When I first bought my 96, the seat wouldn't move forward or back. When I toggled the switch back, I would hear the motor. When I selected forward, there was no sound at all.
Turned to be a bad switch. When I was toggling it back, it was already all the way back (that was why I could hear the motor). The forward function of the switch was broken.
Oh, fyi. If you move the seat all the way up, you can probably see under the seat and may be able to tell what the issue is. Also, that will give you better access to the bolts that hold the seat in place (for removal)