69novass

I have a 2000 C5 with a drivers seat problem. I can hear the pump running when either of the 3 lumber switches are moved but none of the bladders pump up. The passenger seat is fine. I do notice that the pump on the drivers seat sounds different than the pump on the passenger side. Any information on diagnosing the problem would be very much appreciated.Thanks in advance.

RedRider98

It sounds like the same problem I had. I ended up replacing the bladders because the tubes that feed air into the bladders had gotten brittle and cracked. No air was actually going into the bladder. I think heat takes its toll on them! Call Gene at Fred Beans for a great price on new bladders.

69novass

Thanks for the quick reply. I will check it out.

pewterwest99

Can you ball park what the bladders should cost?
and Did you install them yourself?if so how hard was it?

RedRider98

I actually found the new bladders on eBay, so I got them fairly cheap. I would check with either Gene at Fred Beans or Gene at Karshop. They shouldn't be too expensive. Installing them is super easy, simply remove the upper seat covers (they zip in the back), remove the old bladder, and connect the new one to the air tubes. Then re-install the seat leather!

pewterwest99

I'm having trouble with the ones in the seat, not the seat back. are these the ones that you replaced?

RedRider98

If we are talking about the same thing here, the lumbar bladders are only in the seat back, not the seat bottom.

David426

The bladder of the side lumbar supports (bolsters)
went out on mine and the dealership replaced under warranty. $600 if they had charged me

pewterwest99

I'm looking for the ones in the seat, on the sides.

cenzo

There aint any there.

SteveL2

Here's a picture, courtesy of forum vendor Vette Essentials, that shows the bladder in the back of the seat:



If you want to see how to get to that part of the seat back, check out steps 1-9b, here: http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...er_change.html

pewterwest99

I guess I'm looking for the seat foam then. Anybody know how much that cost? and where to get it?

RedRider98

Gene at Fred Beans will have the best price...I bought all new sport seat foam from Gene a few months ago!

Bryan

69novass

This past weekend, I removed the drivers seat and removed the seat cover to access the bladders. The bladders looked fine. I then, removed the leather pouch from the pump and disconnected the rubber line coming out of the pump which is located under the seat. I put the seat back in the vette loose and reconnected the electrical connectors. I hit the lumber adjustment switches and noticed there was no air coming from the pump. I then disconnected the seat electrical connectors and the two electrical wire tabs to the pump. Make sure you mark them red and black. I then took the top off the pump (5 or 6 screws). I noticed allot of grease in vane slots . This is a vane pump that needs to be super clean to allow the vanes to slide out of the spinning non-concentric nylon cartridge to move the air. There is also a metal housing insert that has a hole in it for the motor shaft. There is an oring under the metal housing. I cleaned all the details and made sure the slots in the nyon where clean and that the metal vanes slid freely in the slots in the nylon. I then put the pump back together and reconnected the electricals and rubber hose and it pumped up the bladders. I put the seat back together and reinstalled it back in the vette and everything is fine.

George8211

Thread, it's time to come back to life

I'm having the same problem as you did. My driver side air bladders are not filling up. Took the seat out, located the air pump motor, removed from leather pouch, pluged seat wiring harness back in.... and wa la... motor runs, but no air from pump.

I removed the pump cover... I see the vane blades, it appears that one of the blades is not moving freely, and is stuck: pushed into the vane holder.

I'm ready to take it apart and clean it up. What kind of grease did you use when you put it all back together ??????? Is this simular to the problem you had ?????

George8211

This is where I'm at so far....
It feels like the grease inside has a gritty feel to it... must be from the ware n' tare. The grit must be keeping the blades from moving freely in the plastic spinning housing (white piece).

George8211

To those that might encounter this problem down the road, or have it now... these are the clues to look for to determine the problem.

Air badders not filling up... but are holding air from last adjustment (as apposed to an empty air bladder from a leak in the bladder).

All bladders will not fill with air (as apposed to one working... this could be a disconnected hose or a bad switch).

The air pump motor makes a 'clicking' noise simular to the starter when you try to start the car with a low or dead battery. Of course this is a much smaller motor and is not as loud. The 'clicking' noise could be from the sticking vane blade that is not making contact with the inner pump house, causing a lose fit... thus allowing the spinning assembly to bounce around in the housing while it spins.

(ttt)

George8211

Hummm.... No action on this thread. Guess I'll wrap it up so it will be complete if someone searches it later.

I took the blades out of the white peice and cleaned every thing up with rubbing alcohol. I then lubed all the surfaces with a grease that was too heavey. The blades would not slide outwards when the motor spun it... it generated zero air pressure.

I went on the hunt for lighter grease so the parts would slide. You will have to do your homework here... I used some lubricant that did not have a label on the tub and it is working fine.

*Note: Some of the slots for the blades are losser than others. To function properly the blades need to move freely. For the tighest slot, I tried all the blades and used the one with the losest fit.

Good Luck with your project.

Hams

Took the car out on sat. both side are not working " lumbars" top and bottom. The pumps run i can feel air coming out and when i change direction it pulls a suction. Any help. Thanks Bob

99mike

This is a common problem The plastic bladders get old and tend to crack at the hose inlet. Check out this thread to repair. It worked for me.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...vil-style.html

​​​​​​Mike