the driver's power seat in my wife's 98 v70 with 179k reclines, but does not "un-recline." i'm used to the 850's that have a cable problem, but when i went to the dealer after being unable to find any info on the 98 v70 power seat on-line, the parts guy said the 98 v70's don't use cables and presented me with a "subframe for seat, electrical adjustment s70, v70" parts diagram. uh, not helpful. he confessed to not knowing what part may or may not be bad. even less helpful.

the other seat direction buttons work perfectly fine, there is no noise when we try to "un-recline" the seat. we think, but are not sure, that one time when i mashed all the buttons just right that the seat may have slightly "un-reclined," but we couldn't get it to do it again so we're not sure if it ever happened to begin with. i've been driving it on longer trips with a pillow behind my upper back. not comfy, but better than without a pillow.

any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
--
98 v70 wagon, 96 850 glt wagon 255,000 miles. have also had 95 850 glt wagon totalled with 414,000 miles, 96 850 glt wagon totalled with 306,000 miles, 1982 240 wagon, 1993 240 dl sedan, 1996 volvo turbo wagon (rear ended). looking for a 94-97 850 glt s

thanks, guys. i was able to work with the buttons and get the back to come up. hopefully it will continue to work.

Because it works in one direction and not the other, I would believe that it is the switch that is at fault. My 1998 had the same problem with the bottom cushion not going forward, every once in a while if the temp and humidity were in alignment the seat would move forward if I wasn't sitting in it. Fortunately, the MEM setting would allow for the seat to move to that particular MEM setting.

Try push/pulling the the recline switch about a dozen times to the raised position to free any corrosion. Best bet is to find a replacement switch at a P&P or someone that is parting out a 98-2000 S/V70.

Klaus
--
Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

The parts diagram he showed you doesn't have the parts related to the reclining function! Here's the one that shows you pertinent information. Not that a parts diagram really helps, but it appears now the cable is gone its a direct drive so it shouldn't fail really at all.

So my first thought is its the buttons or the control module have the problem. Solution: Jump them and see what happens. The control module is under the seat and connector B goes to the backrest motor. I think if you put a source between pins 1 and 2 the backrest should move. If it moves down, switch polarity. What's that you say, you don't have a power source right there? You're in luck connector A has one, and has it all the time! I really hope you have aligator clip wires, but its just slightly more difficult if you don't. Anyway, ignition OFF, hook up a wire from pin 2 on connector B to a ground. Then run a wire from connector A-1 to B-1 and the seat should move up. If not switch the ground and power on B to make sure it goes down (and that will assure you that it should have gone up). Down but not up leads me to believe the motor is worn enough that it doesn't have the power to come up. Next step would be to replace it (junkyard..)

If it works as it should, first make sure the buttons are working properly. Not really sure how to do this without taking it apart. Lets cross this bridge later. Same with diagnosing the control module (this might be easier just by swapping passenger seat with drivers seat module).
--
If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?

Is there a control module for the '98 passenger seat, or is it controlled by the driver's side as well? I ask, because I don't see one (and the seat doesn't function though there is juice coming from the switches).
Thanks

I found your piggy back post. No, there is no control module for the passenger power seat, that is on the driver's seat to store memory.

The seat does not get power until the key is in posI or posII. How did you determine that there is juice coming from the switches? There is an overload fuse for the seats in the fuse box.

Klaus
--
Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

If its a power seat on the passengers seat, it should have a control module underneath.

Underneath the seat are the wires connected into anything?
--
If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?

Yeah, the wires were all connected, but all went straight through to one of several electric motors under the seat; there was no "control module" in between, like there is on the drivers side. This seat was working at one time. But hey, it's my daughter's car, and she didn't mention it was a problem until she gave me a ride and I found it stuck at it's highest lift position. I could barely get into it without knocking my head silly on the roof. And she doesn't know how or when it happened! But then kids rarely recall some event if it involved some kind of destruction and havoc!

This is why I'm wondering if one control unit controlled both sides. I pulled one out of a '97 850 (passenger side) hoping it would work on the my passenger's side, and that's when I found the passenger side of a 98 S70 doesn't appear to be wired the same way!

Interesting, not really sure where to go next. There should be a module, the drivers one doesn't have the wires going to it to control both. If there isn't one, might the PO have jerry-rigged it to work without one?

--
If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?

I have power coming through the switches because I measured it at the outlet plug(s) that come from the switches that go to the seat motors. I just thought that there might be a relay buried under that seat somewhere that might be cause of the failure.

Klaus, I had already checked out the master fuse and found everything a-okay.

I'll end up pulling out the seat and check it point-by-point until I chase the problem down. Damn, I'm getting to old to be lifting these seats anymore.

Thanks, everyone.