'05 power driver seat won't move

We have am '05 Eddie Bauer 4X4 expedition with heated/cooled power seats. The driver's seat has not moved forward/back in ages and is locked in the furthest most back position. It has been a major issue and I finally decided to do something about it. All other seat movements work (up, down, tilt, etc.), only the horizontal movement does not. When I push on the switch (forward or back) I can hear what sounds like a relay clicking, but no motor sounds and the seat does not move. I also tried to manually move the seat forward while pushing the button, still nothing. I had read that most others who had this issue needed to replace their motor, so I purchased one and just finished installing it. It came with all of the linkage, motor and what looks like a gear box, but possibly a limit switch sensor as it has it's own wire/plug, separate from the motor.

So, I am posting here because it did not work. After reassembling everything and re-installing the seat (and all 3 plugs underneath) it behaves the exact same. When I push the horizontal seat switch I hear a distinct click, but nothing else. I get this for both forward and backward movement attempts. I double checked all fuses and per the manual the fuse for the motor is shared by all of the other accessories in/under the seat, and they all work.

I tried to manually move the tracks while I had the seat out, but it was locked into the screw gear and I did not see a way to manually spin it (like a nut on one end or anything like that). I would like to confirm that the track is not frozen for some reason. Although I did my best to do a visual inspection and could not see anything lodged in the tracks and shook/tamped the seat and rails to try to dislodge anything that might have been stuck in there. But that seemed to not offer any results.

Is there another limit switch that could be causing a problem?

These are also memory seats, could the memory module be having issues and thereby not allowing it to travel? I felt that was less likely as I could move the seat up and down.

What am I overlooking? I am at whits end and my wife needs to use the truck and cannot drive it like this.


Thanks in advance for any help or guidance!

EDIT: After some more searching it appears that the "little gearbox" that I noted was the seat position/potentiometer (5L1Z-14547-AA). So it shipped with a new one (I ordered from here: https://www.fordpartsgiant.com/parts/ford-motor-assy-seat-adjuster_5l1z-14547-ba.html). It looks like this: https://www.amazon.com/5L1z14547aa-Position-Sensor-Potentiometer-Ford/dp/B0042HHEEM

I checked and the potentiometer assembly is discontinued. Maybe because it comes as part of the motor kit?

May help to manually move it (?):

https://carfromjapan.com/article/car-maintenance/how-to-manually-move-a-power-seat/

Hi Sparks,
Have the exact same issue on a 2005 King Ranch. During my search for a solution I found some resolution through cleaning the contacts which at some cases get dirty and require good scrubbing with something like Deox spray and a brush or cloth. (This will require to take apart the switch) I did get the cleaning spray and plan to do it soon (keep you posted). In my case the chair does move every now and then yet mostly won't. Let us know when you get it solved.

David E said:

Hi Sparks,
Have the exact same issue on a 2005 King Ranch. During my search for a solution I found some resolution through cleaning the contacts which at some cases get dirty and require good scrubbing with something like Deox spray and a brush or cloth. (This will require to take apart the switch) I did get the cleaning spray and plan to do it soon (keep you posted). In my case the chair does move every now and then yet mostly won't. Let us know when you get it solved.

Click to expand...

Ok, so you are talking about the switch on the side of the seat that we use to initiate the seat movement? (not some switch under the seat somewhere). Odd that I do hear a clicking noise, like a relay triggering, when I move the switch. Do you get that noise also?

And yea, back when it first started there was intermittent periods were it would work, then it just stopped all together. I would hate to think that all that effort and $150 in parts was wasted and all I needed was to clean the switch contacts .

I am going to search, but is there a way to get at the switch w/o taking the seat out? It would be great to be able to check power and continuity on the load side of the switch. When I pull the east out I lose the ability to check for power .

Thanks!

Don Hall said:

May help to manually move it (?):

https://carfromjapan.com/article/car-maintenance/how-to-manually-move-a-power-seat/

Click to expand...

Thanks. I did not see anything on/under our seats like the rod that sticks out in the picture . I will do some searching for Expedition specific manual manipulation, if the switch "clean" doesn't provide the relief needed.

You mentioned you hear a click, thats probably the switch itself, the click it makes is just not very loud. All the parts in the world won't solve it if you aren't getting power, definitely check voltage, continuity, etc.

In all of the vehicles I've owned, only one didn't have power seats and of the issues I've had its never been a motor/track. It has always been a switch or power/wire issue.

The side panel of the seat should be minimal effort to remove. I believe its just pop off the front trim piece and then a screw or two...maybe a clip and you should be able to get at the switch.

.

Duplicate post

Ok, so you are talking about the switch on the side of the seat that we use to initiate the seat movement? (not some switch under the seat somewhere). Odd that I do hear a clicking noise, like a relay triggering, when I move the switch. Do you get that noise also? Yes, that is the one. The switch that moves many directions. back to fwd closes two circuits that control that movement of the seat and others as you know closes other circuits and at its turn does another function. *up/down/tilt. I get the same noise that you are describing as well. The idea from the research is that the contacts make due but not enough to transfer the amount of energy required to actually move the seat.Hence cleaning it really good helps when the power is neede to be pulled. Similar to a car battery that at times connected loose and everything works till one tries to crank and the amp pull with the low quality connection creates havoc. (had that happen to me too)

And yea, back when it first started there was intermittent periods were it would work, then it just stopped all together. I would hate to think that all that effort and $150 in parts was wasted and all I needed was to clean the switch contacts . I am trying to go from the easy first hence that theory came up after doing some research. Luckily I have a parts Expy (same year EB version) that will help me problem solve.

I am going to search, but is there a way to get at the switch w/o taking the seat out? It would be great to be able to check power and continuity on the load side of the switch. When I pull the east out I lose the ability to check for power . From what I looked online there is no need to take the seat out. You take all the notches out then the trim piece (one in the fron and the side one as well) then you chouls have access to the contacts unit (no idea how its called)
Round piece pops out with some force, there is a screw in the front of the seat that holds the side panel, the switch piece has two scres that attaches it to the panel which I believe you should be able to take out and then just slide the trim piece fwd and out.
-- this is a link that shows some of the disassembly.
Good luck and keep us posted. Today was working on the Harley all day for a big trip so no time for the beast (my expedition)

David E said:

Ok, so you are talking about the switch on the side of the seat that we use to initiate the seat movement? (not some switch under the seat somewhere). Odd that I do hear a clicking noise, like a relay triggering, when I move the switch. Do you get that noise also? Yes, that is the one. The switch that moves many directions. back to fwd closes two circuits that control that movement of the seat and others as you know closes other circuits and at its turn does another function. *up/down/tilt. I get the same noise that you are describing as well. The idea from the research is that the contacts make due but not enough to transfer the amount of energy required to actually move the seat.Hence cleaning it really good helps when the power is neede to be pulled. Similar to a car battery that at times connected loose and everything works till one tries to crank and the amp pull with the low quality connection creates havoc. (had that happen to me too)

Click to expand...

Thanks, that makes sense. I was starting to think it was not the switch since I would hear the (louder than the switch) about a half-second after I initiated the switch. But with your explanation that does make perfect sense. I have the contact cleaner in hand and am going to pull the switch and clean it today.

Thanks for the video. I am pretty sure I saw it before (when first researching this issue) but I couldn't find it again for some reason. So the link was very helpful!

Pulled the switch out and did my best to clean it. Could not take it apart for fear of not being able to put it back together. I was able to open it up, but not safely remove the switch itself. I did pull one side up (unclipped and pried it up) to get better access to spray the contact cleaner. But it did not resolve my issue. Still just get a loud click under the seat, although it sounded louder than before. But that may just be because the plastic trim was no longer over the motor area. I had to put it all on hold as I was trying to bypass the switch by shorting the contacts on the board and managed to short the wrong set, blowing the fuse. I will pick up more fuses later and continue working on it. For now it is parked.

I also am considering taking the switch from the passenger side to see if that fixes the problem on the drivers side. But TBH I have not even looked to see if they are the same switch or not yet.