all,
Looked through the postings, and nothing came up, so here goes.
Moved my driver's seat all the way forward when I vacuumed and cleaned the carpets. Went to get into the Airstream today, and now the Drivers Seat switch refuses to move the seat back far enough for me to drive! Thinking I'm pulling the passenger seat switch, swapping it with Driver's seat switch until I get this figured out. Any suggestions? Any ideas?
Thanks, Derek

[Kota]

Might be as simple as needing lubrication. I pulled mine and lubbed everything. I hooked up a 12 volt battery and it worked like new. Reinstalled it and it would barely move just like before. Found a bad ground which seems to be a ommon cause for a lot of the electrical problems I've tracked down. If not, I think those switches are pretty commmon GM parts. The U-Pull-It junk yards can be a great source for $5 fixes. I restore old vehicles and admit to being certified dumpster dive master.

[crazeevw]

Hi Dakota, seat moves fine forward, it's practically under steering wheel now, lol. Guessing that the switch to move it backwards either has faulty ground switch, or just needs replacing. I've seen these power seat controls in practically every GM car while growing up (friend was a Buick Dealer), so have a feeling I'm junkyard bound if the wiring isn't the cause. Thanks, Derek

[3 Dog Nite]

I went through this once. In a pinch, the seat was moved back out of the way by swapping the switches out from the other side. I only hooked up the wire connectors to move the seat. This also confirmed that my problem was the switch & not the wiring.

[crazeevw]

Hi, I didn't have time to get to the switches this evening. I'm sure over the weekend I will though. Guessing that if by moving passenger side switch to drivers side, and all works, it's time to go to the local junk yard. Thanks, Derek

[Paul J Mauro]

Originally Posted by Kota

Might be as simple as needing lubrication. I pulled mine and lubbed everything. I hooked up a 12 volt battery and it worked like new. Reinstalled it and it would barely move just like before. Found a bad ground which seems to be a ommon cause for a lot of the electrical problems I've tracked down. If not, I think those switches are pretty commmon GM parts. The U-Pull-It junk yards can be a great source for $5 fixes. I restore old vehicles and admit to being certified dumpster dive master.

Just had my both seats die so must be a ground for both ? where is that located
or is there a fuse just for the seats I can find.This is the first time in 35 years ! my seats always work great

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Paul J Mauro

Just had my both seats die so must be a ground for both ? where is that located
or is there a fuse just for the seats I can find.This is the first time in 35 years ! my seats always work great

On my 84 310 there was an automatic circuit breaker mounted on the drivers side vertical post inside the front engine cover. It powered both seats.

[Paul J Mauro]

Originally Posted by bkahler

On my 84 310 there was an automatic circuit breaker mounted on the drivers side vertical post inside the front engine cover. It powered both seats.

going to look for that cant be the seat motors if both just stopped after all these years .but loose ground wires are always my issues
thx

[bkahler]

There are no ground wires. Grounding is done through the frames.

[Paul J Mauro]

Originally Posted by Paul J Mauro

going to look for that cant be the seat motors if both just stopped after all these years .but loose ground wires are always my issues
thx

ok bummer no circuit breaker on the 85 345 maybe they changed to another location to mystify us .gotta keep looking -dreading taking the dashboard out
yet again!

pulled the switches they look ok so its a no power problem back to the fuse hunt

[ForexTreeGuy]

I'm in the same pickle. To get the seat, back I reversed the switch to get seatback. Now to find the proper fix!

[Beltran]

Mine did this as well. I took out the switches, disassembled and soaked them in lacquer thinner over night. Dried them out, lubed them, wire brushed all the contacts (on the switches and the wiring loom) and put them back in. everything works like it should now.
you'd be surprised as to what years of spilled drinks into those switches will leave behind.

[Paul J Mauro]

Originally Posted by bkahler

There are no ground wires. Grounding is done through the frames.

so it must eb the switch right
which FUSE controlls the power ? I see no fuse labeled "seats" ??

[LM782]

Our switches don’t work so well anymore either. I pulled both switches and tried electrical contact cleaner last year without significant improvement. Might be time for a more invasive cleaning.

If a switch works in one direction, I found ours are reversible. As a temporary fix, remove and re-install it 180 degrees to get the seat to move in the opposite direction. Also, left and right sides are interchangeable.

The 1984 Airstream Service Manual makes no mention of what circuits power the seats. My guess is the RS and CS lighter circuits C1 & C2. See picture below.


Luis

[Paul J Mauro]

Originally Posted by LM782

Our switches don’t work so well anymore either. I pulled both switches and tried electrical contact cleaner last year without significant improvement. Might be time for a more invasive cleaning.

If a switch works in one direction, I found ours are reversible. As a temporary fix, remove and re-install it 180 degrees to get the seat to move in the opposite direction. Also, left and right sides are interchangeable.

The 1984 Airstream Service Manual makes no mention of what circuits power the seats. My guess is the RS and CS lighter circuits C1 & C2. See picture below.

Attachment 416331
Luis

Ok thanks thought I missed it in the 1985 manual.so I will recheck those fuses and circuits .

[Paul J Mauro]

Originally Posted by Paul J Mauro

Ok thanks thought I missed it in the 1985 manual.so I will recheck those fuses and circuits .

yes found the circuit breaker on the driver side (outside) as everybody said
that was the problem
seats working !

Thanks all .

[Paul J Mauro]

Originally Posted by 3 Dog Nite

I went through this once. In a pinch, the seat was moved back out of the way by swapping the switches out from the other side. I only hooked up the wire connectors to move the seat. This also confirmed that my problem was the switch & not the wiring.

did you ever find any replacement power seat controlls ?
I fried one of mine on the passenger side .short,melt ,blew circuit breaker so I need a new one so my wife will be happy again

[rkgnaz]

Originally Posted by Paul J Mauro

did you ever find any replacement power seat controlls ?

I fried one of mine on the passenger side .short,melt ,blew circuit breaker so I need a new one so my wife will be happy again

I removed the original seat controls from my 310 for an upgrade.
Both are available if anyone is interested.
928fivethreethree7924

[CoffeeEric]

Originally Posted by rkgnaz

I removed the original seat controls from my 310 for an upgrade.
Both are available if anyone is interested.
928fivethreethree7924

Old post , but what did you upgrade to?
Thanks