QuestionI've confirmed a blown fuse for the Power Seat on 2001 T&C minivan. Please advise on the step-by-step process I can take to isolate the short in the seat.
I believe the seat mechanism shorted on its own without being operated, so I suspect the adjustment(s) control mechanism may be shorted as opposed to the motors that adjust the seat.
This assumption is supported by the following: While attempting to remove the blown fuse, the fuse was flexed slightly and the broken circuit was temporarily re-established. The fuse sparked at that time and re-shorted/cut the circuit. The seat adjustment mechanism was not being operated at that time, thus my conclusion that the short exists somewhere along the circuit even when the controls are not being operated.
I understand I may have to remove the side seat panel where the adjustment(s) control are located and would appreciate instructions on doing that correctly as well.
AnswerHi Mario,
I am working from the '98 manual, so be aware of that limitation.
If it is 40 amp fuse #26 that is blown then the wiring diagrams I have are probably correct. There are three possible set-ups: simple power seat, heated seat, and memory seat/mirror module, all of which draw upon a 30 amp circuit breaker located under the seat that is provided power from the fuse #26. That circuit breaker should have popped first before the fuse if the short was after that point in the circuit. So I would start by checking the pink/black wire from the the fuse socket (that comes out on pin 5 of the black plug at the power center) to pin 4 of the gray plug at the junction block (fuse panel) under the dash to see if it is shorted. Then from pin 33 of that same plug the same color wire goes to the circuit breaker, and that 'run' would be the next place to look for a short to ground, by opening the circuit breaker and seeing if nonetheless the wire is grounded. If not, then the circuits beyond the breaker would be suspect for the short, but I would expect the breaker to have protected the fuse.
That is how I would suggest you start.
Roland
PS Use the 'thank/rate' tab to get back to me without having to wait for me to be available to take a question. Tell me about what set up you have.
That was an extremely fast response. Thanks. Unfortunately rating response only goest to 10 :) My set-up is the simple power seat control. I do have a quick follow-up. You mentioned a 30 amp circuit breaker located below the seat. I just want to be clear that the 30 amp circuit breaker is situated before (not after) the seat adjustment controls? If so, then I'm interpreting your recommendations to trouble shoot before power even gets to the seat and in the wiring upstream from the (30 amp circuit breaker) to the fuse box. If that's the case, any thoughts on what may have caused the short in the first place so I can correct the larger issue.
Hi Mario,
Thanks for the kind remarks and nomination. Yes, based upon the circuit as I see it, there is likely a short before the circuit breaker, otherwise it should have opened before the fuse. There is a wire all the way from the power box under the hood to the circuit breaker (thru the fuse box) and it could be shorted anywhere along that 'run'. Chafing against something sharp is one possibility.
But verify by measuring the resistance to ground starting in the box under hood before and after you have opened the circuit breaker.
Roland
