Seat Adjuster Repair - 147

[Citroënbender]

Driver's set height adjuster repair

Problem: Not working at all (jammed) or very limited range of movement
Cause: The fine plastic dogs that release the internal brake shoes, are chipped or broken.

These are vaguely serviceable.  Assuming modest mechanical skills and tools to hand, here's the potted summary.

1. Remove the trim and the adjuster from the seat. Can be done in-situ.
2. Release tips of the external centering spring. Slightly open out the adjacent pinched-closed tab retainer.
3. With a sharp ¼" bit run slowly, drill the heads off the six expanded head through "rivets". You will need to do the top two, prise off the adjuster plate and then the latter four.
4. Prise up and off, the ratchet cover. Remove the adjuster finger you drilled free before, lift up the ratchet plate with centre wave washer.
5. Grasp the pinion driver by its sintered ratchet ring, and pull up/out.  Observe the damaged release prongs.
6. Fish out the broken small pieces of plastic from the metal brake mechanisms now exposed. Make sure the pieces removed tally with the damage sighted.
7. Partially reassemble, and check the pinion brakes release adequately in each direction.
8. If OK, complete reassembly using short 3/16" dia button head capscrews and nylocs, to replace the through rivets. There's adequate room, but you may need to hacksaw the protruding set-screw threads flush. Remember to re-crimp the retainer fingers around the locating tab loosened in Step 2.

The unit was made by German OEM supplier Brose, similar "donors" of parts can be found in many European assembled mid-range cars including Volvo, Opel-derived Holdens, the Bini and some VWs. As the failed part is 100% internal, it is not configured "per model" and you can extract it from a working unit to put into the broken Alfa adjuster.  Watch out for a non-compatible variant with external ratchet ring.