How do I disconnect the power harness from seats?

[Chronos]

HELP! I'm in the process of swapping out my stock seats for sport seats. The removal of the four bolts was painless, but I cannot figure out how to reconnect the two halves of the wiring harness under the seat! Maybe I'm daft. I don't want to apply too much pressure as I may end up breaking one or the other.

If it helps my seats are standard power (manual fore/aft and seatback).

Many, many thanks!

Edited August 3, 2004 by Chronos

[Chronos]

I figured out how to separate and reconnect both sides of the harness. What a pain. If there is an easy way please let me know. :cheers:

Now I have the airbag light on. Sigh. I noticed there was another pair of wires on the standard seat harness that wasn't on the new sport seat harness. Any ideas if this means I need to take it to a shop to splice in the additional wires (I have no idea what they were for, as the new sport seat reclines via the powered mechanism). Or can I just take it to the shop/dealership and have them reset the light? Does the light mean the airbags are no longer functioning?

Many thanks!

[BigHead]

Ok, I too am curious - just how DOES one disconnect the harness? Chronos, how did you do it?!?

Thanks!

[Chronos]

It appeared to be caught on one side so I carefully inserted a thin blade flat head screwdriver into the female side and rotated it carefully. It gave enough for the male end to easily pop out. To reconnect I did the same thing. I spent at least an hour working on that harness. I understand that we don't want the two halves separating, but come on!

I found this link on another site (posted by Loren): http://members.aol.com/ericbosco/gt3/page_01.htm It may be helpful too. I just got a call that my driver's seat just arrived so I'll try this method tonight when I swap out the seats.

I understand the airbag is still functional even with the dash light 'on.' Once I get the driver's seat in I'll make an appointment at a local shop to reset the light. If I can get my camera phone working I'll take a shot of the two additional wires that are under the stock seats; they are missing from the sport seats. If memory serves me they are brown and white. Obviously they have some function, perhaps to notify that there is a certain amount of weight on the seats (airbag and/or seatbelt)?

Heck, maybe I'll try to take a few pics of the entire process.

The power seatback works perfectly on the passenger seat, as do all the manual adjustments. I'm pleasantly surprised at how well the grey back of the seat (from a '99) coordinates with the carbon interior and the slate grey exterior. Might not have to paint them!

Edited August 4, 2004 by Chronos

[Chronos]

Ok, now I feel like a fool. I noticed that there was no seat belt receptacle on my newly installed passenger seat. Blinding flash of the obvious- I needed to remove it from my original seat and install it on the new seat. So I unbolted the bugger and stared down that harness for a few minutes. As I grasped the harness to work it apart the lighter grey plastic piece on one end slid open and the harness fell apart in my hands.

I almost cried. :soapbox:

So I installed the receptacle, wired it using the built in wire looms on the seat, and plugged the blue connector back into the harness (guess what the two extra wires in my above post were for? Yep, the seat belt receptacle). I then pulled and installed the driver's seat in about 15 minutes max.

Anyone need a seat swapped out? I think I could make some money at this now! Good thing I used my own car to practice on.

Now on to the shop to reset the airbag light.

Sheesh. :cheers:

[BigHead]

Excellent work. Thanks for the tips!

vty,

--Dennis

[nova996]

Chronos, can I ask you what type of bolts are holding the seat in? I got the plastic covers off, but I haven't seen that type of bolt before. It looks like the male end of a torx screwdriver. What type of socket did you use to remove it?

Thanks.

Edited August 7, 2004 by nova996

[nova996]

Uh, ok, never mind. I realize I just answered my own question. Duh.

So does anyone know what size this torx head is? So I can make sure I get an e-torx set that includes the right size.

[Chronos]

It is E12. I picked up a set of torx reverse sockets at Sears. :cheers:

[nova996]

Thanks, Chronos. I just realized you're local. If I get stuck, I may have to take you up on your offer to help swap out seats!

[Chronos]

Thanks, Chronos. I just realized you're local. If I get stuck, I may have to take you up on your offer to help swap out seats!

Absolutely! It'd be a pleasure. :cheers: But it really is pretty easy.