Options for moving broken power seat?

[robertd]

My '99 2.5L Boxster came with his 'n hers 8 way power seats with memory. There is a gaping hole in the leather and a bunch of wires where the passenger side seat adjustment switches should be. Try as I might, I have been unsuccessful in making the seat move. I've checked all the fuses and traced the contacts on the switch base plate with my Bentley manual. I've tried jumpering across the switch contacts to get some motion but all that does is throw sparks and blow fuses. I've even tried disconnecting the battery and selectively applying external power directly to the motor under the seat with no luck.

The problem is that my A/C just packed up and I now need to get to the front engine cover. I can't move the seat up and it is pressed firmly against the rear firewall. I'd remove the seat, but to do so requires moving it forward to access the rear bolts :P Clearly I'm in a bit of a pickle.

Any thoughts?

[juniinc]

OK

Edited May 26, 2008 by juniinc

[Chuck Jones]

I have a complete brand new power seat assemly with the switch that I bought and never installed. If your motors are shot, give me a PM and I'll get the part numbers for you to see if it's compatible....Since it's just a paperweight in my parts cabinet, I'd let it go pretty inexpensively........................Chuck

Edited May 25, 2008 by Chuck Jones

[robertd]

I have a complete brand new power seat assemly with the switch that I bought and never installed. If your motors are shot, give me a PM and I'll get the part numbers for you to see if it's compatible....Since it's just a paperweight in my parts cabinet, I'd let it go pretty inexpensively........................Chuck

Thanks, Chuck. I'll let you know...

[robertd]

Update:

Following juniinc's advice I re-installed the E4 30 amp fuse and removed the back cover to the switch assembly to identify the correct wires to jumper. Unfortunately, the wiring colors on the passenger side seem to differ from the driver's side and I couldn't find the correct wires to jump. I decided to take a picture of the back side of the switch body to see if someone could identify the correct wires for me. In doing so, I somehow activated the switch that angles the seat back forward. I let it run forward a few degrees and then tried the seat back release lever. To my surprise the seat back released and folded forward. I suppose that there was so much tension on the seat back that it was jamming the release mechanism. So, even though I was unable to slide the seat forward I was able to fold the seat back forward, gaining access to the front engine cover.

As you can see from these pictures there are no switches left in the switch body. I have no idea what happened to cause the seat back to pivot forward and was not able to repeat the action. Whatever the case, I'm happy because I can now access the front engine cover :D

Passenger switch location:

Switch body (note lack of switches):

Edited May 26, 2008 by robertd