Front Seat - Feels Loose
Article No.93-5-1
March 3, 1993
SEAT FRONT - FEELS "LOOSE" MOVES SIDE TO SIDE OR FORWARD REARWARD - WHEN ACCELERATING, TURNING OR BRAKING
FORD:
1990-92 CROWN VICTORIA, TAURUS, THUNDERBIRD
LINCOLN-MERCURY:
1990-92 CONTINENTAL, COUGAR, GRAND MARQUIS, SABLE, TOWN CAR
ISSUE:
Seat movement when accelerating, cornering or braking may be experienced by some vehicle operators. This can be caused by clearance in the seat track mechanism. (A slight movement is considered to be "normal" under these driving conditions.)
ACTION:
Inspect the seat tracks for movement. If the tracks move objectionably, refer to the following procedure for service details.
DIAGNOSTIC/REPAIR PROCEDURE TO CORRECT EXCESSIVE FRONT SEAT MOVEMENT
General Information
The three (3) types of excessive seat movement are as follows:
TYPE "N" - Lateral (Side-to-Side) Movement Only
TYPE "B" - Fore/Aft (Forward/Rearward) Movement Only
TYPE "C" - Both Lateral and Forward/Aft Movement
Preferably with the customer, perform a brief test drive (consisting of accelerating, cornering and braking) to determine which type of seat movement is being felt.
NOTE:
SEAT POSITION SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTS THE SEAT MOVEMENT CONCERN. TEST DRIVE THE CUSTOMER'S VEHICLE WITH THE SEAT TRACK AND SEAT BACK ADJUSTED TO THE CUSTOMER'S NORMAL DRIVING OR SEATING POSITION.
NOTE:
MOST STATIC TESTING OF A SEAT FOR EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT IS VERY UNRELIABLE. ALL POWER SEAT TRACKS, SEAT BACK RECLINER MECHANISMS AND MOVEABLE HEAD RESTRAINTS HAVE SOME "NORMAL" MOVEMENT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
After verifying the seat movement, refer to the appropriate diagnostic and repair procedure given below.
TYPE "A" - LATERAL (SIDE-TO-SIDE) SEAT MOVEMENT
Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Lincoln Town Car Only:
1. Push aside the seat back trim cover on the inboard side to expose the seat back mounting pivot pin, refer to Figure 1. Inspect the pin as follows:
a. If a steel spacer was previously installed on a seat back with a non-shouldered pivot pin (see View A), inspect the pivot pin for any paint. If paint is noted, remove the bushing. Remove the paint with emery cloth. Apply Lubricant (D0AZ-19584-AA or D7AZ-19584-AA) to the pivot pin. Reinstall the bushing.
NOTE:
COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE PAINT AND APPLICATION OF THE LUBRICANT TO THE PIVOT PIN IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS REPAIR.
b. If the seat back has a shouldered pivot pin (see View B), proceed to Step 2.
c. If the seat back does not have a shouldered pivot pin, or if a steel spacer was not previously installed on the pivot pin, perform the procedure outlined in TSB Article No. 91-15-2 (July 24, 1991). Then, re-test the vehicle.
2. Test drive the vehicle again to verify that the seat movement has been reduced to an acceptable level. If not, proceed to Step 3.
Lincoln Town Car, Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis, Continental, Taurus/Sable and Thunderbird/ Cougar.
3. Ensure that the seat track-to-floor bolts are properly torqued as follows:
^ Front retaining screws: 18-24 N-m (13-18 lb.ft.)
^ Rear outboard retaining nut: 18-24 N-m (13-18 lb.ft.)
^ Rear inboard retaining nut: 60-90 N-m (44-66 lb.ft.)
NOTE:
IF UNDER-TORQUED, TIGHTEN TO THE ABOVE SPECIFICATIONS AND RE-TEST THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THE SEAT MOVEMENT HAS BEEN REDUCED TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL. IF NOT, PROCEED TO STEP 4.
4. Remove and save the four (4) seat track-to-floor covers.
5. Replace the complete track assembly (5461710 RH or 5461611 LH). Refer to the "Parts Required" section of this article for the specific part number. Also, refer to Section 01-10 or 41-08 of the appropriate service manual for removal/installation instructions.
NOTE:
BE SURE TO RECORD THE TRACK'S JULIAN BUILD DATE CODE, WHICH IS ALWAYS SHOWN ON THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE INBOARD TRACK ASSEMBLY (SEE FIGURE 2), ON THE 1863 WARRANTY FORM.
6. Install the seat track covers previously removed.
7. Prior to installing the complete seat and track assembly into the vehicle, ensure the recliner attachments are torqued as follows:
^ Recliner-to-seat cushion: 44-60 N-m (32-44 lb.ft.)
^ Recliner-to-seat back: 22-32 N-m (16-24 lb.ft.)
8. Torque the seat track-to-floor attachments as required in Step 3.
TYPE "B" - FORE/AFT (BACK-AND-FORTH) SEAT MOVEMENT
1. Test drive the vehicle with the front seat adjusted to the full rear and full bottom stops. Also, adjust the recliner to the full up position.
a. If the seat movement is still felt, ensure that the seat track-to-floor attachments are torqued as follows:
^ Front retaining screws: 18-24 N-m (13-18 lb.ft.)
^ Rear outboard retaining nut: 12-24 N-m (9-18 lb.ft.)
^ Rear inboard retaining nut: 60-90 N-m (44-66 lb.ft.)
Also, ensure the recliner attachments are torqued as follows:
^ Recliner-to-seat cushion: 44-60 N-m (32-44 lb.ft.)
^ Recliner-to-seat back: 22-32 N-m (16-24 lb.ft.)
b. If the seat movement was corrected, raise the seat off the bottom stop and adjust to a midpoint position, but leave the seat track positioned at the full rearward stop. Then, resume the test drive and verify the seat movement concern has been corrected.
c. If the seat movement was not corrected, remove and save the four (4) seat-to-floor track covers. Proceed to Step 2.
2. Remove the complete seat and track assembly. Refer to Section 01-10 or 41-08 of the appropriate service manual for the removal procedure.
3. Obtain two (2) seat track clips (F3LY-63618B26-A).
4. Install the track clips on both the inboard and outboard track assemblies. Refer to Figures 3 through 7.
CAUTION:
TO PREVENT POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE CLIP, ALWAYS HOOK THE BOTTOM FLANGE OF THE CLIP TO THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE RACK, FIRST. THEN, SNAP THE TOP FLANGE OF THE CLIP TO THE TOP SURFACE OF THE CARRIAGE, REFER TO FIGURES 3 THROUGH 7.
NOTE:
TRACK CLIPS MUST BE INSTALLED AND CENTERED ON THE TRACK RAILS AS SHOWN IN FIGURES 6 AND 7. CLIPS MUST NOT TOUCH THE PINION GEAR TEETH.
5. Install the complete seat and track assembly.
NOTE:
ENSURE THE SEAT TRACK-TO-FLOOR ATTACHMENTS ARE TORQUED AS REQUIRED IN STEP 1 OF TYPE "B" PROCEDURE.
6. Test drive the vehicle, again.
7. If the seat movement has not been corrected, replace the seat track assembly (5461710 RH or 5461711 LH). (See "Parts Required" section of this article for specific part numbers.) Also, refer to Section 01-10 or 41-08 of the appropriate service manual for the removal/installation procedure.
NOTE:
BE SURE TO RECORD THE TRACK'S JULIAN BUILD DATE CODE, WHICH IS ALWAYS SHOWN ON THE FRONT INBOARD SIDE OF THE INBOARD TRACK ASSEMBLY (SEE FIGURE 2), ON THE 1863 WARRANTY FORM.
8. Inspect the new replacement track assembly to see if the required track clips (F3LY-63618B26-A) were previously installed. If the track clips were not installed, perform Steps 3 and 4 of Type "B" Procedure.
9. Install the complete seat and track assembly in the vehicle.
NOTE:
ENSURE THE SEAT TRACK-TO-FLOOR ATTACHMENTS ARE TORQUED AS REQUIRED IN STEP 1 OF TYPE "B" PROCEDURE.
10. Install the track covers previously removed.
11. Verify the seat movement concern has been corrected.
TYPE "C" - BOTH LATERAL (SIDE-TO-SIDE) AND FORE /AFT (BACK-AND-FORTH) SEAT MOVEMENT
1. Refer to procedures "A" and "B" as required.
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: NONE
SUPERSEDES: 91-15-2
WARRANTY STATUS:
Eligible Under Bumper To Bumper For 1992 Models, Basic Warranty Coverage For All Other Models
DEALER CODING
BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE
7061710 33
OASIS CODES: 101000