Front Seat - Rattles/Noises
NO: 23-12-94 Rev. BGROUP: Body
DATE: Nov. 25, 1994
SUBJECT:
Front Seat Rattles/Noises
THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 23-12-94 REV. A DATED MAY 6, 1994 WHICH SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM YOUR FILES. THIS BULLETIN REVISES SEAT BACK PIVOT BOLT TORQUE AT THE END OF THIS BULLETIN WHICH IS HIGHLIGHTED WITH **ASTERISKS**.
MODELS:
1995 (PL) Neon
NOTE:
ALL REPAIRS ARE DEPENDENT ON VEHICLE BUILD DATES. ANY CONDITIONS NOTED BEYOND THE SPECIFIED BUILD DATES WILL REQUIRE FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR.
SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
A. Squeaking/crunching noise from the front seat back when occupant moves in the seat.
NOTE:
THIS CONDITION APPLIES TO VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 12/7/93 (MDH 12-07-12). THIS BUILD DATE WILL VARY BY TRIM/COLOR.
B. Front passenger seat back rattles when seat is unoccupied and vehicle is driven over rough road surfaces.
NOTE:
THIS CONDITION APPLIES TO VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 12/20/93 (MDH 12-20-20).
C. Front seat adjuster lift bar rattles upon release of bar after lifting or rattles while driving. Most noticeable over rough road surfaces.
NOTE:
THIS CONDITION APPLIES TO VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 1/18/94, (MDH 01-18-10).
REPAIR PROCEDURE:
SYMPTOM A -
Squeaking/crunching noise from the front seat back when occupant moves in the seat. This condition is especially noticeable at the top of the seat back when leaning toward the inboard or outboard sides of the seat. Verify condition for both front seats. Proceed with the repair procedure.
PARTS REQUIRED (SYMPTOM A):
REPAIR PROCEDURE (SYMPTOM A):
This repair procedure involves replacing one or both front seat back assembly(s) with a revised part (See illustration).
1. Remove the seat from the vehicle.
2. Remove the head restraint by inserting a heavy paper clip into the small hole in the side of each sleeve cap while pulling up on the head restraint.
3. Remove the side shield covering the recliner mechanism.
4. Remove the seat back from the cushion and adjuster assembly by removing the two bolts attaching the recliner to the outboard seat track and the inboard pivot bolt.
5. Using a screw driver, separate the black plastic strips at the bottom of the seat back cover. Peel the cover up so as to expose the two recliner-to-back frame mounting bolts and remove the bolts and set the recliner assembly aside.
6. Obtain the appropriate seat back assembly as called out in the Parts Required section, and separate the black plastic strips at the bottom of the assembly. Pull up the cover to gain access to the recliner attachment points. Install the recliner to the seat back.
7. Pull the cover down and reattach the black plastic strips.
8. Reinstall the seat back and seat assembly in the vehicle by reversing Steps 1 through 4.
NOTE:
IF THIS IS THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK AND SYMPTOM B IS ALSO INVOLVED, PROCEED TO SYMPTOM B REPAIR PROCEDURE BEFORE REINSTALLING THE SEAT ASSEMBLY IN THE VEHICLE.
9. Repeat Steps 1 through 8 if the opposite seat back has the same condition.
SYMPTOM B -
Front passenger seat back rattles when seat is unoccupied and vehicle is driven over rough road surfaces. Induce a seat back shake by sharply pounding on the inboard side of the seat back with the palm of your hand. If the sound produced is that described by the customer, proceed with the repair procedure.
PARTS REQUIRED (SYMPTOM B):
1 4778087 Pivot Bolt
REPAIR PROCEDURE (SYMPTOM B):
Using an open end wrench, remove the inboard pivot bolt on passenger seat and replace it with P/N 4778087 (See illustration).
NOTE:
LAY A PIECE OF MATERIAL OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE ADJACENT TO THE PIVOT BOLT TO PROTECT THE CONSOLE FROM MARRING DURING BOLT REMOVAL.
SYMPTOM C -
Front seat adjuster lift bar rattles upon release of bar after lifting or rattles while driving. Most noticeable over "washboard" type or gravel roads. Pull up on the lift bar approximately one inch and let go. If the noise created as the lift bar vibrates to a stop is the same noise as identified by the customer, proceed with the repair procedure. If necessary, road test the vehicle so as to induce the rattle. If by grasping the adjuster lift bar stops the rattle, proceed with the repair procedure.
PARTS REQUIRED (SYMPTOM C):
REPAIR PROCEDURE (SYMPTOM C):
This bulletin involves replacing both seat adjusters on one or both front seats (See illustration).
1. Remove the seat from the vehicle. With the seat assembly removed from the vehicle, proceed with steps 2-8.
2. Remove the side shield covering the recliner mechanism.
3. Remove the seat belt buckle from the inboard seat adjuster.
4. Remove the seat back from the cushion and adjuster assembly by removing the two bolts attaching the recliner to the outboard seat track and the inboard pivot bolt.
NOTE:
IF THIS SEAT BACK EXHIBITS THE CONDITION DISCUSSED IN SYMPTOM A, PROCEED TO SYMPTOM A REPAIR PROCEDURE BEFORE REINSTALLING THE SEAT ASSEMBLY IN THE VEHICLE.
5. Remove both inboard and outboard push nuts from the adjuster lift bar.
6. Using a 1/8" drill bit, drill out and remove the inboard rivet from the adjuster lift bar.
7. Remove the inboard seat track to cushion frame bolt and both front seat tracks to cushion frame bolts and remove the adjuster tracks from the frame.
8. Install the revised adjusters, as called out in the Parts Required section, to the seat assembly by reversing steps 2-7. Refer to chart for attachment bolt torques.
NOTE 1:
ONLY ONE RIVET IS TO BE INSTALLED ON THE ADJUSTER LIFT BAR ON THE INBOARD/SEAT BELT BUCKLE SIDE. ALSO, BOTH INBOARD AND OUTBOARD ADJUSTERS MUST BE REPLACED ON EACH AFFECTED SEAT.
NOTE 2:
IF THIS IS THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SYMPTOM B IS ALSO INVOLVED, PROCEED TO SYMPTOM B REPAIR PROCEDURE BEFORE REINSTALLING THE SEAT ASSEMBLY IN THE VEHICLE.
9. Reinstall the seat(s) in the vehicle.
POLICY: Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.
TIME ALLOWANCE:
SYMPTOM A, B OR C
SYMPTOM B ONLY
FAILURE CODE: 67 - Noisy Rattles