How to Fix Power Seats in a Nissan Maxima

by Editorial Team

Drivers of the 2000 to 2003 Nissan Maxima may find that they have difficulty moving their power seats forward or backward. If your power seat is malfunctioning in this way, it's possible that your seat slide motor and gear assembly will have to be replaced to restore functionality.

Step 1

Lift the front edge of the seat bottom by using the regular power seat switch. Take voltage readings of the seat slide motor.

Step 2

Verify that the voltage to the seat slide motor on the harness side between "BR" and "W/B" is 12v when the power seat's switch is pressed backwards and forwards. Jot down your radio presets and tap the seat slide motor so that the motor will work long enough to give you access to the seat mounting bolts.

Step 3

Pull the seat as forward as it will go. Take off the two M10 rear seat mounting bolts and set them aside. Push the seat as far back as it will go. Take off the two M10 front seat mounting bolts. Switch the ignition so that it marks "OFF." Unplug the negative battery cable. Stand by for 4 minutes. Raise the seat assembly to find the harness-to-seat connectors. Disconnect them.

Step 4

Take out the entire seat assembly and place it on a dry, clean, flat surface. Position it so you can access the bottom of the seat. Undo the seat bottom's carpet flap and take out the four M8 bolts. Then, take out the top screws from the right hand and left hand side finishers. Unplug the seat sub-harness connector.

Step 5

Put both the seat rails back into their rear position and take out the worm gears, motor, flexible wire and gear boxes all at the same time. Take out the flexible wire from the gear boxes using a screwdriver. Verify that the new seat track mounting tab makes contact with the rear stopper and that the threaded shaft facing up is point upwards.

Step 6

Install six new rubber grommets. Place the new worm gears, flexible wire and gear boxes into the frame. Reposition the seat tracks over the seat track mounting tabs. Use your hand to tighten the M6 bolts securing the seat track mounting tabs. Torque the six base plate nuts securing the gear boxes to 64 to 85 inch pounds (7.17 to 9.69 Nm) and the M8 bolts on the seat's front edge to 13 to 17 foot pounds (17.5 to 23.7 Nm).

Step 7

Plug the slide motor connector back in and hook the carpet flap's strap. Reinstall the seat assembly and reconnect the electrical connectors and negative battery cable. Torque the mounting bolts to 27 to 36 foot pounds (37 to 49 Nm). Operate the seat to make sure that the problem has been resolved.

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