Seat Problem ...

[polchraine]

406 Coupe 2.0 SE with electric seats

Background:
On Monday, lunchtime the alarm went off - went out no signs of anything so put it down to vibration and as I did not have my keys, just left it. Then late afternoon I went out to the car and my key transmitter would not unlock the car, so tried the other - failed also. I manually unlocked the car expecting the alarm to trigger - NOTHING, the battery was flat. Gave a short boost and managed to start the car. The drive probably charged it to 25%. Yesterday, Tuesday, I went to go out in the early evening, it unlocked but flat battery again.

So. battery out and a good charge - battery seemed OK. Reinstalled it and everything appeared fine.

Problem:

I lifted the lever to tilt the passenger seatback to automatically move the passenger seat forward - and it did nothing for about 5 second before going forward. Put the seatback upright and the seat returned to the normal position.

Tried to use the control to move the seat forward - it does not work and if I actuate it whilst teh seat is moving forward for access, motion temporarily stops. Obviously te front/back motor is working. The up/down and tilt controls are fine.

When the seat is in the normal position, there is a reasonably audible "Click" followed 1 second later by a quiet "Click" Another 5 seconds later another loud click, followed by the quiet click. If I use the lever to automatically move the seat for access during the 1 second period from load to quiet click, it moves immediately but if I do it just after the quiet click, it wait for the five second period to end.

My feeling is that this has been draining the battery because of a fault somewhere under the seat.

So:

Any suggestions on what might have failed?

How easy is it to remove the seat or electrics?

Any hints?


Second Problem:

The seat heating has failed - just before last winter. All fuses appear are intact, the two switches "work" and the indicators illuminate, but the seats do not warm. Any suggestions on why or where a wire may be loose?


Thanks

[highlander]

The seat motor works while ignition is off; it has a permanent live feed from the battery. It might be something simple like the seat control switches, rather than something expensive like the motors.

As for the seat heaters - if neither work, and both stopped at the same time, then check your fuses. If neither work, and there was some time between the two failures, then you will probably find the heating elements have burned out. You need to strip the seat down to get at those, unfortunately. Once you do, you will find the heater element is basically just a bunch of wire (high resistance wire, through which a current is applied, generating heat due to the resistance). There will be one or more breaks in each, which you can repair using normal solder and a soldering iron.

[steve_earwig]

Try pulling the seat fuse and see if it's still draining the battery. It do rather sound like the ecu has failed. You could try fitting another - there are a few about (even I have one ) - where abouts are you?

Btw you'd probably be better off asking over on the coupé club forums for this one (http://www.peugeot406coupe.com) because they're more likely to have experience.

[polchraine]

Try pulling the seat fuse and see if it's still draining the battery. It do rather sound like the ecu has failed. You could try fitting another - there are a few about (even I have one ) - where abouts are you?

Btw you'd probably be better off asking over on the coupé club forums for this one (http://www.peugeot406coupe.com) because they're more likely to have experience.

Why do you suggest the ECU?

Fairly certain about the battery drain - as both problems occurred together!

I've taken the advice and posted on the Coupe site too, thanks.

[steve_earwig]

Why do you suggest the ECU?

When the seat is in the normal position, there is a reasonably audible "Click" followed 1 second later by a quiet "Click" Another 5 seconds later another loud click, followed by the quiet click. If I use the lever to automatically move the seat for access during the 1 second period from load to quiet click, it moves immediately but if I do it just after the quiet click, it wait for the five second period to end.

The only other thing that could be clicking is the BSI and I don't think it has anything to with the seat ecu, apart from providing a permanent live.

[highlander]

Why do you suggest the ECU?

Clarification:

The engine has an ECU (Engine Control Unit), found in a plastic box in the engine bay.
The seat has an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), found in a housing box under the seat itself.

The seat ECU is very basic, looking after the memory functions of the drivers' seat. If it is faulty, it may be continually attempting to move the seat into one of its remembered positions.

(Just trying to clear it up in case you thought Steve was talking about the engine ECU)

[polchraine]

Why do you suggest the ECU?

Clarification:

The engine has an ECU (Engine Control Unit), found in a plastic box in the engine bay.
The seat has an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), found in a housing box under the seat itself.

The seat ECU is very basic, looking after the memory functions of the drivers' seat. If it is faulty, it may be continually attempting to move the seat into one of its remembered positions.

(Just trying to clear it up in case you thought Steve was talking about the engine ECU)

Thanks - It did have me thinking to start with. However, does teh passenger seat have an ECU too? There is no position storage.

[highlander]

I don't believe it does, as the passenger seat doesn't have memory functions.

Oh - the seat ECU does something else as well - it tells the BSI to adjust the position of the door mirrors, as this is also one of the remembered settings held in each seat position memory. Means you don't have to adjust the mirrors any time you switch to a different seat position memory.

[steve_earwig]

The seat ecu adjusts the mirrors directly (it's the same box of tricks as fitted to D8s).

According to the diagram I have the feed from the BSI is the same one that (I believe) lowers the window when you open the door.

While I'm thinking about it, there are also a couple of microswitches that register the travel as the seat tips up & moves forward which I remember seeing give trouble over on the coupe club, I don't think they're the problem here but it's possible (after the weird faults I've seen on this forum recently I'm starting to think any damn thing's possible )

[polchraine]

Thanks for the advice - sorted!

On the outer rail of the Passenger side is a 5mm diameter rod and there was a little plastic slider, possibly and end stop. Out of interest I pushed it forwards, then put the seat back to look under the front. The problem stopped!

When I have more time, I'll look in more detail, but a fix, so far!

[daveb]

Exactly the same problem with the passenger seat, clicking noise and flat batteries.
Moved the plastic limit stop as suggested. Problem fixed.
THANK-YOU!

[richard]

hey, sounds like the same issue i've got - can't get the seat to slide forwards even though it tilts. i've had a look under the seat and can't see anything.. this is the passenger side by the way. the driver side handle cable has snapped so need to replace that. but if either of you two guys can just confirm where this said adjustment part is, that'd be great..