Dear Fellow Brickboarders,

May this find you well. I regret my previous post was not clear. This post is for those, who have a powered seat (driver or passenger) that is 100%, totally dead. This means that no seat motor works at all. If your powered seat has even one motor that works, however badly, read no further.

To those, with a totally dead powered seat, when your seat control failed, leaving you unable to adjust the seat, did you:

(a) Buy a brand new replacement switch unit (for the passenger seat) or seat control computer (for the driver's seat)?
(b) Get a replacement part from a salvage yard?
(c) Live with a totally dead, non-adjustable seat?

I want to know how common is the total failure of seat control computers/switches, and how you dealt with it.

I may have a low-cost way to put seat control computers/switches, into good working order.

Note: the total failure of a seat control switch or seat control computer usually is due to the failure of a relay, mounted on a printed circuit board.

Volvo does NOT sell replacement relays for seat switches or seat control computers. Volvo will only sell you a new switch unit (for a powered passenger seat) or a new seat control computer (for a driver's seat). The seat control computer costs about $400.

For brickboarders, who have had a powered seat go totally dead, would you be able/willing to install a replacement relay? NOTE: the relays in seat switches or seat control computers - unlike relays the fuel pump or the overdrive circuit - cannot be revived by "re-flowing" the solder. Seat control relays fail internally. A failed relay in a seat switch or a seat control computer must be replaced.

To replace the seat switch or seat computer relay, you'll need to use a soldering iron, to remove the failed relay and to install a replacement relay. These relays have four "pins", that go into small holes on the printed circuit board.

If you could buy a replacement relay, to get a totally dead powered seat back into action, would you do so? Or, would you simply get a replacement switch or seat control computer, either from a salvage yard or a Volvo dealer?

If there's interest in getting replacement relays, I may be able to find a supplier. I'm not interested in making a dime from this: any profits would go to those, who make, distribute, and retail the relays.

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it and regret any confusion, caused by my earlier post.

Yours faithfully,

spook