This it how you repair the seat back cable. I will also explain how to replace the cable as well.

You will need to remove the Lumbar adjustment knob. Unscrew as far as you can. Then pull out and unscrew till it stops then one more time pull and unscrew. The washer part under the knob pulls right off. It will look like this.

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/mustang8719/850seatbackrepair002.jpg)
Then you will need to cut the 4 metal hogrings in the seam where the front and back of the leather meet.

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/mustang8719/850seatbackrepair001.jpg)

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/mustang8719/850seatbackrepair013.jpg)

Also you will have to remove the seat switch panel. When you do so on the back of the panel there should be a red plastic clip. Install that where I have shown in the picture. Failure to do so may cause the seat air bag to go off if that metal piece is hit while messing with the seat. If your clip is missing find something plastic fairly thick to install there.
(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/mustang8719/850seatbackrepair011.jpg)

Sometimes it is easiest to get to them from the back seat area.
Next unfold the leather from the plastic pieces on the ends. There is little hooks that hold the leather.
(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/mustang8719/850seatbackrepair003.jpg)


Next start sliding the leather up the seat back slowly and carefully. There is 4 more hog rings you will need to cut. In the picture they are located in the little holes you see where the metal rod is. They go around the metal rod in the leather and to the rod in the foam.
(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/mustang8719/850seatbackrepair004.jpg)


Also while sliding the leather up you will have to unhook little hooks from the back side that help keep the leather tight around the rear pocket of the seat.



The white stuff in the middle is the heating element for the seat heaters.

Once you get the leather this high look from the back of the seat. You will see the motor and transmisson.
If you choose to try to repair the cable you will need to heat the metal in either the transmission or motor and slide the plastic parrt of the cable in. Then while holding it move the switch and make sure the cable grabs. Sometimes you will have to do both sides at the motor and transmission. I had to do both on both of my cars. I did this today thats where this post is coming from.
(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/mustang8719/850seatbackrepair008.jpg)


Before repairing the cable.

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/mustang8719/850seatbackrepair010.jpg)

After repairing the cable.

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/mustang8719/850seatbackrepair007.jpg)

Before repair at transmission
(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/mustang8719/850seatbackrepair009.jpg)


After repair.

If you want to replace the cable you will have to slide the big plastic piece off the inside to remove the screws holding the transmission to the seat. Also remove the clip on the rod to slide the transmission out to gain access to the screws to remove the cable. Remove the screws in the motor from the retainer to get the cable out and replace the cable.

Install everything in reverse order.

Hope this helps someone out there.

Awesome, I will get around to this when time allows and it warms up.

Great one, Tech.
:)

Many thanks for the instructions. I attempted this one prior to a trip and didnt have alot of time and couldnt get to it well enough as I was apparently missing a few steps you mentioned that I didnt know about. I will be giving this a try very soon in hopes of finally getting my passenger seat back to work again.

Thanks for the advice. I performed this repair in just under and hour or so. Everything went smoothy till I figured out that the cable was all chewed up. After a quick trip to the local Pull-a-Part, I got a new cable and was back in business. All is well and the seat works great. Thanks a lot.

Just what I was looking for, but I have a question. My drivers seat back is in a semi-re clined position. I can hear the motor turn, but no action on the seat back, and it can not be moved manually. Is this the repair I need to make?

Yes it is.

Thanks, I'll try to get to it next weekend.

My '95 850 power driver seat moves forward and back and you can tilt the bottom of the seat up and down. The seat recline button wont work at all to move the seat back (although I hear the motor running). I see behind the front seat there is a small yellow electrical connector hanging down near where other wires go up into the bottom of the seat. Is this normal or has something become disconnected? What is the cheapest way to get this fixed?

That plug is normal.
You need to do above to fix it.

i had this problem last week and it took me like half a day to fix cuz i didn't see this post so i completly took the seat back off and played around with the whole thing until i found out it was the cable. the dealer wanted like $70 for a new one so i just repaired it somehow but i try not to move it too much. too bad i didn't see this first.

Are there any heated rear seats out there? I know theres an option for them but never seen an 850 with them. My daughter will be big enough soon enough to sit on the seats soon and I would like her to be able to be comfortable on cold days.

Tech: Thank you for posting, but I’m not clear on what’s being done, or why. Could you please clarify? Does heating the metal (with a lighter? A small torch?) soften the outer cable, which effectively lengthens the inner drive cable, which allows a (worn?) drive gear to better engage a (worn?) driven gear? Thanks for your help. chax

The outer part of the cable stretches over time.
By heating and pushing it in more shortens the outer part allowing the inner part to slide back into the motor or transmisson side.

Thank you: I'll give it a try.

I got this back in April, out near the end of Long Island, the day the Pope was at Yankee Stadium. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time in the car that day (2 or 3 hours of stop-and-go traffic), so I got familiar with it fast. The seat was too far back (or so I thought), and the seatback motor wasn't working (clunking sound). However, I actually like the reclined driving position now, but I'd like to get it working anyway. I appreciate your help. chax