'14 XC70 seat back loose - WHIPS - looking for info on R&R procedure Topic is solved

timetobakethedonuts · Post by **timetobakethedonuts** » 03 Dec 2024, 17:48

Hi -

My 2014 XC70 T6 came used with a defect in the powered driver's seat back I was unaware of. When accelerating, the left side of the seat back will move perhaps 1/8" backwards, due to looseness in what I assumed is a hinge. In searching, I find similar complaints,the WHIPS protection system. Apparently there are brackets in the hinge mechanism that get stressed in the event of a collision. Kits 31377018 and 31377019 fit my car - FCP says one is for "foldable..." and one is not - the text is truncated. I assume this means foldable seat back (passenger's is supposed to fold forward) or not foldable seat back. There are two metal brackets in the kits with bolt holes in the ends, and there is a relief in the center that is what is deformed. Reportedly, a few years back someone was quoted $1000 to replace the $40 part.

I am seeking any info on how to replace the part. I was afraid I would have to release the lower part of the seat back or seat cover, but in a video I found of an XC60 seat removal, it appears that possibly removal of plastic trim on the sides might reveal the part in question. I am hoping the XC70 is similar If anyone has done this job or has access to an R&R procedure I would greatly appeciate any info.

Thank you,
Don

Post by **matthew1** » 04 Dec 2024, 10:22

I'd call the parts department of your dealer and ask which you need. This is a fairly obscure part. I've found just hanging out at the dealer and chit-chatting with Parts can lead to great info on fixes that comes straight from the horse's mouth.

But yea, from what I can tell one is for a folding seat and the other is for non-folding. I couldn't find much here or on the wider internet on how to DIY. Look for things that are "fix adjacent", like seat removal or disassembly. Those are likely to yield helpful info. Also, just poke around, remove the plastic covering and look, etc.

timetobakethedonuts · Post by **timetobakethedonuts** » 04 Dec 2024, 10:51

matthew1 wrote: ↑04 Dec 2024, 10:22 I'd call the parts department of your dealer and ask which you need. This is a fairly obscure part. I've found just hanging out at the dealer and chit-chatting with Parts can lead to great info on fixes that comes straight from the horse's mouth.

But yea, from what I can tell one is for a folding seat and the other is for non-folding. I couldn't find much here or on the wider internet on how to DIY. Look for things that are "fix adjacent", like seat removal or disassembly. Those are likely to yield helpful info. Also, just poke around, remove the plastic covering and look, etc.

Thank you for the reply. I found one blog, with pictures, on a "fix" that is covered in a TSB from around 2007, to add "felt" to a bracket that the bolt in an end of this bracket engages, to eliminate/reduce "clicking" associated with looseness of the mechanism. It looks like the same setup as mine - so the useful part of the post is seeing how to gain access to the area in question. Apparently Volvo in the past few years redesigned the WHIPS to work sigificantly differently - another tidbit I picked up. I did find a blog post that specifically states that the one part is for a non-folding seatback, the other for folding. Every parts website frustratingly has the truncated description. Good advice on calling the parts dept at Volvo. It is so frustrating having "Volvo seats" with this glaring anomaly!

Post by **matthew1** » 04 Dec 2024, 11:39

Glad I could help a little. At the end of the day the part is designed to fail at a certain force. The seatback literally lies flat in the triggered state. I would (wildly) guess that the part on the loose side has worked its way into this failure posture (no pun intended).

timetobakethedonuts · Post by **timetobakethedonuts** » 04 Dec 2024, 11:57

matthew1 wrote: ↑04 Dec 2024, 11:39 Glad I could help a little. At the end of the day the part is designed to fail at a certain force. The seatback literally lies flat in the triggered state. I would (wildly) guess that the part on the loose side has worked its way into this failure posture (no pun intended).

I got a more reasonable quote from the dealer for the job than I've seen reports of online ($1000). $400 + the part ($50) if this is what is wrong. Service advisor confirmed seat comes out and this is a good part of the job (not complicated). I am a bit concerned that this may or may not be the cause of the play in the joint. There is nothing in carfax that reflects it was in an accident. For $50 and my time it is worth a try.

lrock · Post by **lrock** » 04 Dec 2024, 21:01

timetobakethedonuts wrote: ↑03 Dec 2024, 17:48
I am seeking any info on how to replace the part. I was afraid I would have to release the lower part of the seat back or seat cover, but in a video I found of an XC60 seat removal, it appears that possibly removal of plastic trim on the sides might reveal the part in question. I am hoping the XC70 is similar If anyone has done this job or has access to an R&R procedure I would greatly appeciate any info.

Thank you,
Don

: Capture.JPG (16.47 KiB) Viewed 702 times

$33 at volvo parts store for either one, check your vin for the chassis number

https://www.volvopartswebstore.com/show ... 9954715#15

here's the seat hinge procedure

seathinge.pdf: (1.15 MiB) Downloaded 42 times

i'm gathering up the removal procedure for you

lrock · Post by **lrock** » 04 Dec 2024, 21:47

front seat removal. tried as best i could to put it in the correct order,

front-removal-all-steps.pdf: (2.05 MiB) Downloaded 46 times

if you'd rather have the individual steps seperated by section here's the zip

frontseat.zip: (3.12 MiB) Downloaded 41 times

password is mvs

timetobakethedonuts · Post by **timetobakethedonuts** » 04 Dec 2024, 22:11

lrock - Thank you so much for this information! The parts guy at Volvo, who has been there forever, remembered that they did this job about a year ago. He said he had the 019 part on the shelf, but not the 018. He had the same issue with not knowing what "collapsable" and "extendable" meant. Then he said "we have the 019 because we ordered both, not knowing which we needed, and that's why we have the 019." I offered that it was likely the drivers side they replaced, if it was only one side (no passenger was in the car). He agreed with this logic. Volvo now wants $52.99. I will buy from FCP. Thanks again for the procedures. Don

lrock · Post by **lrock** » 04 Dec 2024, 22:27

timetobakethedonuts wrote: ↑04 Dec 2024, 22:11 Thanks again for the procedures. Don

aye. good luck

timetobakethedonuts · Post by **timetobakethedonuts** » 08 Dec 2024, 15:16

I took the seat out today, to see if the job looks doable as well as see if I could find damage or confirm a loose joint.

It isnt obvious how the mechanism works, but I was able to get about halfway through the R&R procedure before satisfying myself of both objectives. I found looseness at what *may* be one end of the replacement part. It is buried behind a few plates. I also found that I can get to all the fasteners in the procedure, as well as R&R a tensioning spring. The spring required a clever approach to reinstall as it is up inside an area between the clamshell hinge assembly and upholstery. I will have to try to find a right angle torx driver, as one bolt is buried up there as well, that must be removed.

Without the procedure posted I would not have attempted this. I will do a writeup on the repair once I do the job for real.