66 T-bird power seats Part II

T

Topher5150

Senior Member
Earlier I asked you guys about manual seat rack options for my T-bird power seats just in case. Well, I finally got around to plugging it in, and surprisingly enough all the switches work the motor works and the lead screw turns freely. The bad part is that the only part that does anything is that the back goes up and down. I would love to make this work if I can so any help would be apprciated.
 
Looks like that was a 6 way seat with at least three relays, all operating from a single control switch. Looks like you need to set aside a block of time, with a multimeter. The good news is that you know you have power, and at least one of the relays is working.

Good luck, you can figure it out.
 

Attachments

  • 6 way seat.jpg
    6 way seat.jpg
    52.1 KB · Views: 57
  • switch.jpg
    switch.jpg
    61.2 KB · Views: 52
There should be a complete DIAGNOSTIC SEQUENCE in your WORKSHOP MANUAL. Makes it a whole lot easier than chasing things.
 
Hopefully you have a multimeter. If so you can then just trace the tips of the three sets of plugs back to the relays. Then with the aid of a couple of jumper wires, you can figure out what relays are bad or if it is the switch. I would start with the direction that has power, to get a base of how the system works. It really shouldn't be too hard.
 
Topher5150 said:
I don't have that manual, nor a t-bird. I'm putting these seats in my 47 Ford:D
Click to expand...

Well, in lieu (Fr.) of the WSM, possibly visit a BIRD FORUM that hopefully has a person directly familiar with the BIRD or has access to the WSM that may be able to help you.

The 1964-66 BIRD had circuitry that need at the least (IMO) access to a wiring diagram. I used to work on them at a dealer.
 
Kultulz-when you were working on the Birds, did you ever have occasion to change the speedometer on a 65 Bird? I had one I bought new and odometer quit working at 19999 miles. Took to Ford to get fixed. Took mechanic two full days to R&R speedometer and he looked like he had fought a wildcat. Cuts and scrapes up to elbow. Showed me in the book where step one was remove both front seats and console. On the 66 they went back to a round speedometer which was very easy to change. Had to take car back a couple of weeks later for a different problem and when mech saw me, he came over and asked what was wrong. Told him the odometer had quit again. He threw his wrench down and told service mgr. he would quit before he would work on the speedometer again. Had to tell him it was okay before he ended up getting fired.
 
"Well, I finally got around to plugging it in, and surprisingly enough all the switches work the motor works and the lead screw turns freely. The bad part is that the only part that does anything is that the back goes up and down. I would love to make this work if I can so any help would be appreciated."

They can act as "relays", for the direction of the motor, for that function: up/down, back forth/tilt forward/backward. When you activate the switch for the back to go up and down, can you feel the solenoid working, when you touch it? If so then try the other directions and see if the solenoid activates.

You might want to get a can of contact cleaner. It may just be dirty contacts, since one works.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN0074 (2).jpg
    DSCN0074 (2).jpg
    31.1 KB · Views: 8
Last edited:
CrownVic55 said:
Kultulz-when you were working on the Birds, did you ever have occasion to change the speedometer on a 65 Bird? I had one I bought new and odometer quit working at 19999 miles. Took to Ford to get fixed. Took mechanic two full days to R&R speedometer and he looked like he had fought a wildcat. Cuts and scrapes up to elbow. Showed me in the book where step one was remove both front seats and console.
Click to expand...

No, I never had that one. The most irritating was a 64 RETRACTABLE SOFT-TOP that a politician owned. He would raise the deck-lid only and post campaign signs on it and drive it around. It kept blowing relays and such. That was a PIA.

To me, the 64/66 BIRD was one beautiful car.
 
I bought a 64 Bird with fried wiring harness, It had AC and wiring had also fried the vacuum harness. It took awhile and patience but wow that car was a nice ride after done. Sorry I'm OT but you can check with test lamp and the diagrams provided by above. Reversing polarity relays are the toughest if they are in the mix.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top