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Topic: power seats mind of their own (Read 783 times) previous topic - next topic

power seats mind of their own

20th anny coug 5.0

Started car , adjusted seat back a little.

seat continued to go back on its own then begin to recline all on its own.  The recline went so far back it was literally smashing the back seat down.

I reach under to feel for the circuit breaker and its hot as hell.  I pull it with pliers and let it cool off to reset.

install circuit breaker and it gets hot again. 

I suppose I have something going on under the seat directly related to my seat cover install I did a while back. 

Lets have some fun eh?  this one should be a good one.

power seats mind of their own

Reply #1 –
With the directional plug connectors that can only be plugged in one way, it seems odd if it were some sort of wiring mix-up. However, check to be sure you don't have the wiring harness under the seat pinched under or in between something causing the wire insulation to break and create a short.

If all that checks out okay, my next guess is possibly a faulty seat switch which some contacts are staying stuck in the closed position. If the relay overheats that means to me the contacts are not releasing.

I had a problem with a switch that would not activate when trying to push the button to make the back of the seat go down. It was as simple as taking a small screwdriver, unsnapping the button out of the switch module and bending the appropriate contact up so that it would touch when it should.

It seems you may need to do the opposite so the contact does not touch when it is released.

Try unplugging the seat switch module from the wiring harness connector. If the relay does not heat up then I'd say the problem is a contact in the switch.

Most of the time these switches can be easily repaired this way without replacing them since you can access the contacts inside.

power seats mind of their own

Reply #2 –
I really doubt its a seat switch, because the recline and move back are completely different locations.

One thing I always did wonder though, why do you need a power recline? My wife is 5'2", and I'm around 6'4". I feel like an idiot when I'm late for work. All the neighbors watch me run out to the car wearing my work clothes, then I poke my head in and sit there and watch the  seat move for 5 minutes. Then jump in and drive off.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

power seats mind of their own

Reply #3 –
Oh sorry I didn't catch in your first message that you have power recliners. Certainly there is a seperate switch for just the power recline. I would be looking for that switch sticking or shorting. There is no reason for the recline to operate on it's own unless the switch is stuck in a closed contact, or there is a short in the wiring to the recline motor.

power seats mind of their own

Reply #4 –
chaulk it up to "FM"

i unplugged connectors under the seat until the circuit breaker cooled off. narrowed it down to one connector.  plugged it back in and it works.

i hate these kinda problems that go away on their own.