Possessed seat?

[milkman6948]

I've got a 1992 535i with some weird drivers seat issues. The seat previously had twist issues. Then about a month ago the seat started moving itself forward, both the bottom and backrest, whenever I would accelerate quickly. Strangely, when it started doing this the twist problem just went away on its own. But today I went to get in the car and the backrest had reclined itself all the way back and the twist problem came back so I couldn't put the backrest back up. Had to drive an hour to my house from my girlfriend's like that. Very uncomfortable. I searched and now I'm thinking maybe the general module. If so is my only option to replace it? Any suggestions on what could cause this? All other electrical things are working like normal as far as I can tell. Thanks.

[grecobeemer]

I know that on the E38, irratic seat problems were due to the module. The ones I have come across they "reset" themselves while parked or driving. Also I have heard of shorted wires doing the same. Pull the seat out and take a look at the connectors and harness first.

[TouringGuy]

I know that on the E38, irratic seat problems were due to the module. The ones I have come across they "reset" themselves while parked or driving. Also I have heard of shorted wires doing the same. Pull the seat out and take a look at the connectors and harness first.

I still think its a ghost, previous owner wanting the car back? ;)

[Binjammin]

I've heard stories of seat fires. I'd check all the wiring VERY closely if I were you. Pull the seat out, and pull the carpet up to inspect for fraying.


Or get fire insurance and park away from your house.

[E34ührer]

Another possibility is the switches are all gunked up with something....mine were covered in coffee....I swear the PO of my car bought a grande mocha every morning and just threw it all over the interior. Anyhoo, my seat used to move forward by itself and it ended up being the coffee that dried into a sticky mess and kept the switch right on the contact....so when I hit a bump, the switch would move my seat forward....maybe sticky switches?

[milkman6948]

I'll pull the seat out today and check the wiring. And clean the switch just in case its all gunked up. Thanks for the suggestions.

[p1zz4guy]

I've heard stories of seat fires.

seat fires...wow. Thats a scary thought :eyecrazy

[Binjammin]

Very scary, which is the best reason to be on top of things. (pun intended)

[94530inh]

Sometimes the plastic surrounding the seat controls rides up on the controls, causing the seat to move, or the inability of downward movement. Try pulling off the buttons so its just the sticks poking out, inspect whether or not they have unrestricted movement.

[camaroguy]

sorry to threadjack but...has anyone had the problem where the clips that hold the switch on the back side of the plastic cover break? I currently have a second car that has this problem and was wondering if anyone has a decent long term fix?

The problem becomes when you try to move the switches "down" the entire unit moves, and you cannot actually operate the seat.

[94530inh]

thats the problem I had. I havent thought of a really good fix, but right now I run it with the knob off the seat. I plan on cutting the plastic so that the knob can move without restriction.

[Binjammin]

sorry to threadjack but...has anyone had the problem where the clips that hold the switch on the back side of the plastic cover break? I currently have a second car that has this problem and was wondering if anyone has a decent long term fix?

The problem becomes when you try to move the switches "down" the entire unit moves, and you cannot actually operate the seat.


You mean the switches have broken off the seat trim? Get new seat trim.

[milkman6948]

I took the seat out and fixed the twist problem so now if the backrest does put itself back down, I'll be able to just move it back into the proper position. All of the wires look good at the connectors and all the way back under the carpet. The switches are all perfect so thats not the problem. I haven't driven the car today yet and its an intermittent problem so I might not know for a few days whether or not the seat is still possessed. If so, any other suggestions on what to check?

[Binjammin]

Does the headrest spin around and spit pea soup?


http://www.mybabyisfromhell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/exorcist_vomit.jpg

[gregj]

Milkman,

What did you do to fix your seat back? The right side of my driver seat back does not go up, it is stuck all of the way down. When I try to raise it, only the left side moves resulting in "seat twist". Any help is greatly appreciated.

Greg.

[willrock]

I had a problem with my passenger seat not being able to move the seatback up at all. Hit the switch, nothing happened. I took the switch apart, cleaned the contact surfaces and moved some of the springs for the 'dog bones' around and it worked. Well, the back rest worked, but one of the forward/reverse functions doesn't work. It's a small improvement.

Has any one else tried to rebuild these switches? Any idea where to get more of the tiny springs inside them?

[p1zz4guy]

I had a problem with my passenger seat not being able to move the seatback up at all. Hit the switch, nothing happened. I took the switch apart, cleaned the contact surfaces and moved some of the springs for the 'dog bones' around and it worked. Well, the back rest worked, but one of the forward/reverse functions doesn't work. It's a small improvement.

Has any one else tried to rebuild these switches? Any idea where to get more of the tiny springs inside them?


Just buy a whole new switch.

[E34ührer]

You don't need to rebuild, you just need a really solid cleaning and some dielectric grease. To get these fully clean, you could contact someone like ServPro of Greater Pontiac. I am sure they have an ultrasonic tank. Just ask them to dip the switches for about 1 minute each. The ultrasonics cavitate the crap/grime/particulate out of every nook and cranny of the switch. They would do this for you for a very small fee. VERY small. Before re-assembly, just lube them babies up with some grease, and viola! It should all work. I have used our ultrasonic tank on my window switches too....(I drink lots of coffee on my commute.)