Passenger seat nonresponsive

[yelvington]

We have a "new" 2001 9-5 SE. One of our teenagers managed to move the power passenger seat all the way forward, and now it won't return to a normal position -- neither of the power switches seems to have any effect. The fuse seems to be OK. Any advice on tracking down this problem? I know there's an interlock between the seat controls and the door, but the problem exists regardless of whether the doors are open or closed.

[hiros]

I am not about the interlock coz I just adjusted the passenger and driver seat with the door open and close plus with the engine running and not (key in on).

Recheck the fuse again. Hope it is not the motor or the switches themselves.

[gbest]

Check under the front of the seat, there are a row of connectors from the wiring harness, make sure they are pushed in firmly.

[toxicavenger]

make sure that nothing is in the seat tracks blocking the movement. also try to give the seat a nudge while push the switch back.

[yelvington]

Thanks for the replies. Still no luck; I may have to take it to an expert in these things. I verified that there's power to the relay interface (removed relay, checked with voltmeter). Manipulating the switches causes no clicking sounds from either the relay or the motors. Wires are not stretched. There's no indication of anything being dislodged, or connectors separated.

On the driver's side, the relay unit is quite different (it's the version with the memory buttons), so I can't swap relays and see if the problem relocates.

Incidentally, when I use the seat controls on the driver's side, the seat moves in on-off bursts, with clicking sounds coming from the relay area -- sort of like a turn signal! Is that normal?

[wiSpeel]

No that is not normal. Dealerships have ways of rigging things like that to work long enough to sell the vehicle.

[toxicavenger]

hey bro I have had the intermitent issue on both of my 9-5's. you can take part the switch and clean the contacts to see if that helps any. I went to a junk yard and replaced them out some working ones. I don't think this has anything to do with a dealer rigging something up to just break. just my opinion on that.

Originally Posted by yelvington

Thanks for the replies. Still no luck; I may have to take it to an expert in these things. I verified that there's power to the relay interface (removed relay, checked with voltmeter). Manipulating the switches causes no clicking sounds from either the relay or the motors. Wires are not stretched. There's no indication of anything being dislodged, or connectors separated.

On the driver's side, the relay unit is quite different (it's the version with the memory buttons), so I can't swap relays and see if the problem relocates.

Incidentally, when I use the seat controls on the driver's side, the seat moves in on-off bursts, with clicking sounds coming from the relay area -- sort of like a turn signal! Is that normal?

[S2kHEAVEN]

My driver side was doing the same exact thing...For some reason, I had condensation in the plug. I unplugged it and blew it out with an airgun/compressor. That fixed the intermittent issue. As far as the pass. side, I would look under the seat (might have to remove), at the plugs. Unplug and replug to make sure plugs are making good contact. Good Luck....

[yelvington]

Stopped by the local Swedish-car mechanic today to see about getting a key (he can't). His advice was to have a dealer hook the car up to a diagnostic system and see if there's something needing to be reprogrammed. (I'm accustomed to seats, windows and other gear that are operated by levers and cams, not by electronics.)

The driver's seat behavior isn't just intermittent; it's regular, like a turn signal. The passenger seat is completely nonresponsive -- not even a tick from the relay, which I removed and replaced several times. And there's a solid 12-14v supplied to the relay, according to a voltmeter.

[Al's Red Wagon]

I'd replace the relays before heading to the dealer - unless you have a waranty...

[toxicavenger]

you aren't going to get a click in the relay if the connections are corroded on your seat switch. and the seats in the 9-5 don't move intermitently like a turn signal. mine move smoothly.

Originally Posted by yelvington

Stopped by the local Swedish-car mechanic today to see about getting a key (he can't). His advice was to have a dealer hook the car up to a diagnostic system and see if there's something needing to be reprogrammed. (I'm accustomed to seats, windows and other gear that are operated by levers and cams, not by electronics.)

The driver's seat behavior isn't just intermittent; it's regular, like a turn signal. The passenger seat is completely nonresponsive -- not even a tick from the relay, which I removed and replaced several times. And there's a solid 12-14v supplied to the relay, according to a voltmeter.

[toxicavenger]

but just like Al said change the relays first. you can switch the one from your drivers side to the passenger side and see if it works.

[Al's Red Wagon]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

but just like Al said change the relays first. you can switch the one from your drivers side to the passenger side and see if it works.

Yup... Sorry, meant to post a link earlier: http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartD...spx?id=8533176

[yelvington]

Picked up a Borg-Warner relay for $13 at Pep Boys -- all the numbers matched, but I had to liberate the relay from a plastic housing apparently designed for under-hood mounting. Anyway, I plugged it in, and heard a tick when I did, but the seat still won't move. So it looks like this weekend's project is to take a close look at the switch and maybe remove the seat.

I really don't care whether it works! But we have long legs and can't live with the current all-forward position.