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Make America Vanagon Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2017 Posts: 65 Location: Glendora, CA
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 9:54 pm Post subject: Driver's seat stuck |
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I cannot move driver's seat. It's stuck all the way back. Recline works fine. Using lever doesn't work, using the small lever doesn't work. I used WD-40 on the tracks, nothing is working. Has anyone had this problem before? |
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proofpudding Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2012 Posts: 83 Location: Nanoose Bay, BC
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 10:21 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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Sometimes they are old and stuck. Have a second person hold the tab up that locks it in place, then take a small chunk of lumber across the back and a hit it forward with a BFH. It will be out in no time and then you can clean up the tracks and put some fresh grease on both the seat and the rails. _________________ 1988 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 10:43 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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Some details here if I could ask. Are you saying you've never moved it before and discovered it's stuck? Or that you've been happily using the seat and suddenly this morning it stuck? _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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Make America Vanagon Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2017 Posts: 65 Location: Glendora, CA
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 10:50 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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It's always been all the way back. I'm giving it to a friend, so I tried taking it out today with no luck. I'll try the brute force option tomorrow. |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2780 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 4:58 am Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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There’s a small assist spring beneath each side of the metal rod which the lever moves up and down from the tracks. Rectangular and “clips” into place beneath the rod, when my seat has been stuck it was because one of these had fallen out. When you get the seat moved, look for this spring beneath it and put the spring back in place if I’m correct and it’s fallen out. Look at the other side for comparison. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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chachi Samba Member
Joined: November 18, 2003 Posts: 858 Location: the weeds
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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mine is sticky too, what is the proper grease to get them moving well? _________________ '74 transporter panel
'91 vanagon carat NAHT |
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3414 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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Quote: |
mine is sticky too, what is the proper grease to get them moving well? |
- take it completely out.
- clean the base tracks and seat tracks real good - free of old grease and dirt
- lube it with good grease.
- make sure that the lever is work as it should.
- put it back and test - if it's not moving easily with one hand then the tracks are bent...
- fix the tracks...
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jberger Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2003 Posts: 2476
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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I have also seen the small (6mm?) socket head cap screws that hold the rails to the seat frame come loose and bind against the top of the track.
J |
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SCM Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011 Posts: 3102 Location: Bozeman MT
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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My van has plastic "bushings" that run the length of the track to help the seat slide smoothly. Of course those plastic pieces have deteriorated and broke into multiple smaller segments that would bind in the track and make moving the seat difficult.
So that could also be happening and would be remedied with application of brute force. _________________ '91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2780 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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I used Pb blaster branded spray silicone on the tracks and replaced the plastic “bushings” - van-cafe has them - and both actions helped a lot. The bushings really cut down on the passenger seat creaking when being used.
The pb blaster stuff is surprisingly effective and very low tack. I’ve had good luck spraying it on the sliding door hinges, rollers, and tracks too, of course clean up overspray. I did have to reapply last summer when the door got loud again. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 7:17 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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I had bad luck with the new plastic strips/bushings. They must have been slightly too thick or something as the multiple edges of the sliding seat started carving long curls of plastic out (and were a 6itch to move) and these started to catch up in the spaces and cause continuous jamming. I finally pulled the scarred up strips out and now the seats slide fine, but rock slightly. _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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After my plastic "sliders" bit the dust a few years ago...UHMW tape:
https://www.amazon.com/TapeCase-423-5-UHMW-Tape-Ro...S0EF8Y5MNS
"Slick as snot" ever since...
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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DuncanS Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013 Posts: 4580 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2019 2:47 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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My car had the same problem when I first got it from the PO. j berger's "I have also seen the small (6mm?) socket head cap screws that hold the rails to the seat frame come loose and bind against the top of the track." issue is what happened to me. The solution is to pry up the seat away from its rails--not the mount rails welded to the body--until the heads of the screws can clear. Then with the adjustment lever depressed, you can move the seat forward and then out so you can retighten the screws. Loctite is not a bad idea here.
For what it's worth--sorry, don't do abbreviations--I have removed all the plastic glide strips from most of my many T3's and find with some spray dry lube, they work far better. Unless the rails are dead on, there isn't enough clearance and they bind badly. Don't have any of that problem anymore. |
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joshtw709 Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2017 Posts: 76 Location: austin, texas
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 9:37 am Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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jberger wrote: |
I have also seen the small (6mm?) socket head cap screws that hold the rails to the seat frame come loose and bind against the top of the track.
J |
this was my issue the other day (when tinkering w my aux battery). one of these screws fell out completely from the drivers seat, which caused my seat to seize up. had to do a lot of unsightly flailing around while in the seat to get it to move. finally got it off the rails, re-installed the screw that came out and tightened the other three. _________________ 1980 rusty light blue westfalia - sold
1987 less rusty white westfalia - daily driver |
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DuncanS Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013 Posts: 4580 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 9:51 am Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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And the other four on the passenger's side seat? |
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mfaas Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2020 Posts: 6 Location: Aspen, CO
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Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 3:55 am Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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I just had this happen on a Eurovan, but I believe the seat hardware is similar. There are four torx bolts that go up into the seat cushion and they can loosen and drop down over time binding with the seat track inconsistently.
You should be able to loosen the front two, remove the seat cushion and they manually pull up on the rear two screws until you can move the seat forward enough to tighten from below. Removing both seat rails may make this easier.
Probably should have applied some thread lock. |
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DuncanS Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013 Posts: 4580 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 4:36 am Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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You don't need to remove anything. Just pry up with screwdriver/screwdrivers and slide the seat............not easy, but it will work. May take a friend to help. And definitely blue Loctite. Do both seats now!
Duncan |
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MsTaboo Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006 Posts: 4065 Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 10:09 am Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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IdahoDoug wrote: |
I had bad luck with the new plastic strips/bushings. They must have been slightly too thick or something as the multiple edges of the sliding seat started carving long curls of plastic out (and were a 6itch to move) and these started to catch up in the spaces and cause continuous jamming. I finally pulled the scarred up strips out and now the seats slide fine, but rock slightly. |
Just FYI for new owners/future post searchers.
The thing to know about the plastic strips is there was only one on each seat from the factory.
If you put an extra strip on each (four total) the seat will bind. The single strip was just to help prevent that rocking.
Another thing to check on a stuck seat is that the wire that connects both sides of the catch is intact. _________________ Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine. |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7402 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 10:36 am Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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In my van the most annoying thing about not having the plastic bushing in the passenger seat is that it rattles loudly when diving on WA state's snow chain/stud scarred roads. _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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DuncanS Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013 Posts: 4580 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 3:13 pm Post subject: Re: Driver's seat stuck |
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I always throw the plastic slides away and have never had any rocking or rattling. My seats always are stiff and bind with no spacers of any kind, but close enough. There are other more urgent semi failures.
Duncan |
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