Driver's seat malfunction

[derek4431]

2023 Thor Tranquility: After finding out the fuse for the Light Bar was curiously placed UNDERNEATH the driver's seat (or, maddeningly; what idiot decided this is a good place for fuses?)... I removed the seat and found 5 total fuse 'boxes'. 2 were blown... one 2 amp (I have no idea what it powers), and the other was the 15 amp Light Bar. Light Bar now is working.

Of course I had to unplug 2 wiring connectors (power seat; airbag?) to get the seat off and replace the bad fuses. Upon reinstalling the seat, I got the following message and am unable to go the the Message center to remove it. Plugged the 2 connectors back in where they came from, started it up and got this alert in the following picture. Also, the red 'airbag' alert in always on. I doubled checked the two connections and they are secure.

Any ideas besides calling MB?

 

[ghnl]

Just a guess - disconnect those seat connectors and look inside the plastic block. Sometimes the metal connectors get displaced so even though the plastic block is plugged all the way in the metal connectors are not making a connection.

And, perhaps now you know why that 2 amp fuse was not replaced...?

 

[16ACE27]

Just a WAG - reboot the van, disconnect the chassis battery for a few hours.

 

[derek4431]

Just a WAG - reboot the van, disconnect the chassis battery for a few hours.

Good idea, but alas to no avail. I double checked the internal pins on the connectors and they all looked fine. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have started it up with the seat disconnected to see if the light bar was working. Oh well... fix one issue and create another.

 

[16ACE27]

Good idea, but alas to no avail. I double checked the internal pins on the connectors and they all looked fine. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have started it up with the seat disconnected to see if the light bar was working. Oh well... fix one issue and create another.

Well now your choices are:
Do what is says and take it to the dealer, or
Procure an OBDII Reader/Code clearer and hope you can simply clear the code. But if you get one that can run diagnostics on the ABS module you may be able to see what's going on there as well.

This might do the job:

Amazon.com

 

[Lt Keefer]

Lesson learned is that you never unplug an airbag with the battery connected.

 

[derek4431]

Well now your choices are:
Do what is says and take it to the dealer, or
Procure an OBDII Reader/Code clearer and hope you can simply clear the code. But if you get one that can run diagnostics on the ABS module you may be able to see what's going on there as well.

This might do the job:

Amazon.com

My OBDII Reader detects ZERO codes... I tried to clear it anyway and it asked me 'sure?' which I did press clear again. The error message still came back. There are several of these on the 'net and on YouTube. Sorting through those now.

 

[derek4431]

Lesson learned is that you never unplug an airbag with the battery connected.

I had no idea one of these two plugs was an airbag. Maybe my experience will save someone some trouble.

 

[16ACE27]

There's airbags in seats?

 

[ghnl]

Some passenger seats have windbags...

 

[Lt Keefer]

Yes, there are airbags in modern car seats. There are also pre-tensioners for the seat belts. These components usually have yellow wiring as a warning to always disconnect the battery.