seats broken???

[jwsvo]

I am having a problem, the front seats slam forward under hard braking. This also occurs when the seat is grabbed and pulled forward. I am told there is some sort of mechanism that is broken, something that is supposed to hold the seats until the lever on the back is released. According to the state inspector it will not pass va inspection while this problem exists. This is happening on my 86 and on my 85, the 85 passenger seat does not do this though. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

john

[silver84svo]

yep me too!

my seats on my 84 do the exact same thing. i hope somebody chimes in with some helpful info.

[SVOeric]

there is a inertia switch in the seat that works similar to the seatbelt. Depending on how hard you are braking, you may or may not be triggering it.

it is made to stop the seat from slamming forward in a accident. You have to stop pretty hard to trigger these.


BTW -- When sitting still, the seat should push forward with your hand, no button push required...

I say your inspector is smoking crack

[KevinK]

I would keep the seat belt latched on the passenger seat . Mine has been the same since new, 84. You can recline the seat a little and it might not move so much but yours sounds normal.

[ediii]

As much as it pains me to say it, the inspector guy is right. If you are braking hard and the seat flops forward, the inertia switch isn't working. I've never had one apart but how complicated could they be? They are located on the lower outboard corner of the seatback and resemble a latch. I would see if I can get it apart and fix it. Something is probably just stuck. Failing that do what the other guy suggested and latch the seatbelt, just make sure you get a different idiot--I mean inspector.
ED

[svono50]

I will have to side with Eric's statement, the interia switch/latch does take a pretty quick shock to get it to hook. Every Mustang I have owned and my friends have owned have all been the same. Some examples include seats from the following models; 79 Turbo, 80 4-cyl, 83 GT, 84.5 GT, 86 SVO, 89 LX, 90 GT & 93 LX.

It is almost impossible to get them to latch by hand, but they will latch if you smack into something like say a bridge abutment or a telephone pole (personal experience with those two items). Both incidents were low speed (<20mph), but the passenger seatbacks did not move in either situation. However, I have never had one stay upright when just hitting the brakes. Just my $0.02.