Driver seat stuck.

[Silkie]

Hello, I purchased my Delorean last friday.
I have a few questions.
But right now, I will just ask this one, As it is very annoying.
My Driver seat is stuck and will not move forward.
I have tried to see if any change is stuck in the track?
But as you know? It is impossible to see anything. Lol.
I loaded the track down with WD-40 today, But as of yet.
Still Jammed!

Any advice will be much appreciated
Thank You!

[Bitsyncmaster]

You need to put one or two flat washers on the bolts on rails (where it bolts to underbody). That lifts the tracks off the carpet so it will slide.

[Silkie]

You need to put one or two flat washers on the bolts on rails (where it bolts to underbody). That lifts the tracks off the carpet so it will slide.

Thank you!
I can see one bolt i believe, I will have to look again tomorrow.
But i don't think i can get to the other bolts,
As the seat is stuck all the way back.
Almost where you can't get to the lock storage compartment.

[Kenny_Z]

The bolts are welded to the frame of the seat so all you need is a 13mm on the bottom nuts to remove it.

[Bitsyncmaster]

The bolts are welded to the frame of the seat so all you need is a 13mm on the bottom nuts to remove it.

I glued my flat washers to the bolt rails to ease the effort of putting the seat back in.

[Silkie]

The bolts are welded to the frame of the seat so all you need is a 13mm on the bottom nuts to remove it.


So let me understand this correctly?
The nuts are under the car???

[Ron]

#26 http://store.delorean.com/c-396-8-7-3-seats.aspx

[Jonathan]

So let me understand this correctly?
The nuts are under the car???

Yes. And very easy to access. You don't need the car on a lift or even jacked up. Put the parking brake on, perhaps, or chock the wheels.

You'll see the ends of the four bolts and their nuts as soon as you peer under the area below the seat. Take off all four nuts and then you can lift the seat out. You may need to remove the parking brake handle rubber sleeve and carpet piece if it is in the way. Otherwise, those nuts are the only items securing it in place.

EDIT: you can see the tips of two of the four bolts on the nearest edge of the passenger seat here.

21382

[Silkie]

Yes. And very easy to access. You don't need the car on a lift or even jacked up. Put the parking brake on, perhaps, or chock the wheels.

You'll see the ends of the four bolts and their nuts as soon as you peer under the area below the seat. Take off all four nuts and then you can lift the seat out. You may need to remove the parking brake handle rubber sleeve and carpet piece if it is in the way. Otherwise, those nuts are the only items securing it in place.

Thank all you guys very much!
I swear i learn something new about this car everyday.
I have wanted one since i was 15.
And have read and watched shows about them ever since then.
But i now know you don't really know much,
Until you own one.

[Silkie]

So i got the seat out today.
The tracks were moving freely while in the grass.
I loaded them up with more WD-40 just for good measure.
Then put 2 washers under all 4 bolts.
Then put the seat back in and tightened her down,
Got into the car to give it a try.
Same results. Will not move.
LOL! Any ideas? Maybe i am doing something wrong??

[AugustneverEnds]

So i got the seat out today.
The tracks were moving freely while in the grass.
I loaded them up with more WD-40 just for good measure.
Then put 2 washers under all 4 bolts.
Then put the seat back in and tightened her down,
Got into the car to give it a try.
Same results. Will not move.
LOL! Any ideas? Maybe i am doing something wrong??

Is there any kind of debris in the tracks? Rust or anything? Does the handle under the seat work? Also WD-40 (Water Dryer) doesn't last for too long you may want to try a thicker grease of some kind. BTW Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new car :thumbup2:

[Jonathan]

Could you post a photo of the floor under the seat with the seat removed?

You put the washers on the top side/carpet side, right? As opposed to under the car with the nut? (Not trying to be an idiot here, just wanted to confirm).

You'll find a wire there by the drivers seatbelt receptacle. Does it look like it could be interferring? Anything look in the way with the parking brake?

Those seats are custom (obviously)... could you perhaps take a measurement of the width of the seat bottom cushions? It wouldn't be too far fetched to find out the cushions are so supple that they are rubbing on the sides.

[Rich]

Those seats are custom (obviously)... could you perhaps take a measurement of the width of the seat bottom cushions? It wouldn't be too far fetched to find out the cushions are so supple that they are rubbing on the sides.

To follow along with that line of thought the OEM seats in our car measure 19.5 in. across the bottom cushion at widest point with nobody in it. Those cushions are tight between the tunnel and the brake. But the seat does move. You may have an identical custom seat on the passenger side but it likely would move easier since there is no parking brake over there for it to rub against.

Here are the things that will make a custom seat harder to move than stock, assuming the seat is not hanging on the track, which you seem to have proved with the seat out. They all have to do with friction/load:
1. Cushion wider than stock.
2. Cushion thicker/taller than stock (more expansion to sides when loaded).
3. Cushion sides shaped flatter up the sides than stock (more of the cushion area hits the carpet).
4. Seat cover material has more friction against the tunnel and brake carpet than stock.

Did you try moving the seat fore and aft when nobody is sitting in it? The best test is with two people. One to lift the latch lever and the the other to give a good push or pull.

[Dangermouse]

I wonder if somehow the runners aren't parallel when bolted down?

I have no idea how this would happen but it would certainly result in a stuck seat.

Can you measure the width between the bolt holes in the floor?

[DMCMW Dave]

The grab bar is bent and not pulling up far enough to release the latches. Unbend it.

[Silkie]

The grab bar is bent and not pulling up far enough to release the latches. Unbend it.
Thank you for all your suggestions!
It moves with ease out of the car, But when in the car it will just move about one space/click
And that is it.

I will try and investigate it more later,
I had to stop yesterday because of time and daylight.