Login Register

Rear heated seats, but where are the switches?

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

Post Reply
burnout8488
Posts: 504
Joined: 18 June 2011
Year and Model: 1999 S70 AWD
Location: Endwell, NY

Re: Rear heated seats, but where are the switches?

Post by burnout8488 »

I'm not quite sure, the center console harness is where the relay and wiring is. Since the 850 center console is vastly different, I don't think an S70 rear heated seat harness can be retrofitted.

If the 850 had a single rear heated seat button, it'd be a different story. The 850 probably has two harnesses coming out of the center harness for each rear seat.
'13 BMW X1 35i M-Sport
'99 S70 AWD/FWD - 198K - FOR SALE!

User avatar
BEJinFbk
Posts: 4067
Joined: 5 January 2008
Year and Model: '98 V70 R
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Has thanked: 93 times
Been thanked: 146 times

Post by BEJinFbk »

Fish stick88 wrote:Well, trying to install some wiring to my new speakers today, and I found that my rear seats have a heater element...
Can't seem to locate the switches, they wouldn't be tied in with the front passenger would they? Usually they are in back, but where are mine....
AJ
Everything you ever wanted to know about
Heated Rear Seats in a '94 850:
94 850 Heated seats - REAR.pdf
(366.51 KiB) Downloaded 311 times
Sent: Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:16 am
From: BEJinFbk
To: Fish stick88

The whole enchilada is right here:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/volvo-wiring-diagrams/
Frackin' GOLD mine!
I love this site...


:mrgreen: You're Welcome!
'98 V70 R - Well Equipped for Life Up North... ;)

Fish stick88
Posts: 543
Joined: 24 June 2010
Year and Model: 1994 - 850 Sedan
Location: Iowa

Post by Fish stick88 »

Well.... Basically tore my car apart today to figure out where all of these went... And.... I have rear heated seats, the switches are not there, but all the wiring is. I have wires ran from the units to the center, where they should be, but are just twisty tied off there. So, I hooked them back up, make-shift, and it turns out my elements don't work. That being said... Apparently the previous owner hated that they didn't work, he went at ordering a new Center console. So, no one is even able to tell they were back there in the first place!
Problem solved!
Thanks, I probably sounded like a fool for not having those, and for the switches to be gone. Well, Got that all figured out!
Thanks Everyone!
Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... That's what gets you.

'94 850 Sedan - 160k miles

burnout8488
Posts: 504
Joined: 18 June 2011
Year and Model: 1999 S70 AWD
Location: Endwell, NY

Post by burnout8488 »

I've found that sitting in the seat activates the heater on mine. I was stumped for the longest time why they wouldn't heat up until I sat in the seat for a good 5 minutes and waited for them to get toasty.

Would you be able to share pictures of your oddball car?? I'm quite curious... especially where they tied off the wires.
'13 BMW X1 35i M-Sport
'99 S70 AWD/FWD - 198K - FOR SALE!

Fish stick88
Posts: 543
Joined: 24 June 2010
Year and Model: 1994 - 850 Sedan
Location: Iowa

Post by Fish stick88 »

I'll be pulling the console again in a couple of weeks, I will be out of town this and next week, but when I get back I'd love to.
Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... That's what gets you.

'94 850 Sedan - 160k miles

User avatar
BEJinFbk
Posts: 4067
Joined: 5 January 2008
Year and Model: '98 V70 R
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Has thanked: 93 times
Been thanked: 146 times

Post by BEJinFbk »

burnout8488 wrote:I've found that sitting in the seat activates the heater on mine. I was stumped for the longest time why they wouldn't heat up until I sat in the seat for a good 5 minutes and waited for them to get toasty.

Would you be able to share pictures of your oddball car?? I'm quite curious... especially where they tied off the wires.
Something is wrong - That's not how they're supposed to work.
You may have a bad thermostat, poor connections or a faulty element.
Considering how much power these can draw, they could be dangerous.
It would probably be a good idea to avoid using them for now.
'98 V70 R - Well Equipped for Life Up North... ;)

burnout8488
Posts: 504
Joined: 18 June 2011
Year and Model: 1999 S70 AWD
Location: Endwell, NY

Post by burnout8488 »

Interesting. I figured that was normal because the S70 has one switch for both seats. My thought was that when there is only one rear passenger, only the seat with a passenger will heat.

When there IS a rear passenger, they work flawlessly, and thermostatically cycle just like the fronts do.
'13 BMW X1 35i M-Sport
'99 S70 AWD/FWD - 198K - FOR SALE!

ovlov607
Posts: 7
Joined: 18 July 2011
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
Location: Binghamton, NY

Post by ovlov607 »

burnout8488

I was searching craiglist....saw your ad. Decided to google to see what the story was with rear heated seats.... clicked a link and it brought me here. Small world. I think I've even seen you on the road. lol
1998 Volvo S70 T5 163k
1998 Volvo V70 AWD T5 Conversion, 196k
1996 Ford Taurus LX, Duratec 30, 182k
1992 Ford Tempo GL 2.3, 76k
1980 Mazda RX-7, 140k
1993 Isuzu Trooper, 199k, RIP

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post