The power seat on my Lariat will move in every direction but back. I've lived with this problem for a while but today while cleaning I accidentally moved the seat forward. Now I look like one of those clowns stuffed in a mini-car. Can anyone help with ideas on how to fix this problem? Is it electrical in the switch? Is it the motor? Is there any way to move it back now until I get the problem solved?

Thanks for your help.

 

First, what year is it?

 

We really cant help much without first knowing what year your truck is.

And welcome to the site by the way.

 

You're correct.

It's a 98 Lariat 5.4 with bucket seats. I hope this helps and thanks.

 

Taking a look at the connector to the power seat control switch.
the FWD/RWD motor is the the one with the yellow /w white stripe ( pin 3 ) & red w/ white stripe ( pin 5 ) . These are the pins on the connector to the switch.

2 tests.
1. Test the motor.
1.1. unplug the power set motor assy connector ( 6 pin connector ) under the seat.
1.2. Apply power to the yellow w/ white stripe ( pin 6 ) and ground to the red w/ white stripe ( pin 5 ), the seat should move back.
1.3. Reverse the power & ground in step 1.2, and the seat should go forward.

If this does not work, you have a bad motor in the power seat.

2. Test the switch function.
2.1. unplug the connector to the switch, these tests are on the connector to the switch, not to the wiring harness.
2.2. Using a meter set to ohm setting, push the switch in the rearward direction, and from pin 3 ( yellow w/ white stripe ) to pin 7 ( dark green ) you should have 0 ohms ( or close to it ) and from pin 5 ( red w/ white stripe ) to pin 1 ( black ) you should ave 0 ohms ( or close to it ).
The function of the switch is to apply power & ground to make the motor run one direction, and when changed will run the other direction ( standard DC motor operation, just like the power window motor ). If you press the switch in the other direction, the pins will switch to the other pairs ( FWD will have pin 1 to pin 3 and pin 5 to pin 7 ).

If this does not work, and you know you are testing the correct pins, there is a problem with the switch ( contacts in the FWD/RWD position are not closing correctly.

Start out with test #1, and if nothing else, it should get the seat to the correct position, if the motor is still working, then you can leave it unplugged and get a new switch. If the motor is bad, you might be able to turn the screw by hand with pliers, and leave it disconnected until you get a new motor.

good luck, let us know what happens.

 

Thank you SSCULLY for the perfect directions on testing this problem. It was indeed the switch which I suspected since the seat would move in every direction but back. I picked up a new switch today popped it in and ahhhh...leg room. Thanks to everyone for your help.