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I took on the project of updating the interior of my 99 C5. Killmat, Insulation and new carpet throughout and a new Double Din stereo system. I knew there was an issue with the seats since they only adjusted forward and back so it was my intention to address the issue during this project. When I pulled the seats is the point that the project went south and found a complete wiring mess, so I am looking for suggestions. As I dug deeper into the wiring, I discovered that the seats are from a 2004 car and not original to the car. I have attached pictures that show the butchery of both the wiring on the bottom of the seats and the wiring harness under the seats. It appears they removed all the functions from the seats and hat wired them to only adjust forward and back. My question is was this done because of the difference between a 99 vs. 2004? Am I better off trying to track down seat racks from a 99 or getting new harnesses and plugs for 2004 seats? Any suggestions or if you have parts for sale to help with this mess would be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by Garrett C5; Jan 23, 2022 at 01:42 PM.
What seats did the car originally come with? Here are some of the RPO codes: AG1 Power Driver Seat (Hardtop)
AG2 Power Passenger seat AQ9 Sport Seats
AR9 Base Seats
AK5 Inflatable Restraint System, Front Seat, Driver and Passenger
I think your options are 1. Go back to OEM seats. 2. Put in manual seats (if the ones you have are in good shape you might just need manual racks) 3. Get aftermarket seats ($$)
Forum vendor Vettenuts has the parts you need for options 1 and 2.
Good luck!
What seats did the car originally come with? Here are some of the RPO codes: AG1 Power Driver Seat (Hardtop)
AG2 Power Passenger seat AQ9 Sport Seats
AR9 Base Seats
AK5 Inflatable Restraint System, Front Seat, Driver and Passenger
I think your options are 1. Go back to OEM seats. 2. Put in manual seats (if the ones you have are in good shape you might just need manual racks) 3. Get aftermarket seats ($$)
Forum vendor Vettenuts has the parts you need for options 1 and 2.
Good luck!
Good post, but I don't think the AK5 is an RPO; I think it's the law. Could be wrong, and off topic, so.....
That's a mess! someone hacked that up good. Looks like you are missing the seat control module (SCM) for starters and I don't see the connectors for it either, I guess the wiring was hacked. The SCM contains relays that connect power to the motors so if you want the seat to move back and forth and up and down you will need that module (or wire your own relay circuit). The connector with the violet colored latch is for the lumbar and I don't see a mating connector on the floor so I guess the car originally didn't have that option. Don't know what that tan colored box is - can you take a better picture. I don't think it belongs to a C5 seat
That's a mess! someone hacked that up good. Looks like you are missing the seat control module (SCM) for starters and I don't see the connectors for it either, I guess the wiring was hacked. The SCM contains relays that connect power to the motors so if you want the seat to move back and forth and up and down you will need that module (or wire your own relay circuit). The connector with the violet colored latch is for the lumbar and I don't see a mating connector on the floor so I guess the car originally didn't have that option. Don't know what that tan colored box is - can you take a better picture. I don't think it belongs to a C5 seat
Yes quite a mess. I would have responded earlier but COVID had different plans for me After some further research it appears the seats I have are not from a C5 since they have side airbags. And since they are standard seats and not sport seats there is some question with if they are even C6 seats since because I have been told C6 standard seats don't have airbags only the sports do? Anyway i have sourced C5Z standard seats, ordered new covers and foams and in the process of sourcing C5 powered seat rails. So now I am wondering will the C5Z passenger seat bolt up to a power seat rail? Also I was told by Ridies that if I order the sport seat foam and covers that I can convert the standard seats to sport seats. Anyone have any experience with that?
JC,
Great post and information. I would have responded earlier but COVID had different plans for me. I have discovered these seats are not C5 seats since they have airbags and not even sure they are C6 seats since I am told that C6 seats did not come with airbags on the standard seat only on the sport seats. At this point I have sourced 2004 standard C5Z seats, new leathers and foam. I am in the process of sourcing C5 power seat racks and I am unsure if the Z passenger seat will bolt to a power rack since they did not come with them.
JC,
I am going to return it back to as close to factory as I can. I doo not the RPO codes since my glove box has been replaced and the rear deck is covered in sound deadening. I am currently looking for a web site that might get me my cars RPO codes from the Vin number but not having much luck with that.
How bad do you want it? There sometimes is a build sheet stuffed inside the front bumper frame rail. But you would have to remove the bumper to get to it and there is no guarantee it will be there.
How bad do you want it? There sometimes is a build sheet stuffed inside the front bumper frame rail. But you would have to remove the bumper to get to it and there is no guarantee it will be there.
Old School WOW! Great information to know but I don't want it bad enough just for the seats on the if come. I am changing out the front bumper cover at sometime when the wife okays the price and I will defiantly look for it then
Hawk,
I have confirmed they are C6 seats and they are a mess as you tell from the pictures. I have sourced a set of C5Z seats that I am converting to sport seats and I need the RPO codes to help determine what seat rails I need. My goal is to get it as close to original as possible. Thanks for the GM Dealer idea!
I took on the project of updating the interior of my 99 C5. Killmat, Insulation and new carpet throughout and a new Double Din stereo system. I knew there was an issue with the seats since they only adjusted forward and back so it was my intention to address the issue during this project. When I pulled the seats is the point that the project went south and found a complete wiring mess, so I am looking for suggestions. As I dug deeper into the wiring, I discovered that the seats are from a 2004 car and not original to the car. I have attached pictures that show the butchery of both the wiring on the bottom of the seats and the wiring harness under the seats. It appears they removed all the functions from the seats and hat wired them to only adjust forward and back. My question is was this done because of the difference between a 99 vs. 2004? Am I better off trying to track down seat racks from a 99 or getting new harnesses and plugs for 2004 seats? Any suggestions or if you have parts for sale to help with this mess would be greatly appreciated.
I went from base seats to performance seats with lumbar so I figured the module in the seat had a different part number. I sold my original seats and didn’t check the number. That passenger seat works fine with the connector I made thanks to YouTube. The passenger and drivers seats have different module numbers I figured for seat exit and other things. My only other thought was putting the passenger seat in the drivers side and see if it works. If it does, get that module number and put it in the drivers seat ??
Good post, but I don't think the AK5 is an RPO; I think it's the law. Could be wrong, and off topic, so.....
Thanks for replying, the original base seats were electric on drivers side and manual on passenger side. I see a lot of people doing this same upgrade and nothing is said about being year specific, only C5. I’m hoping someone has gone through this and can help.
Thanks for replying, the original base seats were electric on drivers side and manual on passenger side. I see a lot of people doing this same upgrade and nothing is said about being year specific, only C5. I’m hoping someone has gone through this and can help.
I went from base seats to performance seats with lumbar so I figured the module in the seat had a different part number. I sold my original seats and didn’t check the number. That passenger seat works fine with the connector I made thanks to YouTube. The passenger and drivers seats have different module numbers I figured for seat exit and other things. My only other thought was putting the passenger seat in the drivers side and see if it works. If it does, get that module number and put it in the drivers seat ??