FJ80 Electric Seat Recline Issue - HELP!

[DSRH]

I have a 1996 FJ80 with the driver seat giving issues...I see all the posts about the gears for forward and reverse and have already replaced plastic gears before.

I have a new issue that I can't find any help on...The drivers seat has reclined and will not come back up. If you touch the switch it will continue to lay down but not move back up. Any ideas? The switch? The motor in the seat? I really don't want to take this to the dealer and I have so far avoided switching the seats although I am tiring of electric seat issues...this has almost rendered the vehicle un-driveable....HELP! The seat switch assembly is just shy of $300 and then what if it is the motor? New manual seats are $6-$700 for both....hmm.

 

[ccslider]

Is the switch broken?

The motor is easy to replace. You can buy a good used one for like 40-50 bucks. I might even have one.

Check the switch first

 

[flintknapper]

Check your switch. I. The D.C. motor simply changes direction by virtue of reversing the polarity, so that would make the switch (or contact in the switch) suspect.

 

[Pascoscout]

Mine did the same with the slide function. I pulled apart and cleaned the contacts on the switch and it's been good again. Posted about it here:

Passenger Seat won't move back - it's not the missing plug <SOLVED>

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[ccslider]

Check your switch. IF the electric motor will move the seat backward and forward...then it should be capable of moving the 'recline' function both directions. The D.C. motor simply changes direction by virtue of reversing the polarity, so that would make the switch (or contact in the switch) suspect. See if the seat will move backward and forward. If so...its not your motor.

Wrong. There is a different switch and motor for recline vs back / forward.

The recline switch is the most likely to be broken from sliding in and out of the seat.

 

[Pascoscout]

Wrong. There is a different switch and motor for recline vs back / forward.

The recline switch is the most likely to be broken from sliding in and out of the seat.

Yes they are different switches but all contained in the same housing. My diagnosis method won't be exactly the same but the work on the switch will be.

 

[flintknapper]

Wrong. There is a different switch and motor for recline vs back / forward.

The recline switch is the most likely to be broken from sliding in and out of the seat.

Thank You. I will edit my post. Switch is still the most likely culprit.

 

[DSRH]

Thanks all...I am going to order the switch cluster from Toyota and see what that does. Hopefully that will correct the problem....

 

[retlaw]

Since you have to remove the old switch anyway why not open it up and take a look? I just corrected the same issue by doing so. The switch had overheated and a small blob of plastic was keeping the contacts from mating...once trimmed away it worked.

 

[BILT4ME]

Why not a used switch assembly?

@arcteryx
@slow95z

 

[Pascoscout]

Since you have to remove the old switch anyway why not open it up and take a look? I just corrected the same issue by doing so. The switch had overheated and a small blob of plastic was keeping the contacts from mating...once trimmed away it worked.

Seems logical, given the price of the switch assembly and the difficulty in removing it from the seat. The link I posted has step by step on how to disassemble it...

 

[DSRH]

Hey everyone! I wanted to post a note to thank Comet for the seat switch he shipped me. I installed the part and it corrected the recline problem! I haven't smiled that big in a long time. Finally that problem is FIXED! Thank you to the forum members and thank you Comet for your awesome help! YOU rock!