GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Power Seats System Description and Operation

The power seat system consists of the following components:

    • Seat Adjuster Switch.
    • Seat Front Vertical Motor.
    • Seat Rear Vertical Motor.
    • Power Seats Circuit Breaker 20 A.

Seat Adjuster Switch

The seat adjuster switch provides both power and ground to the selected seat motors. Battery positive voltage is supplied at all times to the seat adjuster switch from the power Seats Circuit Breaker located in the instrument panel fuse block. Ground for the seat adjuster switch is provided at G304.

Seat Motors

Both seat motors operate independently of each other. Each motor contains an electronic circuit breaker that opens in the event of a circuit overload and will reset only after voltage has been removed from the circuit. There are two seat position motors. These are the front vertical motor and the rear vertical motor. The seat motors may operate independently to tilt the front or rear of the seat cushion up or down. Both motors can also run simultaneously to move the entire seat up or down.

Front Vertical

When the seat switch is operated to tilt the front of the seat cushion up, battery positive voltage is applied through the switch contacts and the front vertical motor up control circuit to the motor. The motor is grounded through the down switch contacts and the front vertical motor down control circuit to the motor. The motor runs in order to drive the front of the seat cushion up until the switch is released. Tilting the front of the seat cushion down works similarly to tilting the front of the seat cushion up, except that battery voltage and ground are applied on opposite circuits causing the motor to run in the opposite direction.

Rear Vertical

When the seat switch is operated to tilt the rear of the seat cushion up, battery positive voltage is applied through the switch contacts and the rear vertical motor up control circuit to the rear vertical motor. The motor is grounded through the down switch contacts and the rear vertical motor down control circuit to the motor. The motor runs in order to drive the rear of the seat cushion up until the switch is released. Tilting the rear of the seat cushion down works similarly to tilting the rear of the seat cushion up, except that battery voltage and ground are applied on opposite circuits causing the motor to run in the opposite direction.

Entire Seat Up or Down

When the seat switch is operated in order to move the entire seat to the up position, battery positive voltage is simultaneously applied through the front and rear vertical motor up switch contacts and the front and rear vertical motor up control circuits to both vertical motors. The motors are grounded through the down switch contacts and the front and rear vertical motor down control circuits to both vertical motors. Both motors run simultaneously in order to drive the entire seat up until the switch is released. Moving the entire seat down works similarly to moving the entire seat up, except that battery voltage and ground are applied on the opposite circuits causing the motors to run in the opposite direction.