Advice on couple of Z issues....

[rush91]

I decided to go and startup, do some detailing of the Z this past weekend. I hadn't started it in about 3 weeks, as it's been bitter cold here, plus all the snow and salt. So I go turn the ignition on, and see the off button on my climate control flashing.....( Cliff's ALDL Reader is being ordered shortly) But all the buttons flashed when pushed, and with just the ignition on, I could hear a buzzing about every 10 seconds. The car started flawlessly as it always does, and after about 10-15 minutes of warm up, the flashing stopped, all works fine now. Just a weird thing that I've never seen.......

Also my drivers seat wont recline at all. Neither the latch on the back of the seat or the latch on the front of the seat seem to work. I can push either one, and can't even budge the seatback forward at all. All other seat functions work fine, I just can't get the seat to recline forward at all. Any ideas before I start ripping things apart, that don't need to be ripped apart lol??? Would it be the seatback reclining actuator gone bad? Sorry so long winded on this guys.......

[Jitse]

Maybe battery issue....
Let your battery test by a shop.
Low voltage can give such type of problems.
Regards Jitse

[rush91]

Maybe battery issue....
Let your battery test by a shop.
Low voltage can give such type of problems.
Regards Jitse

The car had a new Optima battery put in when bought less than 5 months ago. A voltage meter is now on the must buy list.

[GOLDCYLON]

I decided to go and startup, do some detailing of the Z this past weekend. I hadn't started it in about 3 weeks, as it's been bitter cold here, plus all the snow and salt. So I go turn the ignition on, and see the off button on my climate control flashing.....( Cliff's ALDL Reader is being ordered shortly) But all the buttons flashed when pushed, and with just the ignition on, I could hear a buzzing about every 10 seconds. The car started flawlessly as it always does, and after about 10-15 minutes of warm up, the flashing stopped, all works fine now. Just a weird thing that I've never seen.......

Also my drivers seat wont recline at all. Neither the latch on the back of the seat or the latch on the front of the seat seem to work. I can push either one, and can't even budge the seatback forward at all. All other seat functions work fine, I just can't get the seat to recline forward at all. Any ideas before I start ripping things apart, that don't need to be ripped apart lol??? Would it be the seatback reclining actuator gone bad? Sorry so long winded on this guys.......

When using the seat controls are you hearing anything like the motor is jammed or are you not hearing anything?

[Jitse]

With a battery load tester, you are able to check the battery in a better way, with just a voltmeter you can read the actual voltage but can not read the capacity.
But with an voltmeter and if the battery is drained,you can see if this is the troublemaker.

[rush91]

When using the seat controls are you hearing anything like the motor is jammed or are you not hearing anything?

No, all the seat functions work. Side bolsters and lumbar bladders work fine, and the power seat functions work. But if I was to access the storage bins behind the seat, I can't even get the seat back to move at all. Would the seatback actuator be seized? It's like something is jammed preventing the seatback from reclining up at all.

[oricale]

I use Red Top Optima's and they very susceptible to cold, ...I have had to replace 3 Optima's in 4 years..

[secondchance]

Also my drivers seat wont recline at all. Neither the latch on the back of the seat or the latch on the front of the seat seem to work. I can push either one, and can't even budge the seatback forward at all. All other seat functions work fine, I just can't get the seat to recline forward at all.

Are you talking about seat back recline mechanism? If so, these are manual - after pulling the lever you need to push to recline. Or are you talking about tilt function which is motorized?

[rush91]

Are you talking about seat back recline mechanism? If so, these are manual - after pulling the lever you need to push to recline. Or are you talking about tilt function which is motorized?

Yes, its the recline. After I push the little switch / lever on the back of the seat, the seat won't recline. I'm holding the lever and pushing easy, won't budge. I try to put some muscle behind it and still nothing. The seat works fine by all the motorized functions. Tilt, forward, backwards......Just the seatback won't recline up.

[rush91]

I use Red Top Optima's and they very susceptible to cold, ...I have had to replace 3 Optima's in 4 years..

That's not what I wanted to hear lol....but this is why I love this forum!!

[George Maz]

Optima battery sucks...that's why Sears dumped the entire line in favor of rebadged Odyssey AGM battery, which has been the Platinum DieHard AGM for some years now.
It's the best choice, for stored cars, cold starts, everything. Sure it costs more, but you get a battery that lasts...and never disappoints.

[RICHARD TILL]

I`ve actually had good luck with red top optima batteries. Got one on a drag boat with 13:1 compression, 08 GMC Sierra and the ZR-1. Battery on the GMC is 11 years old. The red top on the ZR-1 will not start the car if it`s been sitting for a period of 5-6 weeks. Parasitic drain i guess. If it`s been sitting a month or so, i`ll take the trickle charger off the bike and can leave it on there until whenever. Check your battery voltage with key off and then while cranking but not started. It`s the best and cheapest load test that exists. Fully charged ought to be 12.4-5 range and not sure about the cranking voltage but certainly not drop out the bottom. When it`s started, check the charging rate. Post the results. You`re going to have to expose the back of that seat. A 1991 service manual says that it`s cable operated. It`s called a seatback leaver release cable assembly. Put a service manual on that "to buy" list with the volt meter. It`ll pay for itself in one instance and always have a decent resale value.

[GOLDCYLON]

I too have had nothing but good luck with Optima I have been running one in My DD for 5 years now. However you may have an internal short due to a bad cell.

[rush91]

I too have had nothing but good luck with Optima I have been running one in My DD for 5 years now. However you may have an internal short due to a bad cell.
The dealership said they would replace the battery, they put a new one in when I bought it. So if it continues, new battery on the way. But I haven't had any electrical issues, the flashing of the climate controls was just a weird occurance. Will see Saturday if it does this again when I warm up the Z.....

[secondchance]

Yes, its the recline. After I push the little switch / lever on the back of the seat, the seat won't recline. I'm holding the lever and pushing easy, won't budge. I try to put some muscle behind it and still nothing. The seat works fine by all the motorized functions. Tilt, forward, backwards......Just the seatback won't recline up.

Below is the mechanism that allows lock/release for the reclining function.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-1993-Corvette-C4-Seat-Reclining-Adjuster-w-Bolts-GM-14088485-NICE-/371493222564?hash=item567eb8b8a4:g:oKcAAOSwt6ZWU3W t&vxp=mtr

Excessive cold temp may have temporarily locked it. Also, cable may have stretched. I believe you can remove the seat cushion and check for proper function. To remove seat cushion, reach under the front of seat, grab steel wire clip and flip it towards the back - pull down and back. Once up clipped, seat lifts up exposing internal mechanisms.

[Z51JEFF]

I've seen these seat reclining mechanisms rusted and siezed. If you've never had the bottom seat cushion out it's fairly easy. There's a clip at the very bottom edge seat edge. Push the clip off and the cushion comes out,once out you will see the mechanism for the recline. Putting the clip back on can be a bit tricky. You need to have the cushion down into the seat she'll as far as it will go,make sure to clip is in position and push down on the front of the cushion at the same time pulling the clip over the 2 retainer nubs.

[rush91]

Below is the mechanism that allows lock/release for the reclining function.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-1993-Corvette-C4-Seat-Reclining-Adjuster-w-Bolts-GM-14088485-NICE-/371493222564?hash=item567eb8b8a4:g:oKcAAOSwt6ZWU3W t&vxp=mtr

Excessive cold temp may have temporarily locked it. Also, cable may have stretched. I believe you can remove the seat cushion and check for proper function. To remove seat cushion, reach under the front of seat, grab steel wire clip and flip it towards the back - pull down and back. Once up clipped, seat lifts up exposing internal mechanisms.

The weather is supposed too be 70 degrees here Saturday, which is mind boggling for February here. But this is the first thing on my list Saturday, I haven't had the seat cushions off yet on either seat. Sounds like a good learning project. I think it maybe seized, rusted, because I can't get the seatback to move at all. Thanks for the link!!