Greenetruck,

Your last thread explains the problem you are having which is different from my problem. My gears are stripped and I would need to replace the entire latch assembly which is not a very reliable part and cost over $300.00. I will have to determine which option is better cutting the threaded screw shaft or breaking the spot weld.

Thanks for responding to my questions.

Chet

 

Chetski22:

Spot welds is probably the easiest and cleanest way to go, and the easiest way to repair (if you decide to replace the motor/gears with a used unit from the bone yard).

Go to Auto Zone, Pepboys, etc. and get you a good nylon tie down strap with a sturdy clasp/buckle. One about six feet long ought to do it. I raise my seat back by hand, pop up the head rest, go around both head rest supports with the strap, down through the floor tie down behind the seat, and cinch the strap up real tight. It's not going anywhere.

Good Luck

 

Greenetruck,

Thanks for the suggestions. When you fold the seat back down does it lay flat even with the other seat? Also when you raise the seat back in the up position does it go all the way up? Does the threaded screw shaft
obstruct the movement of the seat back when you want to change the up and down posiation?

Thanks,
Chet

 

Chetski22:

If you take a look at the seat raising and lowering mechanism, you'll see that the electric motor turns the threaded screw shaft through a set of nylon/plastic gears. You mentioned that your gears are stripped. This is a common problem with these vehicles. Thanks Ford! You will also see that the threaded screw shaft is connected to the seat bottom via a traveler nut which is spot welded (usually two welds) to a swivel plate that is rivited to the seat bottom.

When the motor turns the screw shaft, the seat bottom moves forward or rearward, depending on which way the shaft rotates. Because of how the seat back is attached/hinged to the seat bottom, when the seat bottom moves forward, the seat back raises, and when the seat bottom moves rearward, the seat back lowers.

Because my traveler nut is not connected to the swivel plate (both spot welds separated), my seat bottom is able to move free and independent of the traveler nut and screw shaft. And the seat bottom moves throughout its full range of travel. So, as the seat bottom moves all the way forward, the seat back raises to its full upright position. And, as the seat bottom moves all the way rearward, the seat back lowers completely flat and even with the lowered passenger side seat back.

The seat back is quite light weight. I am not the strongest man on earth, but I can easily open the rear hatch door, reach in, grab the top of the seat back, pull it up and back, attach the nylon strap, and cinch it tight. It only takes seconds. In fact, most of the time, I leave the nylon strap around the two uprights/supports for the head rest. I just grab hold of the strap and yank the seatback upright.

I hope this answers your questions.

 

Greenetruck,

Thank you for the detail description it is very helpful.

Chet

 

CHETSKI22:

Yesterday, I was raising the 3rd row driver side seat on my 2006 Explorer into the locked (nylon strap) and upright position and it made me think of the communication we had earlier this year about your problem.

Did you solve the problem with your seat?

Cheers......GREENETRUCK