I’ve got a 2002 Ford Windstar with power seats. kaylasmom recently acquired a new guide dog, a 75-pound Labrador retriever.
Back in 1980, when I was courting kaylasmom, I would often drive her and her guide dog around in my dad’s van, and there was plenty of room for the dog to lie down at her feet; I rather expected the Windstar to be similarly convenient. Except it’s not. The power seat will go back far enough for Valor to get in, but not for kaylasmom to comfortably get her own legs and feet in. And this is the easier method of getting them into the car. The dog is supposed to get in after the handler. Either way, the harness is getting stuck up against the glove box/air bag structure.
I’ve had a look underneath the passenger seat at the drive mechanism, and I can’t see any mechanical stop to prevent the seat moving back further than it does. It’s pretty clear that the drive motor stops because a limit switch is being actuated. ISTM that physically relocating the limit switch, or bypassing it entyrely should allow me to operate the seat to a distance that I judge to be sufficient for our passenger compartment needs, and still safely engaged with the drive tracks.
Does anyone know where I should look to find this limit switch? Alternatively, can anyone direct me to a graphic of the power seat mechanism so I can analyze the situation for myself?
It may not have a limit switch. Many power seat system read the current draw of the motor, and when the motor hits the end of the track, the current consumption spikes and the control circuit cuts power to the motor.
If it appears that the seat is not traveling all the way back, check the tracks for a pencil, pen, coin or other item dropped into the tracks, and artificially limiting the travel. if the tracks are clear, I think you will find the seat probably travels all the way back. It would be kinda stupid for a company to build a 24" long track and then only use 18" of it.
Altering the limits of the seat may be a violation of the law, plus you will likely compromise the safety limits of the seat belts and/or air bag system. I would suggest finding a better place for the dog to ride.
The seat belt is connected directly to the seat. Good point about the air bag system, though; I hadn’t thought about that. I’ll have a word with the service department at my local Ford dealer tomorrow.
You might also check with companies that modify vehicles for folks with disabilities. You know, hand controls and all that stuff. A place like that might be able to fix you right up as they are used to making modifications.
Maybe remounting the seat on a new platform could move the seat back 12" while keeping the seat belts operational.