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Power seats hook-up

14K views 16 replies 5 participants last post by  39chevy 
#1 · (Edited)
I have 1989 Cadillac eldorado bucket seats. Under the seat there are 2 plugs, blk and blu. blk has 2 wires, blk and orange w/blk stripe - blue plug has 4 wires, pink w/blk stripe, green w/white stripe, blue w/white stripe, white w/blk stripe. 1st que: How can I bench test to see if they will move? 2nd que: is there a schematic to show how to hook these up? I'm trying to download, but having trouble> thanks, Dana
 

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#2 ·
You have four electric motors in the seat.
I would think that each motor controls one movement. You apply power to a motor, and it runs one way, you reverse the polarity, and it runs the other way.

See if the color of the wires at each motor corresponds to the color of wire at the plug. If it does, try hooking the two wires up to a 12 battery, (with a fuse) and see what happens.

See if you can identify what two wires control the four functions, and make a chart for yourself.

This is generally how reversing electric motors are hooked up. When you move a switch, it grounds one side of the motor, and applies power to the other side. Move the switch the other way, and it grounds the side that was hot, and make the side that was grounded hot, and the motor goes the other way. Sometimes, two relays are used for switching the motors. If this is the case, the relays are wired so that both relays ground both sides of the motor. When you move a switch, it switches one relay, and the wire on that relay, going to the electric motor, is switched from ground to hot, and the motor runs.
 
#5 ·
Cadillac Power Seats

OK, here's some info for you, based on my research into my 90's Cadillac Eldorado buckets:

"blk has 2 wires, blk and orange w/blk stripe": Blk is ground; orange w/blk stripe is 12V constant power, typically fused @ 20-25 amps.

"blue plug has 4 wires, pink w/blk stripe, green w/white stripe, blue w/white stripe, white w/blk stripe": This connector goes to the Cadillac seat control switch assembly (pic). From my experience, it will be VERY difficult to operate the seat without the Cadillac button assembly, as it contains a basic printed circuit board to cause multiple on/off actions when each button is moved. I found my switches on E-Bay.
I would also suggest buying a small sealed scooter, or motorcycle battery, for bench testing 12V electrical components; they give more consistent voltage than a battery charger. Attach some made-up 12 gauge test leads, with covered/protected alligator clips, & you can test any NEW circuit, anywhere on your ride.
 

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#8 ·
This is my battery. Notice the fuse between the two 6 volt batteries.
(This is also a test of getting a picture in here.)


The wire harness on the battery is for testing boat trailer lights.

I also recently used the battery to run the electric window regulator for my for Aerostar to a position that would make it easier to slip into the door.
 

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#9 ·
Info Update

39 Chevy.......Some added info/corrections:

-The 12V power connection is indeed 30 Amp, not the lower rating that I had given B/4. All diagrams that I have show a 30 amp circuit breaker supporting BOTH seats, combined.
-Attached is a PDF file wiring diagram for a '97 Eldorado. I believe that you'll find (as I did), that very few changes have occurred through the years, following yours. If your seats have heat, & lumbar support built-in, you'll need the Cadillac console mounted control module, & wiring harness, too, as these controls were NOT mounted on the seats in the early to mid 90's. (Attachment:) [A red 12V is shown; same as your orange 12V wire.]
 

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#13 ·
Bucket Seats Wiring Harness?

I made mine. Reason? That's pretty much what the factory did.....When I pulled my seats out of the donor Eldorado, the factory STOCK main wiring leads from the two bucket seats (12V, & Ground) were soldered together, then shrink-wrapped, leading into a factory connector, then to the circuit breaker/fuse box.

For our street rod application(s) 10 gauge 12V, & ground wiring is the size to use for the offered 30 amp load. Either use the proper sized butt-connectors, or solder the connections if you prefer, but make sure to SHRINK-WRAP the connections, regardless. For further protection, I would also split-loom the entire harness, as the seats are one of the biggest amp draws in any vehicle.

My seat wiring goes to one of these, or you could use something comparable (pic):

http://www.ronfrancis.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PB-15
 

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#15 ·
Seats

One last que: I have got a complete switch box for both seats, (Console) I am going to make my own wiring harness to make this thing work, my que: is I know 10 guage is good for power seats, but my wires coming out of my control panel are really small guage(Circuit board) It won't be a problem splicing to them, but will that be o.k. to do it that way? Thanks again, Dana
 
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