The headrest on my drivers seat does not move automatically with the switch. When I move the switch up and down, I hear the motor working but the headrest didn't move. I tried to assist the headrest up, but then heard something fall into the seat back and then the headrest became "loose". So now I can move it up and down manually with ease.

Has anyone had any similar experience, or know how I would go about fixing the headrest so that it will work properly?

 

The seat back is held with 2 pozi screws at the bottom and push clips on the sides, you have to push toward the seat, splay the sides out and ease it back for access, you don't have to undo the screws are the hinges are flexible plastic, once out the way you can see what's happened - the headrest leg bases push into a plastic frame and I think this has dropped, a simple case of pushing the legs back on the frame. If the frame is cracked you'd need to replace it.
Hope that helps.

 

Removed the seat back. Found part of the white "frame" at the bottom of the seat. There is a motor under the headrest and there is a geared "rod" in the middle which also has the frame part that connects to the headrest legs.

It snapped off right where the gears end...crummy design if you ask me. Took my XJR seat apart and the motor mechanism is completely different, so no swapping there.

Note: epoxy doesn't hold up! I guess manual up and down is going to have to do. Not that I really adjust the headrest in the first place, but it sure would be nice to have the option since it is supposed to be there!

 

The video by our own RevSam for anyone who finds this thread in the future:

[url="https://youtu.be/3zRh1MOa4WI[/url]

Takes about 30 minutes to do the repair.

Vector

 

to get the plastic back off you just pull it off? where should I grab it? I hate doing this because half the time some small plastic piece breaks off and then something is forever loose ...

 

Two screws on the bottom of the seat, push the back in and pull outwards to the sides. There are two metal clips that hold the seat back on. Hard to explain.

 

Just an fyi ... maybe i didn't specify 2008 XJ8 Base, but the plastic back to the seat is secured by 2 plastic trim retainers at the top of the seat, the top tilts out and can be lifted out. Both retainers broke, which is typical for 11 year old plastic.

the problem with the headrest was the connection at the motor. i wiggled it and got it to run long enough to put it down, and since i am the only driver that is where it will stay.