I just installed a 6-way power seat in a '69 Caprice (did not have a previous power seat) and want to get the seat to move back since it's practically hugging the steering wheel now. How do I wire it to a battery to move it back for now? Thanks!
seventy2plus2 said
Jul 26, 2015
There should be a 12 or so gauge orange wire coming from the motor on the power seat. You can hook the directly to a battery and slide the seat back. Just set the battery in the footwell and use some 12 gauge or larger wire to connect the battery (positive +) to the orange wire and to the frame of the seat (negative -)
BIGCARGUY said
Jul 27, 2015
Great! Thanks for the tip. Now for the ground, I did notice a black small guage wire hanging from the seat with a ring terminal, I imagine this is for a ground wire. So I connect this wire to the negative side of the battery and the orange reddish large wire to the + side of the battery correct? Thanks again.
4SPEED427 said
Jul 27, 2015
When I do this I usually use booster cables. Negative right to the seat track, positive to the orange wire and away you go.
Just make sure the positive clamp is insulated from any bare metal when doing this!
And yes, that black wire with the ring is the ground for it once you are doing the permanent install.
seventy2plus2 said
Jul 27, 2015
I once tried doing a test with a small (10 amp) 12 volt power supply, but it couldn't provide enough current to run the seat, and the relay on the motor just clicked on and off very quickly. That's why I indicated to use a car battery, it'll provide enough current.
BIGCARGUY said
Aug 2, 2015
Hey guys, I went ahead and hooked up the battery cables (Positive + to the big orange wire and negative - to the seat frame). I hear the motor making a clicking noise when I engage the switch and feel the seat wants to move up and down as well as fwd and backwards though nothing? I WD-40's the heck out of the tracks and still nothing. For now, I went ahead an drilled some temporary holes to bolt the seat more backwards so I can actually sit in without my knees crunched against the dash.
seventy2plus2 said
Aug 2, 2015
It would be easier to diagnose if you had the power seat mechanism out of the car on the ground or on a table, with the seat removed. Is it the relay clicking or the motor? With the mechanism by itself, you can also remove the motor to see if it's siezed, etc. Give it a try.
2slow2know said
Aug 2, 2015
When you tried working the power seat did take have car running? The seat draws alot of power and will click if you have weak battery and key is just on accessory or if you are hooked up to not enough current.
BIGCARGUY said
Aug 3, 2015
I just took the battery and put it on the front floor and threw the cables on (seat wiring not hooked up to car harness since the car never had a power seat to begin with). I'm pretty sure I here the clicking where the motor is (the orange,green blue lines connect to this looks like a junction box really).
4SPEED427 said
Aug 9, 2015
It is likely the grease in there that has hardened. I've had a number of used power seats that I had to take apart, clean thoroughly and apply new lithium grease. You have to make sure you use a very light grease.
Our member here, cdnpont (Mark) did a tremendous technical post on restoring it-
Hey guys,
I just installed a 6-way power seat in a '69 Caprice (did not have a previous power seat) and want to get the seat to move back since it's practically hugging the steering wheel now. How do I wire it to a battery to move it back for now? Thanks!
There should be a 12 or so gauge orange wire coming from the motor on the power seat. You can hook the directly to a battery and slide the seat back. Just set the battery in the footwell and use some 12 gauge or larger wire to connect the battery (positive +) to the orange wire and to the frame of the seat (negative -)
Just make sure the positive clamp is insulated from any bare metal when doing this!
And yes, that black wire with the ring is the ground for it once you are doing the permanent install.
I once tried doing a test with a small (10 amp) 12 volt power supply, but it couldn't provide enough current to run the seat, and the relay on the motor just clicked on and off very quickly. That's why I indicated to use a car battery, it'll provide enough current.
It would be easier to diagnose if you had the power seat mechanism out of the car on the ground or on a table, with the seat removed. Is it the relay clicking or the motor? With the mechanism by itself, you can also remove the motor to see if it's siezed, etc. Give it a try.
Our member here, cdnpont (Mark) did a tremendous technical post on restoring it-
canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t52070477/restoring-a-60s-vintage-gm-6-way-power-seat-unit/