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To fix a power seat backrest that twists is very simple. I give tribute and credit to other posts that talk of this, but I want to make it concise.
This should take 2-3 hours total.
Saab will sell you about $200 worth of parts to fix this problem, but let me tell you how to fix it for under $10. The problem is that there are some rotating cables that run from the motor to a gear box at the seat hinge. These cables run inside of a plastic housing. Well the housing breaks and the cables slip out of their sockets. If you want, you can buy new cables and housings, but I think a better, cheaper and perhaps more permanent repair is to fix the housings and re-use the cables.
Materials required:
Saab supplied screw driver and bits from car's toolbox.
Torx drivers: T-40 and T-45,
16 inches or so of 3/8" fuel line.
16 hose clamps that can do 3/8 and slightly larger.
A piece of stiff wire. (I used a bale from a bucket)
Some grease
1. Adjust the backrest to be as close to even (untwisted) as you can first. It doesn't matter if it is leaned back, you just want to get it even. Then raise the seat cushion as high as it will go in both the front and the back.
2. Remove the seat from the car. This requires a T-45 torx driver and a ratchet. Unplug the wires and take the seat to a place to work on it.
3. Remove the switch buttons by carefully prying them straight out. Remove the trim on both sides of the seat. These screws use the torx drivers supplied with the car in the tool box in the lower part of the trunk. I had to use a pliers on that wimpy Saab screwdriver.
4. Remove the seat tracks from the cushion. There are four gold colored T-40 torx bolts, one on each corner. You will have to remove the seat belt anchor to get to one of them. It's a T-40 also. Take a look at that piece that is under that anchor so you can remember how it goes back on...
5. Now you are looking at the backrest motor and the cables. Mark the housings on both sides of the break for right and left. Unbolt the motor from the seat frame with two 8mm bolts, and unclip the plastic part that holds the cable housings. Before removing the cables, rotate them by hand while feeling and watching the seat back hinge. You want to find the place where the seat is not twisted, a place where both gear boxes are even and relaxed. Pull out the cables and remember which one was on which side. The backrest end of the housing is held into the gearbox with a tight place in a slot. Use pliers (being careful not to break the housing where you are gripping) and wiggle, turn and pull until they come out (you may have to pull pretty hard). They are only inserted about 1/8".
6. Cut the fuel line into two pieces (8" or so for each housing) and cut pieces of the stiff wire about the same length.
7. Insert the plastic housing into the fuel line making sure to line up the previous curve and get the broken ends tight together. Place a hose clamp close to the break on each side and tighten.
8. Bend the wire to about the right curve to fit the inside curve of the housing with a straighter place that will hold the break from kinking. Place this on the housing with four more clamps, two of which are close to the break. I made these less tight becasue the clamps will be forcing the wire into the plastic and I didn't want to break it. Make them tight enough to keep the curve secure. Make sure that all clamp screws are on the inside of the curve. The track frame will fit tight against the outside of the curve when put back on. I found that bending the wire after it was installed resulted in another break in the plastic housing.
9. Grease the cable and insert into the housing. Force the housing into the gear box clip. It doesn't go in very far, just to clip.
10. Plug the housings/cables into the motor, clip the plastic piece over them, (make sure it's the right way 'round), and bolt the motor back up to the seat frame. Don't worry if the housings look like they are going into the gear box on an angle, this will be OK later.
11. Reinstall the seat tracks. You will see how the cables have to be pushed toward the center to clear them. The white wire goes on the outside terminal of the backrest motor.(The lower one when the seat is installed) If you get this backwards, you can reach this later by raising the seat all the way up.
12. Reinstall the seatbelt, trim, seat and party down!!
Good Luck!
posted by 12.212.12...
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