busted seat

[nickysick]

I don't know what the hell happened here but it came out of nowhere. I never had any problems with my seat back before...Just got in it last weekend to find this surprise. The hooks that hold it to the frame just seemed to have snapped off. It gets really hot here in Bakersfield, Ca. I wonder if that was a factor.

Does anyone know the part number? Would this be a warranty repair? Any info would be great.

 

[97stscaddy]

Heat usually makes plastic more pliable... and it won't break as easily. Has anyone been in the backseat of your car recently? I don't see how that could just break.
There is usually a part number molded or engraved somewhere on plastic stuff like that if you look hard enough.
That is weird though.

 

[nickysick]

just a few people here and there, but not anyone or anything out of the ordinary sitting back there.

 

[Jim Henderson]

I have had both of mine do this. One was repaired under warranty. The other was after the warranty expired. I think it is a $100 part. Should be easy to fix, just 2 screws at the bottom.

You need to fix this so your cooled/heated seat works. I am not sure if yours has it since I can't quite see the hose that goes up the back of the seat, maybe the black stripe on the right. With the seat open the cooled air just blows out into the cabin insterad of thru the seat cushions.

Since mine is out of warranty now, I plan to epoxy the "hinge" and reinforce it with some flat steel rods I scrounged from a set of old windshield wipers, strong springy stuff. Maybe this will work and be stronger than the factory design.

The hinge on both of mine breaks right at the sharp angle, just like a good engineer would tell it would. Duh, wish Ford would have put reinforcement ribs all the way thru the angle or made the plastic thicker there.

I think both times this has happened is when I had a passenger in the back seat, but it may just be coincidental.
Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

[mrzeee]

Without the vin or make model, year and trim code the base # is aXXXX-5460762-XXX and they run from a high of $145.00 retail to a low of $112.00 retail and LVC cost of $104.00 to a low of $81.08

Max

 

[gcwimmer]

Here is the same post from about 10 days ago.

There is TSB about this.

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=34946

If your LS is under warranty then your covered.

If not, Max sounds like the man to contact.

 

[ToddG]

Yeah, the heat causes this to occur. Its a known issue, and I think later seatbacks have an improved design to combat this problem.

If your car is under warranty, Lincoln will fix it without charge.

Good luck!

 

[eastcoastLS]

this shouldn't happen in a 2000 LS then?
because seat heaters were not available in that year.

 

[nickysick]

i'll contact my local dealership tomorrow to see if i'm good for a replacement. Just weird. Thanks everyone.

 

[MDavis0424]

this shouldn't happen in a 2000 LS then?
because seat heaters were not available in that year.

It's not related to the seat heaters, it's "ambient heat" just from the car sitting out in the sun. Both of mine fell off within the past two months, both were replaced under warranty. Dealer said it's a very common problem, they see them all the time.

 

[eastcoastLS]

i went to buy an 03 and when i got to test drive it the p/s seat back was off.

 

[ToddG]

this shouldn't happen in a 2000 LS then?
because seat heaters were not available in that year.

MDavis is right, this issue has nothing to do with seat heaters. Ambient heat inside from the car sitting in the sun is the cause.

And btw, seat heaters were available in 2000 as an option.

 

[King03LS8]

That is piss poor craftsmanship.