Hey everyone- always appreciate the feedback I get here. Need some major help.

2005 acura tl w/50k. flood damage from a while back- mechanically and electrically- car fared quite well in the flood and I have put tons of miles since then but I cannot figure out what to do about my seats.

Driver and passenger seat move forward and back without issue. Neither of them recline. I don't think I hear a motor clicking when I press the recline button- maybe I can post a video and someone can help?

I have checked the fuses- they look fine. I tried lubing up some of the gears I could see and pushing hard while I hold the recline button to see if something is stuck. Took it to a dealer in Philly- they literally would not look at it and would not investigate for anything less than 7 hours labor.

Anyone have experience replacing seat components? I am thinking it is the reclining motor that has gone bad. Anyone know a shop within 2 hours of Philadelphia that has experience in something like this? I am also willing to bring it to an AZ member and obviously compensate you for your time.

Would LOVE to figure this out. Thanks

 

Maybe one of the wires underneath got disconnected/cut

 

I doubt that, he said it was in a flood, how much water was in the inside? if there even was any? did it go up to the seats, the steering wheel? It could be the motors. It's not a fuse if they go up and down. It could also be a gear that's stuck, broken, or missing.

Just to confirm, is there any noise, clicking or otherwise when you try to recline?

Try to recline it up and have someone push the back of the seat, maybe there's something in the way of the gears...

 

I'm thinking it's something directly related to the seat motors (meaning if they move fore and aft but won't recline, I don't think it's a problem anywhere else in the car). New seats would probably be quite expensive but maybe (albeit a gamble), changing the motors that recline the seats would cost a bit less. I was thinking an auto upholstery shop might be able to do the work as they remove seats all the time and probably could swap out the motors for you. As far as you know, did the recline function fail on both seats at once or one than the other? Also, it's less important for the pass seat to be fixed vs the driver's seat, so if finances are an issue, fix the driver's side first.

 

Thanks erdoc- looks like those of us stuck in the trauma bay and er think alike! Ended up taking it to an upholstry shop- they did great work. I bought 2 beat up seats for super cheap and got them to put my padding and leather on those frames. Seats now work

 

Glad to hear it- I don't have the aptitude to take apart the seats (at least I don't think I do), so I'm happy it all worked out.