Lumbar support not working?

[Radiatorkid]

Can someone tell me how the seat lumbar system works in my 2000 Windstar? When I push the button foreward I can hear something in a black bag under the front of the seat. When pushing the button to the back I hear nothing. Also when pushing the button foreward there is now movement in the lumbar area of the seat. Help, I getting tired of having to use a pilow!

[12Ounce]

I think its just a air-balloon that is filled by a small pump when the switch is pushed in one direction. In the other direction a small valve allows the system to leak down.

If the pump motor runs, there is probably some trash either blocking the inlet or holding the small valve open. Of course, the balloon could have a leak. You're probably gonna have to get the seat out to see what the fix is.

[garync1]

If the pump turns out bad, its going to be a dealer item. Although there are a lot of Fords out there that have this feature you may look to a junk yard and see if they can match them up. Also check out the switch. I hurt by lower back last May and sitting on long rides killed me, the lower lumbar support in the Windstar seem to help alot,the Chevy malibu I use to go back and forth to work with, even on short distance seem to bother it more than the Windstar did. Love the feature..

[frostie]

There is a run of plastic tubing running from the motor (under the seat) to the lumbar bladder in the back of the seat. On my 99, the tubing was worn through by the hinge where you adjust the rake of the seat back. I tried just taping up the hole, but that did not work too well, so I just cut out the bad part and rejoined it using some clear tubing I picked up from Home Depot.

Just fish around in the area by the hinge and you will find the tubing. Hit the switch and listen for the air leaking out. Of course, 12ounce may have it right that the pump is blocked rather than the tube leaking. Only trial and error will tell you for sure.

[Radiatorkid]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I will do some homework on this when I get some time