I have a 96 A4 and I have a big problem with my power drivers seat. The switch or the motor that makes the seat go forward and back doesn't work anymore, causing strain when I try to shift. The last driver had longer legs. What can I do about this issue? Is there a way to move the seat manually? Plus the rails of the seat just cover the bolts that hold the seat in place making it difficult to get a socket on it to remove the seat. I can get a manual leather seat to match cheap, but is it possible to do the swap when I have a power seat. I know the manual seat has a mount in the front it attaches to, is that there on the models with the power? Any suggestions would be appricated. Thanks

 

Start by checking the fuse.

When a power seat doesn't move for a long time, the contacts can corrode or the motor can seize. When you hold the button, do you hear any noise or see the lights dim?

 

One of the first things I did when I got the car is pull all the fuses and check them all. They all seem to be good, the up and down feature on the same switch works fine but the front to back doesn't work and no noise is heard nor do the lights dim when I push it forward or back it seems totally dead.

 

The switch might be corroded. Can you reach your hands under the seat to grab a motor? You can apply a direct 12V source to see if the motor moves or at least move the seat so you can remove it.

If it moves with a 12V source, you've got a wiring problem.

Additionally, if it turns with a 12V source, but the seat doesn't move, the cable may have slipped out.

 

I think I can reach under and grab the motor which one is it the one in the middle in the front? Which wires do I 12v test on? The guy said it worked sometimes so you may be right, is there an easy way to take the side plastic cover off to get at the switch to check for loose wires?

 

I did the wire check and pulled the wires that connect directly to the front to back motor and nothing its totally dead, so how do I get the seat out? and can I put a manual seat in its place?

 

Did you ever figure it out? This thread is bunk, I keep getting an error when I try to post.

You can manually wind the motor with a hex key IIRC. Otherwise, you can pull the cable and turn it slowly with a drill.

 

it's not the thread, it's the forums right now.... they're STILL not repaired.

 

Still having problems. I took the motor out, so now how do I get the rails to turn. The spring things? Is this the drill thing? I dropped the mount the motor was attached to. So where do I go from here?

 

If you have an electric drill with an adjustable head.