2 Wires into Bottom of Heated Seat

Svenska 850 Wagon · Post by **Svenska 850 Wagon** » 20 Dec 2006, 23:13

For the record I got my passenger side working but never my Drivers side. I have checked the recall as well but no go. The dealer told me that 95's in Canada were not affected by the recall. I think he said 96 and newer but I might be wrong. How do I test the thermostat? I was just thinking I probably have a loose wire in the seat.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 20 Dec 2006, 23:20

Yes it is...it's in the pdf file names "Seats Power.pdf" However, since I can't read a wiring diagram, I'm lost to tell you what's what. Personally since the thermostat comes out, I would flip the switch and use a volt meter to test the plug and determine that way which is hot and which is the ground.

Jerbob · Post by **Jerbob** » 21 Dec 2006, 11:24

Thanks very much for all of your responses.
It's been cold and icy here but when things warm up a bit, I'll get to work on the seat. Found out I had a stuck thermostat (engine) and that's why virtually no interior heat, so I can wait awhile now on warming the seat.
About the recall on the seat: I called Volvo's help desk, was told the 95 850 was not included in the recall.
If I fix the problem, I'll report back on the how-to.
Thanks again, everybody.
Two more things:
(1) If you see a red light on your 850 instrument cluster, just to the right of the "data" read-out, it does NOT mean you're alternator isn't charging, as I thought. It means the outside temp is 36 degrees F. or less. I went nuts thinking my battery would die any second on the freeway until I found out from the VShop what the light was for.
(2) if you live in the Portland, Oregon area and are looking for a good Volvo shop, I'd recommend the VShop on Barbur Boulevard. Shop is clean, neat, tools are hung up, they're computer-literate, and the staff is friendly, efficient and pro. This was my first time after too many bad experiences with other independent Volvo shops.
Thanks again!

configsys · Post by **configsys** » 21 Jan 2007, 12:25

I came across this thread since I also had problems with my heated seats (passenger side). Warmed up a bit today (24 F) so I decided to attempt repair. Troubleshot each of the connectors (thanks to what I learned on this thread) and came up with an open circuit on the front heater element. Removed the seat and lower upholstery only to find the front seater element actually bad.
I was hoping it was simply the connectors but that proved wrong. The thermostat and the back element were still OK and since the front and back elements are in series, I disconnected the defective front one and re-wired the back one by itself. The back one is now working and is better than nothing. Does anyone know a good (cheap) place to get a heater replacement?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 21 Jan 2007, 12:56

You might try www.erievovo.com but call them. They are very slow in responding to email.

rreedy · Post by **rreedy** » 22 Jan 2007, 12:58

I've read all the post on seat heater and thanks for the great new/advice. I have had the heater recall done on my '97 850 GLT. The bad thing was my seat heater worked before this recall and now they do not. I talked to the dealership and they told me they could not/did not know of any computer programming that could be done. Unfortunately this recall was done back in Mar '02. I live in Dallas, TX, so seat heater are used very little! I did like the fact on cold days they were avaliable to use when necessary. I tried to retreicve the file for the wiring diagram, but was not able to get it. Understand the heater are in series, so it may take me awile to 'by-pass' each one to get working. As for the Thermo in the bottom of the seat- does this recall by-pass this? In looking under my seat, this thermo is not connected after the recall work was done!

Tks,
Rick

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 22 Jan 2007, 14:21

I tried to retreicve the file for the wiring diagram, but was not able to get it. Understand the heater are in series, so it may take me awile to 'by-pass' each one to get working. As for the Thermo in the bottom of the seat- does this recall by-pass this? In looking under my seat, this thermo is not connected after the recall work was done!

Don't try to bypass either heater or the thermostat. It will burn up the heater or heaters if you do.

I found the recall information on VADIS and it explains the cut thermostat wires that many seem to have. The recall involved cutting the seat bottom thermostat and installing an electronic thermostat on the bottom edge of the seat front.

It is a black box looking device with a single screw mounting tab and 4 wires that plug into the heater plugs which are on the lower front edge of the seat on the right.

...Lee

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 22 Jan 2007, 14:31

Not sure what parts the seat heater recall involved, but I would think the thermostat because the temp. on the recalled heater was lower than the original. Btw, I just sent you the diagram by email.