Manual to electric / power seats swap??

[matisko]

It is possible to upgrade manual to power seats? Xc70 P3 2008 didn t find any real response…thanks

[apersson850]

I have electrical from the beginning, so no need to try. But I've heard that it seems to differ from car to car. In some cars, you can just put them in there, connect and use them. No memory.
In other cars the seat gets offended when the car doesn't recognize it, goes into a state called "Bus lock" and that's it. No movement.

I don't know any method to know this in advance.

[simboc2004]

I posted asking much the same question recently; what you need to find out is if your car has the electric seat connector wiring running to the multi-plug connector installed under the seat. I keep meaning to check mine, but have managed it yet... I'm guessing that they made one main wiring loom, then individual plug in modules/separate circuits where practicable for installation on the production line...

[apersson850]

Originally Posted by simboc2004

<...> what you need to find out is if your car has the electric seat connector wiring running to the multi-plug connector installed under the seat.

Again, that's not the main issue I've been told about from those who tried this change before. Power is available for the seat, since they are normally all heated. But there are more power lines, and with bigger fuse, if there's also wires for power operated seats.

The main issue is that electrically operated seats have a memory function for the driver's seat. To talk to that, there's a CAN-bus connection to the seat. If that connection isn't in the car, the seat will have nobody to talk to. It will then either hop along happily as an electrically operated seat, but without the memory function, or it will complain about no bus connection and refuse to move.

Which of the two seems to be difficult to know in advance.

If the CAN bus connection is in the car, then you already have powered seats.

What most certainly would work is to install a passenger seat from a Swedish car (or any car that's left hand drive) in a UK one. It doesn't have any memory function, so no CAN-bus connection.

WARNING! The cables to the SRS-components in the seat use the same connectors (74/30 and 74/31). Don't disassemble anything before at least 5 min with the battery disconnected. Be careful with where you measure if you use a multimeter. You don't want to fire any airbag with your head in there.

[simboc2004]

The irony is that I am quite happy with manual, non-electric seats, however I have the chance to het some "like new" seats, but the driver's seat is electric. perhaps it's safer not to bother...

[apersson850]

Reasonably you should be able to connect power (from a 12 V battery) to the correct poles in the connector and test run the seat before doing the job to install it in the car.
If you run it on the floor, then there's no CAN-bus there either. if it doesn't work without the CAN-bus connection, you'll soon notice.

WARNING! Make sure you get the correct wiring diagram, so you are certain you power the correct poles for such a test, since the SRS devices are connected to the same plug.

My XC70 has electric seats on both sides. The lady's only on the driver's side. When I ride with her I always fumble for the switches, before realizing it's a mechanical thing. It's easy to get lazy...