2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Power Seat Motor Failing...

[DEZLPWR]

My driver's power seat motor is failing/only working intermittently. This seems to be a fairly common problem, as my '99 had the same issues. The motor that is failing is unfortunately the one that moves the seat forwards and backwards. On my '99, luckily it was the one that moved the seat up and down, which I didn't need to really use. When this motor decides to fail, I will be SOL, and unable to move the seat at all! I may be able to get a seat bracket from a '95 gasser. Does anyone know if it will bolt right up to my '98? If so, I would like to swap it out so that I have "manual" driver's seat and my power seat motor worries would be a thing of the past! I refuse to pay $400 for a new power seat motor from my lovely local "5 Star"!

Any thoughts/suggestions for this fix? I have tried some salvage yards, but no luck so far... .

 

[DEZLPWR]

Ttt

Nobody can help me out here??? :{ :{

 

[AstroZombie]

I am facing similar problems with my power seat. Though the buttons that are failing are then ones that adjust the front of the seat and the back of the seat. I need to find out if it is just the switches or the actual motor that has failed.

 

[DEZLPWR]

I am facing similar problems with my power seat. Though the buttons that are failing are then ones that adjust the front of the seat and the back of the seat. I need to find out if it is just the switches or the actual motor that has failed.

I am 90% sure that it is the motor that is failing... One on my '99 went out also. The motors are garbage, and for some idiotic reason, you can't just buy one motor, you have to buy all of them from DC as a set to the tune of $375! :{ :{

 

[JerryTurbo]

The problem is the current limiter in the motor. It opens when the current of the motor reaches over 2. 5 amps. This is located in the commutator end of the motor.

What I've done to several motors is to solder in a jumper across the terminals. This will get it working but without the current protection. And we know what that will do. I've purchased a self-resetting 2. 5 amp breaker and installed it inline with the 12v fed to the toggle switch for that motor.

 

[DennyDay]

Seat Motor

On the '99 the three sear motors were the same and rasther than pay $800. dollars for a new seat assy. I just swapped the motor. I asked the dealer why $800 and was told because we can get it. When these dodges wear out I'll probably NOT own another one.



This was one of the wonderful world of 5 Star dealers!



Denny

 

[Joe Mc]

DESLPWR - Same situation in my 99 - it was the motor that raised the rear. I had it all apart cleaned & lubed and it's not that difficult to actually put back together - it only worked for 30 seconds though. I locked it in the full down position. I'll bet if you take that motor apart you could swap the electrical ends with the bad one. Yes it is absurd that you can't get just the motor you need. nuf said. Good luck.

 

[JDougherty]

i just bought one from a parts truck off of the classifieds... . for like $30. It is still working after 12 months.

 

[dfuller]

power seat motor failures

Hi fellow Diesel Rams,

I have a 98 Quad cab and one of my power seat motors failed, so being an electronic engineer I had no fears in taking this motor apart. What I found was too much grease that got into the commutator and brush assembly causing a non-conductive film to be created on the commutator surface. Cleaning it off the commutator wasn't difficult and reassembling the motor, it would run ok on a +12 power supply I have with expected current draw until the current would drop to nearly zero. Opening up the motor revealed that the commutator was coated again and further inspection revealed that the brushes were deteriorate from the migrating grease issue. I have been searching for small motor brushes from local motor rebuilding shops but without any luck. The brush material appears to be a bronze graphite or copper graphite brush.

I agree that there isn't any reason why the 5 star A-holes can't part number these power seat motors without having to purchase the entire sub-assembly.

Also I haven't had any luck finding any power seat motors from any wrecking years..... but then again getting one wouldn't resolved this issue.

I'm attempting to find out whom is the manufacturer of these motors and if anyone has any leads please let me know.....



Cheer,

Doug Fuller

 

[DEZLPWR]

Hi fellow Diesel Rams,

I have a 98 Quad cab and one of my power seat motors failed, so being an electronic engineer I had no fears in taking this motor apart. What I found was too much grease that got into the commutator and brush assembly causing a non-conductive film to be created on the commutator surface. Cleaning it off the commutator wasn't difficult and reassembling the motor, it would run ok on a +12 power supply I have with expected current draw until the current would drop to nearly zero. Opening up the motor revealed that the commutator was coated again and further inspection revealed that the brushes were deteriorate from the migrating grease issue. I have been searching for small motor brushes from local motor rebuilding shops but without any luck. The brush material appears to be a bronze graphite or copper graphite brush.

I agree that there isn't any reason why the 5 star A-holes can't part number these power seat motors without having to purchase the entire sub-assembly.

Also I haven't had any luck finding any power seat motors from any wrecking years..... but then again getting one wouldn't resolved this issue.

I'm attempting to find out whom is the manufacturer of these motors and if anyone has any leads please let me know.....



Cheer,

Doug Fuller

Keep us posted if you find out... .

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Kicking this from the dark ages because the up/down motor for the back seat cushion on my '98 is dying. It is weak and only runs a moment. Like dfuller I totally disassembled the motor and cleaned out accumulated grease, cleaned the brushes which looked OK and cleaned the stator contacts. Put it together and it's still weak. I think the windings are going bad and drawing too much resistance.

But I have good news. . . after some googling it appears there are individual replacement motors available now. . . well at least early 2nd Gen. Not sure if they'll work on '98-'02. Might order one from these guys and will let you know if I can fit it in
Ram Truck Power Seat Motor - Detailed item view - Two Men One Garage

Vaughn

 

[diesel DOG]

wish mine had just died in the right position. Up & down rear of the seat failed. I was told 800 -900 for the entire assembly. So it stays broken.

 

[Matt42]

.



But I have good news. . . after some googling it appears there are individual replacement motors available now. . . well at least early 2nd Gen. Not sure if they'll work on '98-'02. Might order one from these guys and will let you know if I can fit it in

Ram Truck Power Seat Motor - Detailed item view - Two Men One Garage



Vaughn

Gawrsh. They have both motors, too. That's cheaper than the trouble of finding a donor seat at the yank-a-worser-part yard. I gotta drive mine again to figure out which motor is intermittent.

 

[firefighter_2000]

Too bad

Too bad they dont work for the later 2nd gens and the 3rd gens. Sure wish we had a way of finding out who the OEM mfg is of those motors.

Craig