Half of reclining seat motor unresponsive

[JCTeacher]

I have a 2018 Equinox that we bought used from CarMax, and it was formerly a rental (or from a fleet). Lately, half of the driver's side seat recline motor has stopped working. I can get the seat to go back, but it refuses to go forward. Pushing on the back of the seat doesn't work, even when trying to engage the switch for the motor.

I would've thought it might be the fuse or wiring, but half of the motor still works. Any thoughts on what might be wrong, and is this an easy fix?

 

[PoManNox]

If it works in one direction, I wonder if it's a problem with the switch? I don't have access to wiring diagrams to see how this works, but I'm assuming polarity is switched to the motor to dictate up and down for the recline motor.

 

[Big Papi]

With a test light you can verify switch operation.

 

[JCTeacher]

With a test light you can verify switch operation.

Oooh, intriguing. I'm technically pretty capable, but haven't worked much on cars. Elaborate, please?

 

[ricklack]

On my old 2013 Nox, the seat back would go up, but not recline. I yanked the seat (2 bolts) and removed the plastic trim to get to the switch. Then sprayed electrical contact cleaner (I think I actually used MAF sensor cleaner, same thing) and then worked the switches back and forth.

At first when I put the seat back in the car it did not work, but I noticed as I moved the switch to recline, there was a slight noise and thought I felt the seat move a tiny bit. I slowly moved the switch to the point it moved and back and forth and it slowly started working more and more, until it worked normally. I had the car for several years after that, and it never had another issue.