Lazy Boy Electric Recliner Troubleshooting

Lazy Boy power recliners are a good choice for anyone who wants to make their living space even more comfortable and stylish.  Unfortunately, even the highest quality furniture can’t stand the test of time and repeated use without experiencing some issues.

If you are having problems with your Lazy Boy power unit, here is a troubleshooting and how-to guide to help you resolve some of the commonly-reported issues with these recliners.

How to Configure and Use My Lazy Boy Electric Recliner

To assemble motion sofa and chair, follow these instructions:

1. Carefully roll the power motion sofa forward to rest on the seat and top arms; roll forward to rest on the top backs if the backs are attached. Cut the plastic ties and remove the protective packaging under each power motor.
2. Remove the twist ties from the motor connector cords. Route the motor connector cords between the motor cover and the base rail. Gently roll the sofa back to the upright position.
3. The power supply box and the electrical components bag are attached to the back springs on one of the motion sofa backs. For units with detached backs, lay the motion sofa backs on the seats, front side down, and lift the outside upholstery covers to locate the parts. If the backs are attached, pull the lower outside back upholstery cover to release the fastening tape from the bottom rear rail, and lift the cover to locate the parts.
4. Install the back.

• Lay the back on the seat, and locate the back and body brackets. Lift the back at a slight angle and align the brackets on the back with the brackets on the body.
• Lower the back onto the body while making sure the back and body brackets are completely engaged.
• Lock the brackets by using a screwdriver to push down the locking levers.

5. Locate the fastening tape on the outside back upholstery cover and the fastening tape on the bottom of the rear rail.

• Pull the outside back upholstery cover down tight, and firmly press the fastening tape on the outside back upholstery cover to the fastening tape on the bottom of the rear rail.

6. Choose a location for the power motion sofa that is close to an electrical outlet.
7. Adjust the front glides to a height that provides an unobstructed path for the operation of the leg rest. Holding the top jam nut, turn the glide clockwise to lower the unit or counterclockwise to raise the unit.
8. Each end of the power motion sofa has its own motor. Locate the motor connectors behind the end units.
9. The dual-motor junction cable attached (step 3 above) has two long ends to reach both motor connectors. Connect the long ends of the dual-motor junction cable to the motor connectors.
10. Connect the power supply to the dual-motor junction cable.
11. Connect the 120 volt power cord to the power supply. But do not plug in yet.
12. Proceed to battery assembly.

How to Operate a Lazy Boy Electric Recliner

Plug the 120-volt power cable directly into a wall outlet.

The power feature is operated by the buttons located on the outside arm; except for the armless recliner, which uses a hand wand.

• To raise the leg rest and recline back, press the front button and hold. Release the power switch when the leg rest and back recline reach the desired position.
• To raise the back and lower the leg rest, press the back button and hold. Release the power switch when the back and leg rest reach the desired position or are completely closed.

To operate an armless recliner:

• Press and hold down the top button on the hand wand to raise the back and lower the leg rest. Release the button to stop the back and leg rest in any reclined position or when fully raised.
• Press and hold down the bottom button on the hand wand to raise the leg rest and recline the back. Release the button to stop the leg rest and back in any reclined position or when fully reclined.

To use the USB charging port:

Plug a small portable electronic device into the USB charging port. The USB port is for charging only and does not carry, save or transfer data.

Breakaway leg rest safety feature

The power units have a breakaway safety feature. If the leg rest encounters most ordinary obstructions while closing, the leg rest will disengage from the mechanism. You will hear a “pop” when the leg rest is disengaged and the leg rest will stop moving.

• If the leg rest becomes disengaged from the mechanism, remove the obstruction from the leg rest path. Then firmly press the leg rest closed with your legs until you hear a “pop” indicating the leg rest is reconnected to the mechanism.
• The leg rest may disengage if you place your full body weight toward the front of the unit while lowering the leg rest. If this happens, firmly push the leg rest closed with your legs.

How to Configure Lazy Boy Electric Recliner Battery Backup

The backup system is designed to return a reclined chair to the upright, closed position for exiting ease during a power interruption. It is not intended to recline the chair. For that, you will need to purchase a separate battery backup system. Lazy Boy recommends replacing the batteries every six months and after each power failure use.

The battery backup is located in the power supply and uses two 9-volt alkaline batteries. For battery backup assembly, follow these instructions:

1. Unplug the 120 volt power cord from the electrical outlet, and:

• For a power motion sofa, disconnect the power supply from the motor connectors behind the motion sofa.
• For a modular unit, disconnect the power supply from the motor connector behind the unit.

2. The battery compartment is found on the side of the power supply. Slide the battery cover up to access the battery compartment.
3. Snap the connection caps on the battery terminals. Place the batteries in the power supply.
4. Slide the battery cover over the batteries.

Why is My LazyBoy Electric Recliner Not Working?

If the leg rest stops moving while closing, it may have disengaged from the mechanism. Follow these instructions to troubleshoot:

1. Make sure the leg rest did not contact an obstruction while closing. Remove any obstruction from the leg rest path.
2. Firmly push the leg rest closed with your legs. You will hear a “pop” when the leg rest is reconnected to the mechanism.

If the electric recliner does not work, check the following:

1. Make sure the 120 volt power cord is plugged into an electrical outlet.
2. Check the power supply to make sure the green LED power indicator light is on.
3. Make sure the electrical outlet is working. Check for blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers there is no power.
4. Make sure all the connectors are secure.
5. Make sure the electrical cords are not crimped or pinched. Make sure the electric cord or plug is not damaged.
6. Make sure you have not exceeded the operating capacity and there is only one occupant in the individual seat or unit.

Can You Manually Recline a Power Recliner

The power drive recliner mechanism has been limited in certain situations that require the ability to adjust the backrest position even in the event of failure of the motor drive or power supply.

The backrest 16, however, is now free to respond to manual applied pivotal force. It can be manually repositioned and in particular, can be manually pushed to a fully erect position from a reclined position in the event of mechanical failure of the drive motor or power failure.

Common Lazy Boy Recliner Problems and How to Fix Them

1. Power legrest won’t close

If your Lazy Boy power legrest is having problems closing all the way, you may have triggered the safety mechanism. The safety feature will prevent you from accidentally closing your legrest on anything. Whn this happens, you will need to reset the safety clips inside of this mechanism.

To troubleshoot your Lazy Boy power legrest:

• Lift you’re your legrest to the upright position while no one is sitting on the recliner.
• Firmly press down on each side of your legrest until you hear it click back into place.
• Press the button to lower your legrest and close it all the way to see if the safety clips have been reset.

2. Power recliner won’t move

If your power recliner won’t move, this happens because of a loose in-line plug. To troubleshoot this problem:

• Use a flashlight to check the base and ensure that all the connections of the wire that goes around the base are not loose.
• Reconnect any loose connections and do some preventative measures by wrapping them in black electrical tape.

3. Power recliner tilts or reclines when not in recline position

If you are having this problem, most likely the recliner’s mechanism is bent or broken. To troubleshoot:

• Inspect the recliner to see if any of its parts are bent or broken and replace them or take it to a repairman or authorized dealer.

4. Power recliner tilts or reclines too much

If you find that your unit reclines way too much when you lean on it, then it means the recliner’s mechanism is not providing enough tension to support your body weight. To troubleshoot:

• Increase the tension of the mechanism to fix this problem.

5. Power recliner hand control not working

When closing the power recliner using the hand control, the mechanism can cut the hand control’s wire, causing it to stop working it. To troubleshoot:

• Locate the hand control’s cut wire underneath the base and twist it back together.
• Use electrical tape to wrap the cut part and make sure you secure it on the frame, away from the mechanism, using zip ties.

6. Feet don’t touch the floor

If your feet don’t touch the floor when you sit on the recliner it is because its base it too far from the ground. To fix this:

• Adjust the pitch of the recliner downwards in order to bring the base closer to the floor.

How to Adjust Reclining Tension on Lazy Boy Power Sofa

You can adjust the tension of the reclining mechanism to respond to your individual size. To do that, follow these instructions below:

1. Gently tilt the reclining sofa forward to rest on its arms and top of the back. Locate the wing nuts, one on each side, toward the back of the recliner under each reclining seat.
2. Adjust the tension by turning the wing nits in ¼-turn increments until you reach the desired setting.

• A taller or heavier person may choose to increase the reclining tension by tightening the wing nuts clockwise.
• A smaller person may choose to decrease the reclining tension by loosening the wing nuts counterclockwise.

3. Return the reclining sofa to the upright position. Test the new setting. Make additional adjustments if you have to, repeating these steps.

Why is My LazyBoy Power Recliner Making Noise?

If your recliner chair makes noise when you move the handle, it is nothing to worry about as the sound is normal. All Lazy Boy recliners make this noise because they work on a ratcheting system. The noise you hear comes from two metal parts rubbing against each other.

The mechanism inside the recliner features a pawl and ratchet assembly. This mechanism allows the chair to recline back and forth. When returning the recliner to its upright position by releasing the handle, it can make a loud noise.  The level of noise could depend on where the weight of your body is distributed in the recliner.  Also the type of floor surface, concrete or hard tile floors have a larger noise impact.

To reduce the noise level, try the following tips:

1. When reclining the chair, hand on to the handle all the way through the motion.
2. Lift feet off the leg rest when opening or closing the recliner.
3. Gently ease the leg rest into a closed position, while keeping your back to the back of the chair, and do not slam it shut.
4. Floor surfaces have an impact on the sound level; a rug can muffle the sound.

Lazy Boy Replacement Parts and How to Find Them

If your recliner is broken, non-function or old and worn out, there are different replacement parts you can purchase. This includes mechanism parts, frame, electrical parts, fabric and leather, and cushions among other things. Most of these replacements parts are available on both Ebay and Amazon. Here is a list of the parts you may need:

1. Lazy Boy recliner rocker spring

This is a part for rocker recliners that use the side mounting style springs. It can be used as a replacement part for both Lazy Boy recliners and many other models.

2. Lazy Boy recliner repair kit

This is a repair kit for furniture springs that include an eight gauge seat spring that is 18 inches long, two spring clips, two edge wire clips, and four screws. It is also suitable both Lazy Boy recliners and other brands.

3. Lazy Boy recliner D ring replacement

This is a universal release handle that can be used to replace the broken part of most Lazy Boy recliners, but you still confirm the dimensions before purchasing this replacement part.

4. Lazy Boy recliner release handle

This is a high quality product and a good replacement part for the broken handle of your recliner. The product doesn’t include the cable, but comes with screws and simple installation instructions.

5. Okin replacement motor

This motor by Okin is a great replacement for your broken or non-functioning Lazy Boy power recliner motor.

6. Okin power supply cable

This power cable is designed to be used with power recliners or lift chairs. It is used to connect the motor with the power supply transformer. It features a 2-pin connector, and is compatible with a number of brands.

7. Okin replacement transformer kit

This kit has everything you will need to replace your Lazy Boy power recliner transformer. Apart from the transformer which comes with a backup battery, the kit contains a motor to power supply cable and a power cord.

Lazy Boy Recliner Error Codes and Their Meaning

When the control unit detects an error, an error code is displayed on the hand wand to identify the cause. The following are some of the error codes and what they actually mean:

1. HOT- The control unit features overheating protection. The overheating protection shuts down the message and heat system when the cycle is complete. There is no danger of burns or fire due to overheating. (Only applies to 1ML and 1HL styles.)
2. E36- The recline motor is not connected to the master control module (MCM).
3. E37- The lift motor is not connected to the master control module (MCM).
4. E38- The legrest motor is not connected to the master control module (MCM).
5. E39- The seat massage unit is not connected under the seat. (Only applies to 1ML styles.)
6. E40- The back massage unit is not connected inside the lower back. (Only applies to 1ML styles.)
7. E41- The seat heating pad is not connected under the seat. (Only applies to 1ML and 1HL styles.)
8. E42- The back heating pad is not connected inside the lower back. (Only applies to 1ML and 1HL styles.)
9. E68- The 9-volt alkaline batteries are low.
10. E69- Batteries not installed in the battery backup.

LazyBoy Recliner USB Port Not Working

The USB port is for charging only and does not carry, save or transfer data. If the unit is powered by the battery backup only, then the USB charging port might be disabled.

How to Disassemble a Lazy Boy Recliner Sofa

To remove a back, unplug the 120 volt power cord from the electrical outlet and disconnect the dual motor junction cable from the motor connectors behind each end of the power motion sofa. Reverse the assembly instructions steps to disassemble.