If you have power seats - something to keep an eye on...

Edvalencia · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:36 pm

So I've been having problems with my battery draining if I don't drive the Jeep for 2 days. I've had other people look at it, with no luck. Today I dedicated several hours to finding the source of the draw. After pulling fuses & relays, I decided to check under the drivers seat (power seat w/ heating).
While wiggling cables around, smoke & sparks started coming out from under the seat :shock:

The wiring harness had been rubbing against the metal brace of the seat, until it cut through all the tape and wiring insulation, then shorted out.
I haven't yet taken it all apart, so I don't know how many wires are shorting out, but I'm guessing at least two. One was always touching the metal on the seat and is what was causing the draw on the battery. The other caused a major short & smoke as I was wiggling the harness around.

The harness was not loose & sat exactly where Chrysler designed it to sit.
This is on an '02 KJ Ltd.
I'll post pics. in a while.

dog_party · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 4:55 pm

Wow! That's scary. I'm going to put that on my routine check list. Thanks for the tip.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:56 pm

Pictures please! I'd really not like to have sparks start flying out of my rear end.

Going out to look at mine right now.

Albert · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:11 pm

Thanks for the "heads up".

Mine is an 05 but tomorrow I will be checking under the seats to see what it looks like under there. I never put anything under the front seats because I don't want it interfereing with the wire harnesses movements there. But they shouldn't be catching/rubbing on the seat track either.

Edvalencia · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:15 pm

I'm working on it right now.
It seems as though it only rubs when the seat is at it's lowest position in front.
It took a while to remove the wrapping from the harness due to all the black sticky glue left by the tape. I only found one exposed wire. It was a Positive (red) wire that was making contact with ground. Not sure why it didn't smoke before, as it looks like it had been like this for a while (this is what was draining my battery).

My desktop is rendering some stuff right now, so as soon as it's done I'll post a couple of pics.

InCommando · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:35 pm

That is what you get for actually using the power seats. They were never intended for such abuse....

Good info.

tan's2002kjlimited · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:36 pm

Edvalencia wrote:

It seems as though it only rubs when the seat is at it's lowest position in front.

I'm hoping that's the only position the problem occurs.
I'm the only driver, and I drive with the front edge
about halfway up and the seat all the way back.

Edvalencia · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:26 pm

Ok here is a photo of the harness rubbing against the metal edge of the brace....

If it wasn't for the sparks & smoke, I never would have noticed it.
The wire was cut half way, so I cut and re soldered it. I used shrink wrap tubing on the wire, then wrapped the harness in electrical tape.
I also cut and clued a piece of silicone tubing to the offending spot.

Here is a photo with the seat raised, after fixing it.

Here is a shot of how the harness rests when you bring the seat down.

The passenger seat seems fine.

After fixing this, the battery draw when the Jeep is off went from 400MA to about 9 MA.

jeepskate · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:31 pm

Thanks! I'm gonna check mine. Nice fix, BTW.

EDIT: The tape around the wires is scuffed up pretty well on both seats in my 2002. Not worn completely through like yours, but it was just a matter of time. I guess now we need to report it so Chrysler can do a recall.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:02 pm

Stuff like this is why I love my manual adjusting seats.Then again my drivers seat has not moved at all since the day I adjusted it on the dealers lot on Feb 28th 2002 before I drove it home.Just one more gizmo that I don't need and just one more thing to go wrong.

daspes · **Posted:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:51 pm

Well, that explains all the batteries you've gone through. Glad you found the problem Ed.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:03 am

My battery has went dead a few times now but I think its the multi-function switch. I often walk out to find all the interior lights on.

Nice fine though, Ill make sure to check it out.

Edvalencia · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:21 am

daspes wrote:

Well, that explains all the batteries you've gone through. Glad you found the problem Ed.

I knew that was coming... :wink:

"Oh good, so next time you go to Death Valley, your battery won't die" - My wife.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:47 am

Good post, and I'm glad you found it!

Burchie · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:51 am

daspes wrote:

Well, that explains all the batteries you've gone through. Glad you found the problem Ed.

And I didn't have to say anything this time.

10100100001011100001111000

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:55 am

Had to re-wrap my harness as well. I hadn't cut all the way through, but there was definently some chaffing going on.

Thanks for the post. Saved me probably a whole day scratching my head (in the future).

If you have power seats - something to keep an eye on...

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