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2000 Camry power seat

The power seat lift motor stopped working on my 2000 Camry. The fore/ aft and recline motors both still work. I tested the switch and it is OK. I put 12V to the lift motor and it still didn't work. I called Toyota to ask how much a lift motor would be. I didn't think it would be too expensive given the size of it, but I got a real surprise. The parts person said that they did not sell any of the motors separately, and the seat assembly would be $1,100.00. I said no thanks, and started thinking about finding one in a junkyard. Then I figured, what the heck, it doesn't work now, how much more can I screw it up? I brought the seat into my workshop and removed the lift motor. I pried up the little tabs holding it together and took it apart. The tiny brushes still looked fine, but I noticed a very dark ring around the armature. I took a pencil eraser and polished it up. I reassembled it and found that it works again! An hour total and I saved a bunch of bucks. Not too bad for a retired person with some time on my hands. Larry D.

Reply to
LarryD
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Thanks for posting that, Larry. It's posts like yours that keep me reading this newsgroup.

Reply to
Nobody Important

You're very welcome. I hope this simple fix may help someone else experiencing the same problem. Larry D.

Reply to
LarryD

That reminds me of the time when I was taking garbage to the dump. Remember those, way back before "transfer stations", where you threw your garbage over a bank at a local ravine! A friend of mine drove up with an almost-brand-new walk-behind lawn mower. He tossed it out of the truck, but before he could throw it over the bank, I asked him why he was throwing it away. He said he was disgusted with it and couldn't get it started. It was running fine until he hit a rock with it. It stalled and he yanked the cord a gazillion times and it wouldn't run. I said to throw it in my truck and I would look at it for him. He said he never wanted to see it again. I took it home, removed the shroud and flywheel, and sure enough, the flywheel key was sheared. I keep at least a dozen of them on hand for B&S engines, so I put in a new one, reassembled it, and it started on the second pull. I called up my friend and told him to come over and pick up his mower as I got it running for him, no charge at all. He reiterated that he never wanted to see it again and to keep it. I used that mower for quite a few seasons. Larry D.

Reply to
LarryD

I agree. I have fixed countless things over the years that others would have discarded. On the other hand, I am one to stretch the limits of my abilities at times. As I said before, It's broken now, so how much more could I screw it up? I know if I brought something that costs under a hundred bucks to somebody that really can repair it, they would probably charge a hundred bucks to repair it, so why not try myself. At least my percentage of fixes is WAY higher than stuff I couldn't fix. Of course, if you put a dollar figure on your time (which I don't), it may come out to a wash or a loss. But, I love a challenge, have plenty of tools, and now that I am retired, plenty of time. Also, my friends know that I am a "fixer", so I get called on constantly to farm out my services. Of course, I don't charge anything to friends and family, but I have found out time and time again the Good Lord somehow always takes care of those who give. Larry D.

Reply to
LarryD

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