Seat Control Module

OK, I assure everyone that I have searched through all the old info on this issue, but I am still left with a driver's seat and steering column that won't adjust.

It appears as though most folks find a loose connector and a broken plug shroud to be the cause of the issue. Unfortunately, I found the connector to be plugged in properly and no broken plastic after removing the seat trim. As a matter of fact, both the plug and control module look like new.

Fuses all look OK, and a quick check of pin 25 on the plug seems to confirm that the module is getting power.

I thought for a second that it may be the ignition switch as I've seen that mentioned, but I have none of the other common symptoms.

I am about to order a new (used) seat control module, but I'm worried I may be overlooking another cause. Has anyone else had the seat control module just die completely?

I have exactly the same problem, also with good switch and no broken plastic. Mine pops the fuse immediately it's turned on.

I'm assuming I (we) have a chafed/worn grounded wire under the seat. Just haven't got round to pulling the seat yet.

BH

I'm going to have to pass on this one because all I know is when the harness connector slips out of the module, which clearly you said it isn't that problem.

- What to do when both your automatic steering wheel tilt and manual & automatic driver seat control fails (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & related automatic steering wheel tilt details (1) (2) (3) & what to do if your steering wheel & key cylinder locks in place (1) (2) or if you lose your key and need to program a new one yourself (1) & signs of a failing ignition switch (1) or ring antenna (1) & the BMW TIS for when the ignition switch spins but does not engage (1) & rebuilding a failed ignition switch (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) & how to test your BMW E39 DSC steering wheel sensors (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Well, I ordered another switch anyway. It wasn't that much money since the plug shroud was broken, so I guess I'll see if it fixes the issue. I figure I can just swap the PCB from the replacement switch into my almost perfect housing.

It seems unlikely since I haven't really seen too many reports of the switch itself being the cause of problems, but I figure it has to be possible for them to fail.

Originally Posted by barneyhyphen

I have exactly the same problem, also with good switch and no broken plastic. Mine pops the fuse immediately it's turned on.

I'm assuming I (we) have a chafed/worn grounded wire under the seat. Just haven't got round to pulling the seat yet.

BH

Possibly, though I'd be shocked if it's a worn wire in my case. All the wiring I can see without removing the seat looks like new. That said, I sure hope that's not the issue.

My problem is that I have no way to eliminate the seat control module / switch as the source of the problem ... without removing the seat and tracing wires, that is. If I plug in the replacement switch and the seat and steering column still won't adjust, I'll have to go from there.

Originally Posted by bluebee

I'm going to have to pass on this one because all I know is when the harness connector slips out of the module, which clearly you said it isn't that problem.

- What to do when both your automatic steering wheel tilt and manual & automatic driver seat control fails (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & related automatic steering wheel tilt details (1) (2) (3) & what to do if your steering wheel & key cylinder locks in place (1) (2) or if you lose your key and need to program a new one yourself (1) & signs of a failing ignition switch (1) or ring antenna (1) & the BMW TIS for when the ignition switch spins but does not engage (1) & rebuilding a failed ignition switch (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) & how to test your BMW E39 DSC steering wheel sensors (0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

As a matter of fact, I found all of those links in a previous post of yours and looked through them. As I recall, most or all of them dealt with broken plug shrouds due to broken seat trim, neither of which applies to me ... unfortunately. It sure would be the easier fix.

Thanks anyway!

Check under driver seat. There's a small module with a yellow connector on it. For ****s and giggles make sure everything on there is tight. Obviously do this with ignition off. Let me know.

Well, it appears as though it was the switch after all. I received the replacement and quickly tested it. I still need to swap the PCB from the replacement switch into my undamaged housing and install it permanently before I really test it out, but that will have to wait for a new retaining clip to replace the one that I broke when I removed the seat trim.

Sure enough! I discovered that the controls on the side of the drivers seat were seperated and broken. I just had to plug the pin thiing back in and all is working again. Poor design in my opinion. Not sure if it was broken/fixed before, or if I just did it. I noticed that getting out of the car, I put lots of weight right on the plasic housing, and it popped off again. MAybe I need to lose some weight, or just be extra careful exiting the vehicle, but how annoying is that going to be!