Seats - Manual Seat Adjuster Bumpy Or Jerky/Won't Adjust

TECHNICAL

Bulletin No.: 10-08-50-005C

Date: March 02, 2011

Subject: Manual Seat Adjuster Bumpy or Jerky Operation, Binds, Sticks, Seat Won't Adjust (Revise Seat Adjuster Mounting, Burnish Seat Tracks)

Models:
2009-2011 Chevrolet Traverse
2007-2011 GMC Acadia
2007-2010 Saturn OUTLOOK
with Seat RPO AH3 and/or AG5

Supercede:
This bulletin is being revised to update the Correction steps. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 10-08-50-005B (Section 08 - Body and Accessories).

Condition 1

Some customers may comment that the manual front driver and/or passenger seat is difficult to adjust in the forward and rearward direction.

Condition 2

Some customers may comment that they are unable to move the seat. They may also comment that the seat adjuster bar is loose and not functioning.

Condition 3

Some customers may comment that when moving the driver's seat fore or aft, the seat moves in a bumpy or jerky manner. The passenger seat may also be experiencing the same concern. Repair the passenger side component only if it is a customer concern.

Cause 1

This condition may be caused by the seat tracks binding. This bind condition is a result of a bow in the seat track assembly.

Cause 2

This may be caused by the seat adjuster bar becoming disengaged from the seat track assembly.

Cause 3

The seat track bearings ride on the bearing races, which may have not properly mated. The bearing races may take a set when the seat is stationary.

Correction 1

Use the following procedure to install flat washers (one per mounting bolt, two per seat) between the seat adjuster rear attachments and the mounting area on the floor of the vehicle. This will remove the bow in the seat tracks by raising the rear of the seat adjuster assembly. If this does not correct the condition, it will be necessary to revise the front seat track mounting hooks.

1. Remove the outboard front seat adjuster bolt finish cover. Use a small flat-bladed tool to release the tab in the rear of the cover (1).
2. Remove the inboard front seat adjuster bolt finish cover. Pull upward to release the retainer clip securing the cover to the seat adjuster (2).
3. Remove the two front seat mounting bolts (3).
4. Install two M12 flat washers (one per mounting bolt, two per seat), such as *Kent Industries Part #P96851M01 or the equivalent, between the seat adjuster assembly and the vehicle floor where the seat bolt fastens to the floor. Ensure that the washer is centered over the hole in the sheet metal (Washer Dimension, O.D.24 mm, I.D.13 mm Thickness 2.5 mm).
5. Reinstall the two front seat mounting bolts (3).

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 45 Nm (33 lb ft).

6. Lubricate the seat tracks with an aerosol lubricant such as GM Super Lube, P/N 12346241 (in Canada, 10953474), or the equivalent.
7. Reinstall the front seat adjuster bolt finish covers.

Cycle the seat to verify that the seat doesn't bind or stick. If the seat is still binding, proceed to the following additional steps.

Note
The following steps (1-7) only apply to vehicles built before January 25, 2011. Vehicles built after this date use revised seat tracks.

4. Locate the hooks on the front of the inner and outer seat tracks. Identify the raised area as shown.

5. Using a small flat file, remove the raised area as shown at all four locations (two per side).
6. Coat the bare metal with black touch-up paint to prevent corrosion.
7. Reinstall the seat assembly.

Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 45 Nm (33 lb ft).

Correction 2

Use the following steps to reattach the release handle to the seat track assembly.

1. Inspect the underside of the seat and ensure that the adjuster bar is engaged into the seat track levers on both sides. The seat adjuster assembly has been removed for photographic purposes only. It is not necessary to remove the seat or the adjuster assembly to perform this repair.

2. If the adjuster bar is out of position, apply inward pressure to the adjuster bar ends and reinsert the two seat track levers into the plastic end caps on the ends of the seat adjuster bar.

Correction 3

Use the following steps to burnish the seat track bearings. This will level the bearing races.

- Place a 90 kg (200 lb) weight on the affected seat.
- Cycle the seat forward and rearward 30 times to smooth out the bearing race surface.
- Occupy the seat, cycle the seat and verify the customer's concern is corrected.

*We believe this source and their products to be reliable. There may be additional manufacturers of such products/materials. General Motors does not endorse, indicate any preference for, or assume any responsibility for the products or material from this firm or for any such items that may be available from other sources.

Parts Information

The M-12 Flat Washers can be ordered directly from Kent Automotive.

Warranty Information

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use the table.

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