355 Spider seats and top strange things

Well Martin - The only thing I can tell you is... I deactivated my seat motion when putting the top down - after fixing the whole top mechinism about 5 times and 3K worth of parts and labor...

So - when I put my top (up or down) - I get in the car leaving the doors open - put the emergency break on, then activate the top down button... I have to help it along in about 2 places for it to work then... and I had the whole top motor, sensors, etc. replaced just over a year ago... Which based on my intervention is not working right - since about 3 months after I got it back.

My next step honestly - is to make it a 100% manual top - since I leave mine down 80% of the time anyway (not driving it when it rains or snows).

So now to your problem...

So your seats are stuck in a certain position (probably drivers side).

Easy thing to try first - turn off the kill switch up front - for like 10 minutes - then try again. That probably will not work - so don't get your hopes up.

Second - try your best to get a good angle under the drivers seat - which is next to impossible with it all the way up - boy this is bringing back memories! There is a connector there that connects the drive motor to the switch - disconnect and reconnect a couple of times - to make sure it is a good connection - sometimes it will get in the way of the track and disconnects a little.

If the connection is good - and no go - you can try and get to the drive motor to remove it - or loosen it so you can manually force the seat back - and then tighten again - so it is in (permanently) the position you want it.

Check your fuses for the seat motors - I think they are in the footwell of the passenger side - they could be blown - but if one is working and the other isn't - I think it is a one fuse thing - maybe it is two - so could be a potential.

I am honestly waiting for mine to go out again - I am going to put in Milano Leather Sports Seats (same color as the tan interior) - which have manual seat adjustment. I am going to rip out the top motor and make it all manual - and probably knock off 30 lbs - not to mention the frustration of the thing not working right half the time...

And for all those 355 spider owners out there that are saying - but mine works fine... just give it time - they are all exactly the same motor and design - they will go out - it is just a matter of time.

Hope that helps get you started Martin!

Rich

 

Hello Martin - Long Time!

Rich is correct. Only thing I want to add is you may have to reset the parameters in the ECU (if you want to sell it). Tim S now has the F computer and Cliff can do it for about $65. Does not sound like potentiometer, but if it is he can also get the part by itself without the entire seat rail assembly.

RICH - you and I are on the same page. I'll make a gentleman's agreement with you. The first one who has a top problem does it and does a nice write up here on Fchat with pix...OK? Also can you PM with info on the seats you are thinking of using. I'm interested in going manual sport seats (tan also) with better adjustments and having a hard time finding something that looks correct.

Thanks/Frank

 

Frank - it's a deal... I am to the point I actually want it to fail... Every time I raise or lower it - I am sitting their Cursing it inside my head (I hate when the voices take over saying ok - just don't work - one time!

I am, and have been speaking with the guys at Sparco about their Sparco Milano (tan leather) seats... I have taken a look at a leather sample from the seats - and I must say it is nearly a dead on match. They also are highly adjustable - both up and back as well as the "back tilt"... Of course these are Manual seats not electric - which is great by me.

The only catch would be the need for me to (most likely) fabricate the mounting brackets to fit on the existing tracks (they think they might have one from another make that may match (I would need to take the seat out and send measurements) - or I could mount new tracks as well - which is more of a solid design - IMO - but would require drilling into the frame...

When I looked for a seat - my first criteria was to get a tan that matched - or I would have them recovered - if I couln't find the right match. These are running only 1300 each - and I have taken a look at the seat and they seem to be pretty well done - about 2X better than stock seats from a adjustability and what I would call leather durability. They are also lighter than the stock seats - however they are not Cabon Fiber or Track seats - these should be looked at as more replacement seats - that are just more sporty. You can do a 3, 4, 5 point harness setup as well or just keep the current seatbelt.. Take a look...

Martin - good luck - and let us know if any of the things we mentioned work - or you can be the first "Top" project

Rich