2000 V70 front seat repair questions?

Post by **scot850** » 15 Mar 2017, 16:33

So with my on-going battle with the endless repairs to the interior of this car, I have hit a snag and need help from those better versed in seat repairs than me. The repairs themselves I planned are fairly straight forward (replacing the lower seat cover).

I know 98 and 99-00 seats are not interchangeable, but the covers are. I have a full powered 98 seat from PnP with a good seat base cover. I removed the cover and it was tedious but straightforward.

Removed the 00 lower seat cover and found it could be re-stitched and re-used, but what seems to be the typical with the careless owner who had this car, I found that the wire retaining strips that run in the foam from front to back either side of the seat have been ripped out of the foam so have no real retaining capability for the hog rings. So to the questions:

1) Can you swap the 98 and 00 seat foam bases over? The main thing I'll need to check is the connection for the seat heater if they can be interchanged, but assuming this is ok, how to test the heater in the 98 seat to see if it is good?
2) How do you remove the seat base foam? Do you have to un-hitch the 4 springs at the back and then lift it off, or is there something else to watch out for?

Separate to this, I plan to remove the seat back cover and salvage anything else that is interchangeable. I tried to remove the seat cover but was stopped by:

1) How do you release the headrest? I have watched Robert's video, I have pressed the tabs in, and it only feels like it is trying to release from the one side. The other seems stuck fast. I plan to get my son to help pulling on the headrest, but am I missing something obvious?
2) How do you remove the lumber support knob? I saw a set of instructions that say you rotate it fully CCW (anti-clockwise/left) and when it reaches it's limit, pull it out and it should unscrew. Again, tried this but no luck. The know does pull out a little, but is stuck fast. Ideas?

Thanks guys!

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 15 Mar 2017, 17:31

Well scratch the 1st backrest question. Headrest was removed with brute force and the help of my son! RHS released ok but was a little reluctant. LHS was a pure bear. 2 of us hauling on it and button forced in as far as it would go. Loud click and then it released. What a swine!

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 15 Mar 2017, 18:51

You should be able to test the seat heater for correct resistance with a VOM. I'll try find some values

Post by **scot850** » 15 Mar 2017, 19:55

Thanks my friend. That would be greatly appreciated. Stay warm and safe.

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 15 Mar 2017, 22:59

Well that sucks! I noticed when removing the lower seat cover from the après seat that there was a small split in the side of the seat cover behind where the seat controls are fitted. As it is mostly unseen, I planned to clean and glue it onto the backing material. As I have always suspected, these 'leather' Volvo seats are not all leather. They use a color matched vinyl around the sides. The only leather I can see is the actual seating faces. I asked my wife if I glued the split, if she could protect if from further potential splitting by stitching around the split with her sowing machine. She took a look at is and then proclaimed, you do know that the vinyl is splitting along the seam between it and the seat leather portion just above where I was planning to repair it. That means it is probably scrap.

With plans on hold until I can figure out if the seat basis can be swapped (noticed the 98 has 5 springs at the rear holding the base in and the 00 has 4?!), I decided to have another look at the original cover that had been crudely repaired. I removed the 'repair' stitching to find with relief that the original stitching holes had been used. I will now talk to an upholsterer and see if it can be re-stitched as it is a fairly complex job.

Next I need to see if the heated seat cushion is still good on the 98 and then look at swapping that base foam over. Hopefully abscate or someone can advise me how to test the seat when off the car to make sure the heating elements are good. Heated seats are nice to have particularly with leather up here in Calgary in the winter.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 16 Mar 2017, 03:29

Okay, this is the diagram fir my 99 from Alldata

Look to see if you have the same connector 24/94A , if not we will have to find your 98 diagram

The two elements are in series between pin 1 and pin 5 in this connector. I'll make a measurement on this today and post back.

Post by **abscate** » 16 Mar 2017, 06:46

Measured 2 Ohms this morning

So 7 amp draw, and 100 watts total power on both elements ..sounds about right. That's would call for a 15-20 amp fuse

Post by **scot850** » 16 Mar 2017, 10:11

Thanks again! I'll measure both and see what the result is and post back later.

Neil.

Post by **benpineapple** » 17 Mar 2017, 07:38

About the wire retaining strips for the hog rings...I redid my lower seat skin a couple weeks ago, and a couple of the wires had pulled through the foam. I used a screw driver and jammed 2 holes clean through to the bottom (on either side of the retaining strip) and pushed some wire through, looping it back up the other side. I did 3 of those "loops" to hold the retaining wire to the foam. Been sitting on it for a few weeks now, no issues. Glad to have it sealed up.

Post by **scot850** » 17 Mar 2017, 08:48

Thanks Ben. I was looking at this as an option if the foam and heated seat element for the spare seat is not transferable. The reason for the foam change is virtually all the wire is pulled out, and it has also been bent really badly. It will be hard to straighten. I'll let you know how I get one. Appreciate the help as always.

Neil.