I can't seem to get to the outer front bolts (sill side) on the front seats. How are they accessed?

Sorry if this question is redundant, currently the search crashes my browser on my phone and laptop.

 

this forum is for the Series 1,2,3 XJ-6, 1968 to 1987. Try the XJ-S forum. Merry Christmas!

 

Actually I was asking about an '87 XJ6, tried to post from my phone that I figured it out, but I guess it didn't work. Apparently there is a screw in the center that can be removed to pull the seat bottom up to access that outer bolt.

 

yes, there is a screw in the front center edge of the seat "squab" It holds a bracket against the seat frame.

then you disconnect the seat motor harness, (not at the switch but at the harness), then raise and remove the seat squab.

then slide the seat all the way back to access the front hex bolts.

 

I had to look up what seat "squab" is. Is that the British term for "seat back"?

 

No, squab is essentially a synonym for "cushion" and it generally refers to the seat bottom.


I didn't initially mess with that screw in case it was for some fiddly bit under the seat, but i could feel the bracket and it made sense although I was thinking that had to be wrong, because who makes a seat to be lifted up like that?

On a side note, is it common for XJ6 owners to remove the seat springs? I don't really get what the point of this is, unless there was a release mechanism allowing rear passengers to let the front seat up for leg room (that would make sense and would be a neat luxury feature). Its otherwise annoying that I have to push against the seat so much to get it to move and its a pain when cleaning that I have to get in the car to move the seat back.

 

maybe the tracks are full of crud, I can move the front seats in my 1984 easily by pulling the release bar up with one hand, and pushing it back or forward with the other.

yes, squab is the seat cushion. The front bracket prevents the squab from lifting up inadvertingly, or to slide forward when one is sitting on it. 2 purposes.

to remove the squab, in order to remove the entire seat, the screw and bracket have to be removed, then the seat motor harness disconnected, but again, not at the switch, but at the point where it connects to the motor with two wires.

the seat will come out complete with tracks and you can vacuum the tracks and spray some lubricant like silicone. don't use grease otherwise you will have a foul odor in the interior. WD40 works too.

what Springs are you referring to? There are none at the front seats, there is a rubber Diaphragm which is "springy".

 

My seats have no springs, but the tracks are not greatly slanted either.
I've ridden in some cars where one has to work really Hard to put the seat closer to the steering wheel, but they have a 15* slant for passenger "safety".
(';')

 

Elinor, there are no slanted tracks in my '84.

but I can't see how slanting the tracks whether to the inside or the outside would work to move the seat?

 

As I mentioned, Nix doesn't have slanted tracks either, but I was riding in a Dodge van a couple weeks ago, where the front seats had such a slant it was a Really good thing they were spring loaded!
(';')

 

You misunderstood my question. The seats aren't hard to move because they are dirty, they are hard to move because I can't overcome the spring force simply by pressing on the seat.

If I am sitting in the seat and pull the release it will propel me all the way forward. If its strong enough to move forward with my body weight, its not easy at all to move the seat back when you aren't sitting in it.

There are two large springs under the seat the clip to the front riser. I was just wondering if this was an annoyance others had with the S3 that maybe they remove. I'm new to the XJ6 scene and don't have these springs in my XJS.

 

Yup, that's just the way they are. Sorta like power assist



I like the springs but, heck, just remove 'em and see what happens

Cheers
DD

 

or maybe just remove one and see if its more like what you expect

both my front seats have just one spring, action is just a light assist moving forward, very slight resistance going back

 

One time I was removing the driver's seat on a pal's Series III and forgot to remove the springs. When the last bolt was removed the seat shot forward as if it was shot out of a cannon, clonking me in the head and tearing a big gash in the console.

Fun times


Cheers
DD