Power Failure (Broken Power Seat)
March 19, 2023
Know anyone who doesn't love a power seat in an SUV, a car, truck or van? They're convenient and precise in their adjustments. But when they break, oh, what a pain. Not only is it inconvenient, it may leave your seat position too close to the steering wheel or too far from the pedals. This is a must-fix problem.
There are many things that cause a power seat to fail:
- Seat controls. These are either at the side of the seat or in the door. Both are places that can be exposed to moisture or other contaminants. When the controls stop working, they usually need to be replaced.
- Seat motor. Electric motors are what make a power seat move, and sometimes they fail. Sometimes they just get worked to death and die of old age. Replacement is the most common remedy.
- Fuses. A power seat is, after all, powered by electricity and all vehicle power systems have fuses to protect them. A technician can determine which fuse may have blown and replace it. But it's also important to figure out what caused the fuse to blow and deal with that, too.
- Wires. There are wires under the seats that move when you move the seat. Sometimes they get stretched, kinked or ripped. In a power seat malfunction, it may be a wiring harness that needs to be replaced.
- Gears. They help the seat move and may need to be realigned or replaced.
- Obstructions. Yes, a piece of trash or a kid's toy has been known to jam up the works of a power seat. Taking them out of the mechanism may get your seat working again.
Most people pay extra to have power seats in a vehicle. So make sure you keep that convenient feature working. And don't forget that it's a safety issue, too.
Top Tech Auto Repair Royal Oak
3110 Rochester Rd
Royal Oak, Michigan 48073
248-585-0980
http://www.toptechautorepairroyaloak.com
Need Service?
More articles from Top Tech Auto Repair Royal Oak

Have a Ball! Know your Ball Joints (Ball Joints)
June 9, 2025
We all have joints in our own skeletal system, but did you know your vehicle has some joints of its own? One of the most important is called a ball joint. One of the interesting things is that it's somewhat similar to the ball and socket joints we have in our hips and shoulders. A ball joint all... More

Positive Crankcase Ventilation ? PCV Valve Service at Top Tech Auto Repair Royal Oak
June 2, 2025
Hello Royal Oak! Did you know that the first federally-mandated emissions control device was introduced in the 1960's? The Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve, or PCV valve, has been installed in Michigan vehicles since 1964 and represents the first legislation by the United States government to... More

When Your Air Bag Light Comes On (Illuminated Air Bag Light)
May 25, 2025
There are some dashboard lights you should pay more attention to than others. One is the air bag light. If it's on and your vehicle is in an accident, your air bags probably won't do their job. Automakers began installing air bags in the late 1990's since they were mandatory in the United State... More