Memory Seats and Scan Tools.

[kswpg]

Hi everyone,

Still having problems tracking down the problem with my memory seats; Memory mirrors and steering work fine, steering wheel retracts for easy exit/entry, and manual power seat controls work fine.

However the seats do not move for easy exit/entry, nor do they move for different memory settings.

I've been told this could be the control module, or a position sensor that's gone bad, or a loose connection between the two. As far as I know there's no internal self-test for the seats, but I've heard that some scan tools can diagnose this.

Rather than pay a dealership to run the tool, I figure I'd buy a scan tool myself as it'd very likely come in handy for future problems - and my dad would likely split the cost for his 98 Towncar.


So which scan tool would be the best choice for both these cars (a 02 LS and a 98 Towncar)? It doesn't have to be the cheapest, in fact I'd like it to be able to scan as much as possible. I'm looking for the most complete set of diagnostics for the best value.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Kevin

 

[joegr]

I can only tell you that the AutoTap tool will not do this. I know that the dealer tool can recalibrate the seat sensor, but I was disappointed to find that the AutoTap can't.

 

[kswpg]

Thanks Joe.

The autoenginuity tool has a Ford specific library of sensors it can read, which seems to include memory seats. I just wasn't sure if it was the best choice, and it it'd be compatible with both the cars.

I'll look into that one though, as most recommendations seem to be for that or the Autotap.

 

[joegr]

Hey, I'm sorry. I don't know where my head is. It is the AutoEnginuity, not the AutoTap that I have. I don't know why I keep wanting to call it AutoTap. Anyway, I do have the Ford specific package. It can read a lot of sensors. I don't recall if seat position was one of them. I do know that it won't let you send the recalibrate command.

 

[kswpg]

That's good to know, thanks Joe.

I am pretty sure that the autoenginuity (AE) can read the seat sensor, these are the ones which are listed on the AE site:

Driver Seat Forward/Rearward Pos Sensor Present
Driver Seat Front Up/Down Pos Sensor Present
Driver Seat Front Vertical Position
Driver Seat Horizontal Position
Driver Seat Input Switch Status
Driver Seat Occupied
Driver Seat Pedals Rearward / Forward Pos
Driver Seat Rear Up/Down Pos Sensor Present
Driver Seat Rear Vertical Position
Driver Seat Recline Pos Sensor Present
Driver Seat Recline Position
Driver Seatback Autoglide Forward Switch
Driver Seatback Autoglide Rearward Sw
Driver Side Front Seat Belt Fastened
Memory Set / Recall 1 Switch
Memory Set / Recall 2 Switch
Memory Set Switch

Those should give me an idea of at least what is reporting and what isn't. I've been reading more about this problem and other people have found it was as simple as the way the cabling was run under the seat. The cable was routed the wrong way around a motor and when the seat was brought too far back, it stretched the cable too far and pulled the wires right out of the connector.

So my next plan is to pull the seat out and take a look. I'd be nice if the fix was that simple!


Although its too bad it can't send the calibrate command, otherwise to you find the AE worth it? Is it any good for checking on engine performance/tuning, or do you need some completely different hardware for that?


Thanks again,

Kevin

 

[joegr]

Yes, I think that the AutoEnginuity has been worthwhile. Fortunately, I haven't had much trouble on either of my LSs to go looking for, but so far it has been handy. It will let you start self tests of the engine and climate control. It was also handy for seeing what was/is causing a mystery beep every once in a while.
I have used it to hunt bad coils on my 04. It gives you access to the misfire counts for each cylinder. You can't get that with the generic tools. I also used it to find out what caused the one Advancetrac failure that I have seen. It was the steering angle sensor, but it never did it again, so I haven't had to deal with it yet.

Good luck with the seat. The seat on my 04 does not always move to where it is supposed to on the first try. I guess I will eventually have to look into that.

 

[kswpg]

Sounds great. Are the tests it can start (climate control) different from the self tests you can start from the control panel (hold floor+off, then auto)?

Thanks again.

 

[Frogman]

NG Star Tester.

 

[kswpg]

Hi Frogman,

I tried a quick google search and nothing came up for an NG Star Tester within the first page or two.

Is this another type of scan tool?

NG Star Tester.

 

[Frogman]

http://www.hickok-inc.com/ngs/ngscan.html

You can find them on ebay relatively cheap nowadays.

 

[joegr]

Sounds great. Are the tests it can start (climate control) different from the self tests you can start from the control panel (hold floor+off, then auto)?

Thanks again.

No.