Electrical Problems- 1985

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Jun 4, 2006 | 11:38 PM

mikey whipreck

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Electrical Problems- 1985

--edit--- conclusion below---

This picture explains my problem I think.

What am I overlooking? Or how do I test for the problem?
1985 L98 Sport Seat Wiring.

Last edited by mikey whipreck; Jun 17, 2006 at 07:04 PM.

Jun 5, 2006 | 09:03 AM

mikey whipreck

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Can anyone help?

I know all of the motors and switches work (verified because they work on the other side. I can't figure out why the 12v power source only supplies power to the Seat Back motor and nothing else.

I have the electrical FSM's and I can't seem to find an answer in them. But I dont know how to test for the problem location either.

Jun 5, 2006 | 06:24 PM

mikey whipreck

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40 views and no opinions?

any ideas at all?

Jun 5, 2006 | 06:46 PM

TimV SR

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My WAG for what its worth (nothing): You need three things for a complete circuit: 1. power 2. load 3. path. If you have power and a good load (motors), then the problem has to be in the path, ie wiring, switch, wire connectors, etc. If more than one motor is not working, I would suspect something common to them, such as a wire connector.

Jun 6, 2006 | 12:02 AM

jfb

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If you have the electrical diagnosis service manual, there is a procedure there to test every motor in the seat and all you have to do is follow the system diagnosis. If one motor runs, then your seat adjust switch is receiving 12v and ground. If you cannot get 12v ACROSS the motor wires on the other motors when their adjust switch is pressed, then the seat adjust switch must be defective or the plug- in connection from the seat switch to the motors aren't making contact and need to be inspected to see if the connectors are fully seated and there is no corrosion.

Jun 6, 2006 | 08:18 AM

mikey whipreck

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First- thanks for the inputs

... this problem has me stuck

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimV SR

3. path. If you have power and a good load (motors), then the problem has to be in the path, ie wiring, switch, wire connectors, etc. If more than one motor is not working, I would suspect something common to them, such as a wire connector.

That makes me think the connection from the seat back motor to the rest of the electronics in the seat is bad...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfb

The seat-back and pump motor both work in the Driver's side seat so I know those are good. All of the exposed switches work on the Driver's side (Bolster, Bladder and Seat-Back), so I know those are good. (I also tested those components- on both seats - outside of the car - per FSM - and they worked).

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfb

the plug- in connection from the seat switch to the motors aren't making contact and need to be inspected to see if the connectors are fully seated and there is no corrosion.

You both suggested this, and I am still learning the concepts here, but what you say makes a lot of sense. It sounds like that 2nd connecter is bad. Power goes to the first connector (the seat back motor runs), but nothing in the power line after that works. Since that seat back motor runs, it shouldn't be that connector right? That means it has to be the second connection (the larger boxy gray connector in the pic)?

Is my thinking right?

Thanks again.

Jun 6, 2006 | 12:25 PM

jfb

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Your thinking is correct, you just need to inspect the connection to find out why it is open circuit. Crimped connectors sometimes don't make connection.

Jun 17, 2006 | 07:03 PM

mikey whipreck

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Thanks again to all who helped, I found (and fixed) the problem.

Someone was working on my sport seat functions before, and appearently bubba had the crimped connections out of the gray box, and had some stuff reversed.

So now power is going everywhere it's supposed to be

Except... this saga is still ongoing.