Power Seat Motor

This procedure removes and replaces the power seat motor in a 2008 Dodge Viper, requiring partial seat disassembly and disconnection of the seat track mechanism.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Power seat motor assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake.
2. Disconnect negative battery terminal and wait 2 minutes.
3. Move seat to full rearward position to access front mounting bolts, then move to full forward position for rear bolt access during the procedure.
4. Ensure adequate lighting inside the cabin as seat track area is poorly lit.

Procedure

1. 1

   Access seat mounting bolts
   Move the seat to its full rearward position using the power switch. If the motor is non-functional, do not force the seat along its tracks—instead access the front bolts as best possible or consult OEM procedure for releasing the drive mechanism, to avoid damaging the power seat gearbox/drive screw. Locate the front seat track mounting bolts at the front of each seat rail. These are typically Torx fasteners securing the seat tracks to the floor pan.
2. 2

   Remove front seat track bolts
   Remove the front seat track mounting bolts on both driver and passenger sides of the seat track. There are 2 bolts at the front mounting points, one per rail.
3. 3

   Access rear mounting bolts
   Move the seat to its full forward position using manual force if necessary. Locate the rear seat track mounting bolts at the rear of each seat rail.
4. 4

   Remove rear seat track bolts
   Remove the rear seat track mounting bolts on both sides of the seat track. There are 2 bolts at the rear mounting points, one per rail.
5. 5

   Disconnect seat electrical connectors
   Tilt the seat backward to access the underside. Locate the main seat wiring harness connectors beneath the seat. Disconnect all electrical connectors including the power seat motor connector and any position sensor connectors. Press the connector release tabs and pull connectors apart firmly.
6. 6

   Remove seat assembly from vehicle
   With all bolts removed and connectors disconnected, carefully lift the seat assembly out of the vehicle. The Viper's tight door opening requires angling the seat through the door. Tilt the seat back and rotate as needed. Place the seat on a protected work surface with the underside accessible.
7. 7

   Locate power seat motor
   With the seat inverted or on its side, identify the power seat motor assembly. The motor is mounted to the seat track mechanism and connected via a drive cable or gear assembly to the track screw mechanism. Note the motor orientation and cable routing before removal.
8. 8

   Disconnect motor drive cable
   Disconnect the flexible drive cable from the motor output shaft. This typically involves removing a retaining clip or rotating a lock collar, then pulling the cable housing away from the motor. If the motor drives a gear directly, note gear mesh position.
9. 9

   Remove motor mounting fasteners
   Remove the fasteners securing the power seat motor to its mounting bracket on the seat track assembly. These are typically 3 Torx or metric bolts. Support the motor as you remove the final fastener to prevent it from falling.
10. 10

    Remove motor from seat
    Pull the power seat motor away from the mounting bracket, guiding any attached wiring through brackets or clips. Remove the motor completely from the seat assembly. Inspect the motor mounting bracket for damage or wear.
11. 11

    Install new power seat motor
    Position the new power seat motor onto the mounting bracket, aligning the motor shaft with the drive cable or gear mechanism. Route any attached wiring through the same path as the original motor. Install the motor mounting fasteners and tighten evenly in a cross pattern to secure the motor without distorting the housing.
12. 12

    Connect motor drive cable
    Reconnect the flexible drive cable to the motor output shaft, ensuring full engagement. Install any retaining clips or lock collars. Verify the cable cannot pull free with moderate hand force. If using a direct gear drive, mesh the gears fully and verify free rotation without binding.

Reassembly

1. Position the seat assembly into the vehicle through the door opening, angling and tilting as required.
2. Align the seat tracks with the floor pan mounting holes.
3. Install rear seat track mounting bolts first, then move seat rearward and install front mounting bolts.
4. Reconnect all electrical connectors beneath the seat, ensuring positive clicks on locking tabs.
5. Reconnect the negative battery terminal.
6. Test power seat operation in all directions (forward, rearward, and any additional adjustments) before final use.

Verification

• With battery reconnected, operate the power seat through full range of motion in all directions to verify motor function.
• Verify smooth operation without unusual noise, binding, or intermittent movement.
• Check that all seat mounting bolts are tight and the seat does not shift on its mounts.
• Confirm all electrical connectors are fully seated and no warning lights appear on the instrument cluster.

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