I just bought a 2000 4Runner Limited for my wife. I'm 6'2" so when I test drove it I got in, put the power seat as far back as it would go and everything was fine. When I got home my 5'0" wife got in to drive it (she was unable to come with me when I checked it out) and attempted to put the seat as far forward as it would go. The seat moved about 4" and stopped. Needless to say she wasn't even close to being able to reach the pedals. Either A) There is a problem with the seat, or B) That's as far forward as the seat goes.

I refuse to believe that B is the issue because no one that is under about 5'9" would be able to reach the pedals. Has anyone experienced this issue before? The motor does operate as we are able to move the seat back and forth, but it only has about 4" of travel.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

(I did search extensively before posting)

 

My only thoughts are that there is an obstruction in the track, a gear stripped on the motor or something is seized. So you could, spray some lube or penetrant down the tracks; or with no one in the seat, with the button pressed forward give the base of the seat a little push to see if that helps get past the seized point.
Also does the up and down of the seat bottom work correctly?

 

I tried the lube and push method last night with no results. The up and down control works as does the power lumbar adjustment and reclining.

 

Take a measurement that looks to be the clearest (i.e back of seat track to back of seat) and I (or anyone else) can check mine at lunch to see how far off you are... or just compare to the passenger seat

 

get a wrench
pull the seat off the floor

poke around while looking at the gears, motor, and screw. it is all open and visible
down there when the seat is lifted off floor. should be super simple to see the problem

a 4runner should be able to squish the smallest person up to the steering wheel

 

I'll try that, hopefully I'll have some time to work on it tonight.

That's what I wanted to hear. Fixing power seat issues is much easier than fabricating some custom seat bracket that will move it closer to the steering wheel.

 

Easiest fix ever. Turns out there was a quarter stuck in the track

 

thanks for letting us know what it was

this is how we learn

thanks for the nice pics