Driver's Seat Back Tilt function - FAILURE

[dragoneggs]

Today my seat back tilt function doesn't work. If I am not in the seat it springs forward. There are no detents and it tilts smoothly fwd or back. Anyone else experience this? Fix?

Of course my 3yr/36K warranty expired last month!

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[YBABRAT]

There is a Mopar replacement part that supercedes the old part. as an emergency I keep a 14mm deep well socket in the console. Just slide the seat forward and place the socket in the door side seat track, just before the seat stop pin at end of the track. slide seat back and over socket and the latch should lock the seat back in place. if you need to move the seat back further slide seat forward with seat release and remove socket. Seat should slide all the way back.

 

[dragoneggs]

There is a Mopar replacement part that supercedes the old part. as an emergency I keep a 14mm deep well socket in the console. Just slide the seat forward and place the socket in the door side seat track, just before the seat stop pin at end of the track. slide seat back and over socket and the latch should lock the seat back in place. if you need to move the seat back further slide seat forward with seat release and remove socket. Seat should slide all the way back.

The seat slide fwd/back works fine. It is the tilt function that is broken.

 

[YBABRAT]

Yep, the tilt back function needs the seat to reset the tilt release by full return of seat slid back. The plastic reset part breaks within the seat track, thus sliding over a 14mm deep well will act as a reset to allow the seat back to latch in place.

 

[dragoneggs]

Alright I will go tinker... stay tuned.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yep, the tilt back function needs the seat to reset the tilt release by full return of seat slid back. The plastic reset part breaks within the seat track, thus sliding over a 14mm deep well will act as a reset to allow the seat back to latch in place.

Alright couldn't figure out the socket trick but it appears the reset part in the seat track is working. I can flip the embedded toggle switch with my fingers to lock it in place or slide it.

When I push back the seat on the tracks the seat back will not lean backwards until it resets. After it resets, it will lean backwards but will not catch and stay in any position except all the way forward.

Checked the cable at the latch on top of the seat by the headrest and it is attached.

Took the cover off of the tilt mechanism. I think the problem is the detents that are disengaged when pulling the strap, will not re-engage when letting go of the strap.

 

[YBABRAT]

Right... I noticed the black plastic reset thing still on the seat track. Shown on top picture. slide it forward an inch. it may set when seat is pulled back. usually they break in pieces not left on the track. The socket would be placed where the black plastic thing is shown, when broken and out of track.

 

[dragoneggs]

I slid that toggle latch fwd/back. Seems to be working.

Just watched this Youtube of a guy disassembling the back of the seat and I captured a screen shot. Wondering if the problem is something broke where my arrow is pointing...

 

[YBABRAT]

That video is if the lever to release seat for tilt fails and is loose. the trouble is that black plastic reset thing on the track. my passenger side became loose like the driver side that you have experienced. that is why I said to slide it and see if it allows the seat back to engage.

As long as the pull strap and seat back level have normal tension, those cable ends in the video are in place. the seat back lever usually breaks at the lever end not at the cable end.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yep, the upper cable had tension and actuated. I couldn't tell if the lower cable tensioned when pulled. I took the strap and the spring off (not shown, forgot to take a picture with spring on but it coils around the sprocket and hooks on the housing). I then pushed the seat back further back than previously tried and reassembled.

Then tried sliding the seat forward and back monkeying with that toggle latch and.... it now works!!!

I don't really understand what was the problem but I was able to extend the seat back further when it was forward and maybe it had a chance to catch and reengage.

Time to celebrate with a glass of good stuff!

Thank you for your help @YBABRAT

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