Driver's seat is wayyyyyy loose!

[87Camry5Speed]

Let me preface this post by saying that I did try searching for help on this one.

In tighter corners and ones I like to take faster than most people, I notice that my seat feels awfully loose. It moves an uncomfortably large amount from side to side and up and down. I easily found the two seat mount bolts in the front of the seat but the two in the back are posing a problem. I can't find 'em! Also what would you use to tighten seat bolts, I have a large torque wrench and a 1/2" breaker bar (thats's like 2 1/2 ft long) at my disposal and I'll use 'em if need be.

I figure though, that since the car is 16 (ok, 17 because the build tag says 9/86 even if it is an '87) years old, is this problem because the seat itself is old? I sincerely doubt that the floorpan is cracked on this car, is it even remotely possible for that to happen on a gen2 with all the power of a 2-stroke weedwhacker?

Thanks

Steve

[Fever]

You couldn't find the two back bolts?

Move the seat all the way forward and look again; they might be under plastic covers. Pry them off and check.

I've got a 1/2" socket bar about 18"long with deep sockets and extension. Works great. You should be able to get it with 1/2"ratchet.

Hope the floors ok!

Gene

[87Camry5Speed]

Thanks fever, I plan to fix it on Wednesday. Gotta fix this one soon- it's not fun taking on a hairpin when the seat is trying to remove itself from the floorboard!

Steve

[spills1969]

Indeed, if you pull the seat all the way up, there should some be some plastic covers and under those are the bolts.

BTW, I dont think ur gonna need the breaker bar. Just get em as tight as U can with your hands. Might break the bolt!

[DIRTBIKEZ]

BTW, I dont think ur gonna need the breaker bar. Just get em as tight as U can with your hands. Might break the bolt!

Just wanted to reiterate.

[Stealth]

Wow... someone else is having a similar problem. My car is a different generation but the seat feels like it a bit loose too. It kind of pushes forward when I brake, something it didn't do before. This makes me feel kind of uncomfortable but I have adjusted to it. I'd like to fix it though and I figure it can be done the same way. If not, let me know before I break anything.

[87Camry5Speed]

Thanks for all the additional input, I already tried the front bolts this spring with a 3/8" ratchet but it was just about useless. Couldn't get any torque on them fokkers. So I'll try the 1/2" ratchet when I go for the rear bolts, this is drivin' me nuts!

Steve

[dmrvos]

My girlfriend just purchased a '97 XLE V6.

On the ride home, we noticed a similar problem on both the driver's and passenger's front seats (both are power seats). When stepping on the brake pedal (or just applying force against the back of the seat), the seat kind of rocks up and backwards. (Very slight movement -- about 1/8"-- but there's also an audible click).

I had her reproduce the problem while I looked under the seat. I also took out the driver's seat and reproduced the problem on the workbench. I don't know the correct terminology, but the rocking / click is due to movement in the lever arms that adjust the power seat straight up & down (i.e. vertical motion to move the seat cushion further from/ closer to the floor).

There are are 2 riveted joints and a rounded triangualar arm at the front of the seat and a single riveted joint at the rear. The motion appears to be in the front. I'm guessing that the hole the rivet goes through has become elongated or out of round.

Is this a common problem with Camry's?
Does anyone know of a convenient fix (short of finding an entire power seat mechanism that doesn't exhibit the problem)?

-- Dan

[87Camry5Speed]

^^ Interesting find, but my old '87 didn't have power seats. In fact, it had power nothing

However, there were manual adjustment knobs for cushion adjustment as you are describing, and that may well have been it (still some levers and whatnot under there just without electric motors) but I sold the car before I could find out. I guess live with it might be the best answer... unless someone else knows of a good way of fixing this..

Steve

[epborden]

I wish my Gen 2 had power seats. Hmm..project for future times.

[cam2Xrunner]

Originally posted by dmrvos
My girlfriend just purchased a '97 XLE V6.

On the ride home, we noticed a similar problem on both the driver's and passenger's front seats (both are power seats). When stepping on the brake pedal (or just applying force against the back of the seat), the seat kind of rocks up and backwards. (Very slight movement -- about 1/8"-- but there's also an audible click).

I had her reproduce the problem while I looked under the seat. I also took out the driver's seat and reproduced the problem on the workbench. I don't know the correct terminology, but the rocking / click is due to movement in the lever arms that adjust the power seat straight up & down (i.e. vertical motion to move the seat cushion further from/ closer to the floor).

There are are 2 riveted joints and a rounded triangualar arm at the front of the seat and a single riveted joint at the rear. The motion appears to be in the front. I'm guessing that the hole the rivet goes through has become elongated or out of round.

Is this a common problem with Camry's?
Does anyone know of a convenient fix (short of finding an entire power seat mechanism that doesn't exhibit the problem)?

-- Dan

This is a common problem on gen 4 camrys as well as the solaras. I saw a post on it before on solaraguy that talked about how it was fixed. My car has this problem too. I am planning on replacing my seats with either is300 or gs300/400 seats.

[powderblue91]

i have this problem too. when i brake it feels like the rightg half if my seat moves forward 1/8" or so