V70 2001 Driver's power seat problem with intermittent power

Post by **worldbound4now** » 10 Nov 2008, 12:12

I recently purchased a used V70 and am quite happy with the car so far. One odd quirk though is that the driver's power seat only works for the first 30 seconds or so from when the driver's door is opened. All functions work during this time period.

After this brief time period, the seat will not work at all unless I turn off the car and open/close the door. Is there a relay that controls the "ignition on" power to the seat vs the "door opened" power? I looked under the seat to try to figure it out and found a large amount of electrical components that I am not familiar with.

All fuses appear to be intact. I doubted it was a fuse problem since I do have power to the seat, unless Volvo oddly routed two separate power sources to the seat motors through two separate circuits.

Thank you for any help/advice. This is my first Volvo.

Thank you for any help!

Post by **worldbound4now** » 13 Nov 2008, 12:42

Hmmmmm....

Lots of lookey lookey from many people but no suggestions?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 13 Nov 2008, 20:14

Well, I'll at least welcome you to MVS.
Sorry but I've never heard of what you describe. If the seat wouldn't move at all, I would be able suggest some things that could be helpful in diagnosing and fixing this but for it to move for 30 seconds and then stop, I'm really stumped unless the motor is binding and just shuts off...I don't know. Hopefully others will chime in with their knowledge.

J5T · Post by **J5T** » 20 Nov 2008, 18:19

I have this problem also. I just stepped into the P2 Volvo world about 3 weeks back. When I open the door before I even put the key in the ignition I can power the driver seat in any direction. This last for about 20 to 30 secs or so and stops. I cannot move the seat for the rest of the time I am driving after this. Also, the bum warmer lites up but no fire to the seat. I am having a tough time on this one. FWIW, the passenger front seat moves all the time and has fire at anytime in the bum area.

Does anyone know if the auto dim mirror is tied into this in any way? Mind does not auto dim and I hear I cannot take it out because it runs the climate control and other systems. U$800 to replace so guess what the dealer is not doing to my new sled.

BTW, it is a 2001 V70 T5M

Danke for any help.

Post by **worldbound4now** » 25 Nov 2008, 08:19

Ahhh... we share another issue as well. My auto-dimm rearview mirror also does not function.

Oddly, I went out to the car last night and the back of the driver's seat was reclined all the way. This car has a mind of it's own. I'm going to start calling it Kit.

Hmmmmmm..... maybe it's all just a computer/programming issue.

J5T · Post by **J5T** » 25 Nov 2008, 17:17

I was talking to the guys at Swedish engineering about my seat issue and was told that I should switch out the seat module with the passenger seat to see if it will work. I believe I would have pull both seat out to change the seat modules. If it needs a new one it is about U$537 plus there is a software load. I may give this a shot this weekend.

Does your bum warmer work on the driver seat.

Post by **worldbound4now** » 25 Nov 2008, 21:03

Yes, the seat warmer works without issue. I have a SRS light on, the rearview mirror will not tint, and the seat only works for a few seconds.

The mystery continues... though I'm glad I'm not the only one out here with this issue.

J5T · Post by **J5T** » 26 Nov 2008, 03:54

I was told that the bum warmer was indepentent of the seat controller. Was not sure if it working made any difference. Mine must be burned out.

I will see if I can change out the seat modules this weekend. I am at the Volvo dealer on Friday to see what it takes to turn off the DRLs, maybe I can learn something from them on the seat. I do not like this new 'computer must talk to everything' set up. My 99 T5 was much better in this way.

Stay tuned, you are not the only one.

Post by **worldbound4now** » 08 Dec 2008, 22:52

I think I'll head to a dealer over Christmas break and throw some money at them for a replacement wireless entry key fob and some computer time to update programming.

J5T · Post by **J5T** » 09 Dec 2008, 01:02

I still have my seat issue. I went to the dealer to have me DRLs turned off and the dealer could not do it in the end. I was told that the computer is not communicating with the aft module and then turns out it is not communicating with the mirror and the now the seat. When I got my got back the airbag warning message was on.

The dealer did not charge me anything after have my car for 3.5 hours and not fixing anything. My car came out with a airbag message warning to boot. Took the car back to dealer yesterday so they can figure out what is going on with the computer communications. Now I know what it must have been like with the space shuttle computers would not talk to each other.

I will not hear anything for a few days until their Part time Volvo retired expert comes in to work to look at my car.

Stay tuned.