1998 C70 Front seat microswitch issue

jhightree · Post by **jhightree** » 05 Jul 2015, 16:43

Hello everyone! I have researched and searched, and while Im not the most mechanically dim person in the world, I am having so much trouble with this issue. While letting my son into the back seat, my husband's seat backs stopped working. Everything else was fine, front/back and up/down on the seat bottom, but the seat back is stuck forward, and when pressing the lever to lean it back there is an audible click, but nothing happens. So after much research, microswitch! I went out and depressed the microswitch to jimmy it back so the car was at least drivable for him, and still only a click, but nothing.

The spring is completely off, and Im not sure where it is supposed to attach. We can't afford to have a mechanic replace the whole thing right now, but we do need the vehicle available. Is there something I am doing wrong as far as how the switch is supposed to be pressed? Does the spring need to be on there for it to work when manually pressed? This is a 1998 Volvo C70, 2 door with the manual handle flip thing, and electronic seats (sorry, I don't have appropriate terminology, hopefully some of you are mind readers). Any help is appreciated.

Previous topics I have read on the issue:
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=63157
http://www.volvo-forums.com/t1687-c70-electric-seat.htm

Steps I have tried:
Pressing microswitch to get seat back appropriately
Attempting to locate plastic retainer (could not find)
Coming here to make a post

Post by **E Showell** » 07 Jul 2015, 07:58

I've managed to navigate seats around using the presets and just laying off the switch when the seat reaches the more-or-less correct spot in its travel. It is admittedly hit or miss, but it might get you going for now.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 07 Jul 2015, 08:15

I have had some success by drowning the switches with electrical contact cleaner. Just stick the nozzle in the space between the button and the main panel and spray in a generous amount. Then work the switches back and forth until they start to work again. The stuff stinks but the odor clears fairly quickly.

The stuff I use is the CRC brand that you can get at most auto parts store but I think all of them are about the same.

...Lee

jhightree · Post by **jhightree** » 07 Jul 2015, 10:08

Thank you both!

I did attempt the memory buttons, and that moves the bottom of the seat, but not the seat back. I should have mentioned that, but I didn't remember at the time that it was important. (Also I apologize if something isn't right English... I speak it but for some reason when Im writing it never comes out right!)

I will attempt the contact cleaner. Im guessing it's a cheaper try than the mechanic

-Jenn

Post by **abscate** » 07 Jul 2015, 10:22

Sometimes my 1999 seat gets 'sticky'...especially the lower piece.

This has nothing to do with kids and ice cream - what I mean is if I go to slide the bottom piece back with the switch, it doesn't move. A gentle 'bump' back with my derriere and it starts moving.

Worth a try - probably means the lube is thin of course.

jhightree · Post by **jhightree** » 13 Jul 2015, 12:11

Hi again! I'm back, and I attempted to clean the contact with CRC cleaner and I still get nothing but a click. I did notice that the metal plate the spring attaches to is completely loose. I don't know if it that affects anything, but I did notice that.

Just to be clear, the bottom of the seat works fine. It goes all the directions it is supposed to move with no trouble. The presets do not the back at all, and the switch does not move it at all. I get a click when engaging the lean back button and nothing happens. When depressing the microswitch manually I still hear the click and the seat does not move.

I called the mechanic and even with used parts were looking at 300 dollars, which isn't affordable, but we need a car that my husband can drive. He's very tall and with the seat back straight up he can't see out the front window. I would drive his car, but it's a stick and I'm hopeless.

Edited: I'm so sorry for the grammar. I'm on my kindle trying to fix the seat, and it corrected me.

Post by **abscate** » 13 Jul 2015, 17:48

Let's get a wiring diagram thread going and see if we can get the seats to move to where your immediate needs are met.

I'm just teaching the last of six girls to drive stick and have very reasonable rates ....

jhightree · Post by **jhightree** » 13 Jul 2015, 18:04

Oh my goodness! I would love to take you up on the learn to drive stick offer, but I swear to you I have bested the best teachers! Men and women who have said "I can teach anyone to drive stick" have thrown their hands up in despair over my lack of coordination!

Thank you so much all the help. What do you need me to post? I have a lot of Volvo diagnostic tools, from when we lived in the super boonies, and it took us an hour to drive over the mountain to the mechanic and civilization. I had to learn to do a lot of car work back then, so this is nothing new (learning auto parts), but Chilton's doesn't have anything specific regarding seats so I was like

Im not bothered by having to pull the seat out if that is what it takes to get the issue fixed. I've had to pick up varied skills in my lifetime as a stay at home mom, and general auto repair can be next forte

Post by **abscate** » 13 Jul 2015, 18:16

With that attitude, we will get it done.

We can't host wiring diagrams here by agreement with Volvo, but if you search the web they are out there for your model.

I suggest from there we figure out which wires to activate to move your seat to a good place ...maybe where both of you can drive?

jhightree · Post by **jhightree** » 13 Jul 2015, 18:55

OK, I found one! It kind of makes some sense to me, which is a surprise, but I suppose if you look at enough motherboards, electrical pictures start to be similar... I guess? Maybe? Just me? Ok then, moving on

So the seats have memory, and I am on the appropriate schematic for those types of seats. There are two microswitches in the seat (I can see the part that looks like what im toggling), and I didn't realize that, so that probably didn't help. It's listed as 3/167(RH:3/168), is the one that I was playing around with.

I should probably wait for some sort of instruction before I just go fiddling with the wires, so I'll do that now! The seatback just needs to go back far enough that my husband doesn't hit his head on teh roof of the car, and Im lucky in that I have a long torso, so I can sit in the seat at the same angle, I just need the bottom pulled forward (short legs).