Electric seat won't work
 

Has anybody had there seat not work at times?my car does once in while and it is driver and pass seat what could it be? I tell you when its not one thing it is another with this cars love hate .

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

You have one of two choices: 1. A wire shorting out, maybe under the seat. 2. A wire shorting out somewhere else. At least that's been my experience.

I had a Corvette that would randomly tilt the driver's seat up and move it forward. Not pleasant. Sticking my hand under the seat and wiggling the wires would sometimes make a difference. After taking the drivers seat out 5 times I finally gave up and pulled the fuse.

Get a wiring diagram and see if there is a wire common to both seats.

Best of luck ;)

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

Generally I'd say a short would blow a fuse, otherwise it's a bad connection somewhere.

OP - Does the seat work with the door open and not closed or something similar?

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

Mine does the same thing. It has a mind of its own and works only a little bit of the time :/ I've heard it's expensive to completely fix, in my case they say its just a short and is pointless to fix unless you absolutely need it. Good luck with it though! 😊

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

All this talk of "shorts"... to people who know NOTHING of electricity or electronics, ANY electrical failure is a 'short'. But if you read 100/80's post, you will see that is simply not the case. If you take your car in for an electrical problem and the 'tech' starts talking about 'shorts' here and there - it means you are paying someone to do electrical troubleshooting that is not qualified to do so. Most of the time, it also means that you are at a dealership. (But even in the aftermarket-shop world, finding someone who can effectively troubleshoot an electrical problem is not easy.)

It sounds to me like a bad connection somewhere in the wiring harness, and can very likely be the switch itself (you know, the one in the console). Pulling the plate up and using a voltmeter on the leads is easy - see if you have power there first, this will direct you to:

1: A bad switch
2: No power to the switch
3: Power to and thru the switch is fine, problem is under the seat

This is the quickest way to gain a direction, otherwise, you are simply wasting time taking "shots in the dark".

The service manual (and all OTHER documentation) is available for download here at .org - I'd download the manual and look over the section on seat wiring, it is NOT all that complex. I have heard of seat HEATERS failing often, but the number of times someone has complained about the power seats is much less.

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

The seat switches are on the side of the seat cushions, you have reverted to talking about the seat heaters. Slip of the finger on the keyboard.;)

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

Posting while at work, doesn't work, does it?

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

Well, I don't think either of your suggestions, 1 through 3 are valid. Unless of course there is a common wire in there somewhere. Did you notice in the original post? "my car does once in while and it is driver and pass seat" He specifically stated driver & passenger seats as I read it.

"Short" has taken on a reference much like referring to all tissues as Kleenex.

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

1) So is your aim just to criticize my post or did you have a helpful suggestion? I simply said he has to start troubleshooting his problem - what else is there to do? Even if BOTH seats are acting up, you won't fix either until you logically trace the problem. I DO admit that getting to the back of the switches is a pain. He can do it himself, or he can pay someone to do it.

or......
The power seat relay (provides power to both seats, even tho each seat has a separate fuse) is also suspect. Chapter 8W of the service manual holds the answer to all of this. The circuit is not all that complicated, but there ARE several inputs that have to be satisfied before that relay will throw. And, of course, if the relay is bad and he replaces it, problem solved.

But we will get no where until SOMEONE gets a voltmeter out and finds out what is missing - a ground or power. Now, if you have an alternative way of troubleshooting electrical problems please educate me. I've been doing this for a living for 30 years, sure wouldn't want to be missing out on something!


2) Agreed.

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

I'm not an electrician, but I'll chime in with 40 years experience in large computer systems repair.

To me, a 'short' means power / signal to ground and something is gonna smoke if it's power and the fuse/circuit breaker does not pop.
( It does not necessarily have to be ground, could be with another wire in a bundle )

An 'open' means that the power / signal is not getting from point A to point B like it should.

The term 'intermittent' can apply to either.

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

With 30 years in RF, the above fits my definitions as well.

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

With all due respect to your age and experience, please read the posts. Constructive and informative posts would be appreciated instead of flippant posts. Please direct you comments to Pizzaguy as well.

By me:
2) "Short" has taken on a reference much like referring to all tissues as Kleenex.

By Pizzaguy:
2) Agreed.


Pizzaguy, again, with all due respect, you set the tone with your comments. Capital letters, yelling and long posts do not prove competency. I came back at you with the same level of "candor" you expressed to me. Either check your attitude in at the front door and be polite or expect the reaction you got. I thought I was polite in my response to your post.

"1) So is your aim just to criticize my post or did you have a helpful suggestion? I simply said he has to start troubleshooting his problem - what else is there to do? Even if BOTH seats are acting up, you won't fix either until you logically trace the problem. I DO admit that getting to the back of the switches is a pain. He can do it himself, or he can pay someone to do it."

Please note my comment: "Get a wiring diagram and see if there is a wire common to both seats."
No one reads and understands, it seems, a continuing thread. Everyone is eager to jump on a single word or sentence.

The following is exactly what I was inferring in my original post. How else would someone find the problem?

"But we will get no where until SOMEONE gets a voltmeter out and finds out what is missing - a ground or power. Now, if you have an alternative way of troubleshooting electrical problems please educate me. I've been doing this for a living for 30 years, sure wouldn't want to be missing out on something!"

To both of you, do you think this thread has helped the original poster at all? I think not. I'm sure he's pretty disappointed with all the responses to date.

Regards

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

Re: Electric seat won't work
 

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

No I wasn't being flippant. I guess I could have been clearer in stating that my wife is the passenger and prefers not to drive the Crossfire.

Agreed, the cops will give you a ticket for a dog in the driver's lap and practice is a large safety hazard. Neither one of us allow the dog in our laps while driving any vehicle we own.

Regards

Re: Electric seat wont work
 

First of all, I spend a hell of a lot of time on this forum helping people with what little I can help with: electrical problems. For you to make the remark that you don't think my post is helpful seems ironic since yours wasn't either.

Second, there is nothing wrong with the 'tone' of my remarks, if there was, you can be sure Dave (100/80) would say something.

Third, I don't need snotty assed remarks from some asshole with a lousy 43 posts in a year, if you want to contribute, then do so, help the person with the problem. You did not do that, you started in on me. Where the hell have YOU been for the past year? Just waiting to critcize someone's post, apparently.

Take your 'regards' and stick them up your bloody a s s, don't try to take the high ground now, that man-sissy s h i t does not cut it with me.

Re: Electric seat won't work
 

I'm done with this board. I'm sure you'll be happy. There are too many other enjoyable places to spend my time.

Re: Electric seat won't work
 

Re: Electric seat won't work
 

Well, I did my part - moved the discussion to PM's so it would end in this thread.
Now THERE is where I erred - I should have done that in the first place - Dave, why didn't you correct me?