Dear Fellow Brickboarders,

May this find you well. Have you had a seat control switch or computer - driver or passenger - fail, such that you couldn't adjust a seat?

Let me be clear: I refer to a total failure, where nothing moves at all (as opposed to a failure, where one track moves, and the other does not).

Such total seat control failures, usually result from the failure of the relay, that controls power flow to the seat motors. Relays, light light switches, do wear out.

When your seat control failed, did you:
(a) Buy a brand new replacement switch unit (passenger seat) or computer (driver's seat)?
(b) Get a replacement from a salvage yard?
(c) Live with a non-adjustable seat?


A replacement relay has to be installed, using a soldering iron, on a printed circuit board. In the case of the powered driver's seat, the printed circuit board is inside the seat computer, mounted under the driver's seat upholstery. In the case of the powered passenger seat, the printed circuit board is right behind the seat control buttons.

If you could restore a failed seat control by buying a replacement relay, would you do so, and then replace just the relay? Or, would you simply buy a replacement switch or seat control computer?

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

Yours faithfully,

spook

p.s. I gather the driver's seat computer costs about $400 from Volvo.