V70 2001 Driver's power seat problem with intermittent power

Post by **worldbound4now** » 16 Jan 2009, 12:30

My V70 is at the dealer to have a new key made and program a new keyless entry (to the tune of $360 total!!!... wiping blood off of my back side...) programmed since I had none with I purchased the car new.

I had them spend time poking around the car as well for $108/hr in labor and they came up with a short list for my repair pleasure.

Control arm bushings $960
Auto-dim rear view mirror replacement $700
Siren circuit board replacement $494
Seat control module $760

So... I thanked them kindly for doing a better inspection then I can do as a weekend tinkerer. I will live with a seat that only functions for a few seconds when I first get in the car. I will tint my rear windows for a heck of a lot less than $700. I can deal without the alarm system functioning properly (they assured me it will not disable the ignition... it may just occasionally give me a yellow warning message). I ordered replacement control arms (for ease of home installation) and ball joints online for under $263 (a >70% savings to do it myself) and will spend a couple of hours in the near future performing that safety/function repair while enjoying some solo time in the garage.

1esotericguy · Post by **1esotericguy** » 23 Mar 2009, 11:08

I have the same condition on my driver side power seat on a 2001 S60. All the adjustments work perfectly including MEM settings - but only for the first 45 seconds after I unlock the doors. Then nothing. No intermittent, No sputtering. Nada. The only way to get controls working again is to turn off the car, exit, lock the doors, wait a while, then unlock the doors again. Then I get seat control again for about 45 seconds. If I leave the door open while adjusting I get more time. When the seat does work, it's perfect: all controls, full power, full memory functions, no switch problems.

My mechanic rebooted my car computer as a stage 1 trouble shoot. Problem came back.

Then I swapped in a used Seat Control Module that I bought as a second stage troubleshoot. It behaved exactly like the original power seat module.

So, I swapped them back and that's where I'm at now. The problem must be upstream of the module and it seems software based. According to the manual, the power seat has three basic programs:

1.) Door open, key in off position: 10 minutes of adjustment
2.) Door Closed, key in off position, 30 seconds of adjustment
3.) Door Closed, Key in ON position, always allow adjustment

It's as if the line of software code that tells the computer to continue allowing seat adjustment power for #3 (when the key is in the on position) is corrupted.

Anyone know what I'd ask for at the dealer that is the equivalent of an operating system restore and update? Sort of like reloading Windows from the disc after a major crash? I'm thinking that may unscramble whatever line of code is scrambled.

Post by **worldbound4now** » 11 Jul 2009, 20:18

Hey 1esotericguy, did you find a solution? I'm still tolerating my intermittent seat control but would love to fix it.

1esotericguy · Post by **1esotericguy** » 15 Jul 2009, 11:28

worldbound4now wrote:Hey 1esotericguy, did you find a solution? I'm still tolerating my intermittent seat control but would love to fix it.

No unfortunately never found a solution. Once I realized there was a consistent pattern to the operation (so I could move the seat if I had to), I decided not to spend any more money on it.

I'm convinced the solution is some kind of system software reload though. It totally reminds me of when there's something corrupted in your home computer's operating system and you finally have to just reload the whole operating system to rectify it out.

I wish cars just had system restore disks like a home computer.

Racer_S · Post by **Racer_S** » 11 Jul 2010, 11:49

sorry to resurrect old thread, i'm having the same problem in my 2002 s60 2.4t awd... still no solutions?

Post by **JRL** » 11 Jul 2010, 14:29

I had the EXACT same problem with an 01 T5M I had this past winter.
We found a couple of things but in the end we replaced the SEAT MODULE (cheap. used from Erie) and of all things THE SEAT HEATER module.
(The seat heater worked put it's part of the same circuit and was drawing current) so to be safe we replaced both.
No software was needed on used parts and it was 100% after the module swap.
If you're not sure of the part, call Erie ask for Adam, tell him you need the same part they sold Teppers Auto Sales last March.
Good luck
www.erievovo.com 1888 volvo-13

1esotericguy · Post by **1esotericguy** » 04 Mar 2011, 17:19

I outlined my my version of this exact problem a few posts back.

Mine was fixed in a software reload. I asked my mechanic to download the software from Volvo and reload it onto the PSM.
I happened to have been getting a new ETM, which required software service - so, I asked him to get the PSM software at the same time. Saves some money as I think indy mechanics are charged a big fee to log on and then a smaller fee per download.

Worked for me. No new hardware. My problem was all software side. PSM Reload took care of it.

I don't know what it cost as it was rolled into the ETM charges, but it probably would cost around $260 if you had to have it done as a service by itself.

NOTE: My mechanic reloaded all the systems on my car on this service. So, I can't say for certain that the PSM reload alone took care of my power seat issue. I suppose it could have been a combination of reloads. But likely...

tjai · Post by **tjai** » 30 May 2012, 12:49

Hi, I have the same issue with my volvo s60 2001 and it works exactly as you've defined before, i.e. keeping the door open allows me to adjust the seat for the first 10 minutes. Problem is that if I miss that 10 min window then it does not work for a while. i.e. it will not work if I follow it up with starting the car, turning it off then and open the door to move the seats. It takes considerable time for the system to forget that state.
Guessing it means that I have to get it fixed to avoid this issue. My dealer is adamant that this is a seat module issue and not a SW issue. 1esotericguy is it possible to walk in to any indy mechanic and ask him to do a PSM reload? Also I am in san diego not too far from LA, can you tell me which mechanic did you go to, maybe I can try the same guy then?

1esotericguy · Post by **1esotericguy** » 30 May 2012, 16:22

Hi TJai -

The mechanic that finally fixed mine via software was Anders at Swedecar in Torrance Ca.
Hope that helps. Great shop, awesome mechanic.
I don't think every Indy shop makes the investment for the Volvo
Subscription, computer etc to do software side work. Not sure though.
I only ever went to SWEDECAR.

If he needs a reference to look it up, you can let him know it was Nate with the high mileage 2001 S60.

tjai · Post by **tjai** » 30 May 2012, 17:05

Thanks !!

V70 2001 Driver's power seat problem with intermittent power

Re: V70 2001 Driver's power seat problem with intermittent power