Adding power motors to a manual seat -1998

Post by **FireFox31** » 22 Jun 2023, 16:33

For a 1998 V70 front seat, is it reasonably possible to add the power functions to a manual seat?

My front seat has large gouges through the skin and foam so I'm searching for a great condition complete replacement. I might have to settle for a manual seat. Before I buy one, I need to know if the motors, wires, controls, track, gears, etc from my damaged power seat can be moved over to a manual. Or could the manual foam fit the power frame with the power functions attached? Thanks.

Post by **scot850** » 22 Jun 2023, 17:30

Good question! I have no idea. I have always swapped good covers or the whole seat. Most of the drivers' seats here that are leather tend to be powered seats. Passenger seat can be either. I am fairly sure, but not 100%, that I have fitted a lower cushion cover from a manual passenger seat to a powered driver seat.

Neil.

Post by **FireFox31** » 23 Jun 2023, 10:13

The real question is: Can the foam seat back and seat bottom be moved from a manual to a power seat frame? Yes, it seems possible according to VIDA.

The 1998-2000 front seat diagram doesn't lists all possible parts for various years and manual/power. Instead, I studied the diagrams in VIDA which is complete. The seat back frame is different for manual and power due to seat back tilt being a knob or motor. The power seat back frame (part # 3) shows the back tilt motor in the seat back. The back cushion (part # 18) fits both manual and power frames. However, there are different ones for -1998, 1999, and 2000-. The bottom cushion (part # 20) fits manual and power of any year.

The seat subframe and tracks are entirely different between manual and power. The 1998 power seat base diagram shows three motors under the seat bottom.

I found a nice pair of 1998 front leather seats which are both manual and heated. How odd to have heat but not motors. Hopefully the interior colors match mine. Then it's a $125 bet to try and merge that manual seat cover and foam with my power seat frame.

Post by **abscate** » 23 Jun 2023, 13:42

Putting the motors in would be quite a chore. I swapped one on Shagg and it was rough

Post by **FireFox31** » 13 Jul 2023, 22:38

Darn, I just realized that a manual seat skin would be awkward fitted to a power seat because of the hole for the seat back tilt adjuster knob. That would have to be covered (with grafted leather or a dummy knob) and it would look awkward. I want better for the T5M. And I had just found a nice 1998 manual, heated, beige seat in a junkyard near me.

Since manual seats have the tilt knob on one side and the lumbar knob on the other, could a passenger's seat back skin be swapped to a driver's and have the holes line up? I'll have to measure the knob locations on my manual seats.

Post by **abscate** » 14 Jul 2023, 03:14

They are offset. The graft doesn’t look awful if you oversize it, then glue it from the inside with careful application of a few dots of superglue. Can’t remember if you are in beige, arena , or charcoal on the 98T5M… “the T70” but material in small sizes is easy to come by