Volkswagen Repair: 1999 Passat Power Seat Stuck, torx bolts, electrical fasteners

Question
Front passanger side power seat is stuck in the most forwrd position and will does not move back.  Need help in trouble shooting this problem.
Thanks.

Answer
Hi Roger;
With these seats, I usually find it best to get them out of the car to take a look at the mechanism, and to test the motor drive with a remote 12 Volt power source.  Start by removing the little plastic caps over the screws on the track guards in back, on the floor.  Then, remove the screws(T20's, or Phillips), and then lift, and remove the track guards.  The seat is mounted on these tracks, and a central rail that is held to the seat.  So, to release the central rail the fasteners used ALMOST always is a 13mm hex head bolt, but once I found a pair of Torx bolts used, and they were a T-30, or T-40.  One bolt per side of the central rail.  Then just push strait back on the seat, and it will release.  It may take a little persuasion, but if you push on the seatback, right at the base it should eventually move out freely.  The next thing necessary to do is to remove the electrical fasteners/connectors.  One for the side air bag, one for the seat heater, and one for the seat belt switch showing that the seat belt is engaged.  On your seat there will be a fourth connector for the power to the seat.  All of the wires come through the carpet at a central location right under the front of the seat.  I usually lay the seat back on the front edge of the rear seat, and get the connectors apart, but first you'll have to get the seat out of the track completely(there's just enough wire to do that), lift the seat track wheels up above the seat track, pull it forward a little, and set it down on top of the seat rails.  Then you'll be able to lay the seat back on the rear seat.  Remove the connectors.  Then, remove the seat from the car.  You'll have to get it this far anyway, because the motor drive unit has failed, and needs to be replaced.  It is a separate part available at your local dealer.  DON'T TURN THE CAR ON with the seat out.  It will set an airbag fault that you CAN'T clear unless you take it to the dealer.  Test the motor drive unit while the seat is out, just to ensure the motor is no longer working with a source of known power.  It could be something else, but 95% of the time it's the motor drive unit itself.  The part is about $400.00.  But the labor to remove, replace the motor, and replace the seat, and clear any faults is about $300.00, so you could save yourself $300.00 by doing it yourself.  Good luck, Roger.  Hope this helps a little.