Replaced my 3rd row power seat with a manual one.

[Explorer_PL]

I am surprised it lasted that long actually. 12 years / 250 k miles, and my passenger side 3rd row seat would not elevate. Since the price for a single motor and gearbox assembly goes in the neighborhood of $ 300 and thinking that the other one will go soon probably, I could not justify $ 500-600 expense for that. My son's 07 Eddie Bauer has a manual 3rd row and it works just fine, I can use my hands to lift them once in a while
I removed the seat assembly from the truck and then grinded off the rivets and then just yanked it out of the seat - it's not that easy. I cracked open the gear box and I see where things go wrong - the motor has a metal worm on the shaft, while the seat has a plastic one, few of the teeth broke off creating a gap on that sprocket. I'l post pictures when I find them. You can't fix it.
I searched the local salvage yards and found a complete bench in the same color, leather(like) for $ 125.
I picked it up last week, the total swap takes probably 30 minutes, no more. Now I am set for life
The electric half working one goes on eBay to get some money back unless someone wants it from here.

The original seat out

The one from salvage yard, needs a little of cleaning on the cargo side

Installed, perfect condition on the passenger side

This is going somewhere for sale

 

[07EddyB]

Excellent work as always. What are you going to do with the switches? Leave them in? Install an inverter and a power port for a blender for margaritas?

 

[Explorer_PL]

You read my mind Eddy

It will become a power outlet, I also thought about a low wattage inverter as well.

I need to find out on eBay or amazon my options for 12v / 110v outlets that I can paint to match the trim color.

 

[qb100]

so the real trick is finding a replacement seat that is manual..... I have one that works and one that is stuck up... i'll start looking around. thanks for the post

 

[Explorer_PL]

That was my thought, those motor/gear box assemblies are doomed to go bad so why spending hundreds on something that will break again any moment.

 

[rpasetto]

There's another possibility which doesn't cost the big bucks like the Ford replacement. It involves a different kind of gear motor, like one sold on eBay and elsewhere, (shown in picture below). It's not a quick fix but once the modifications are made, it should be fairly easy to replace the motor should it fail in the future... without replacing the seat bracket, etc. The YouTube video is here:
"
2007 Ford Explorer Third Seat Motor reDesign and Replacement"