2003 996 Turbo Cabriolet RHD - non functioning drivers seat.

Hi, hoping someone may have some advice on the following… I’ve recently bought a 2003 right hand drive Turbo Cabriolet project and the front seat electric adjustment is not functioning on the drivers side (passenger side is fine). There is no sound of a motor trying to work or anything. I have looked under both front seats and on the passenger side there is a box labelled M534 which I think is the alarm control unit. On the driver side there is a metal/silver box with connected wiring and a couple of unconnected looms. Can anyone tell me what the silver box is and also what the unconnected cables should be connected to - if anything? Apologies if this has been covered but i’ve looked on here and the internet in general but can’t find anything that resembles the metal/silver box! Many thanks in advance…

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the forum! Seems like you've got a project on your hands! First things first, have you checked the fuse? Second, get a voltmeter on the motor contacts or plug to the motor contacts and see if you're getting power to the seat motor. Sorry, can't help identify the box, the alarm control unit is under the passenger seat, but *I think* it has nothing to do with the electric seat function - mine went kaputt a couple of years back and I had issues with the alarm and windows iirc, but no issues with seat. Do the plugs fit into the box? If so, I'd be tempted to plug them in and see what happens! But you may want to be more cautious!

Hi, thanks for the response and welcome. Yes, its certainly a “project” and becoming more so by the day it seems! The silver/metal box already has wires/plugs in it - the other loose wires/two plugs in the photos were just lying under the seat unconnected to anything. I’m wondering whether they might be for an absent seat memory control unit which I think from looking online is part no 99661853703. I’m heading back down to the garage later to double check again and see if I’ve missed anything… which is often the case

Ok, so the silver box has Harman/Becker on it so I guess that’s to do with the audio. Increasingly think the missing box is the memory seat control module.

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Do you have the buttons for the memory seat? If you do, there must be a control box somewhere. Design911 has all the parts diagrams online, I'll try to find it for you.

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Looks like this could be it - that's a lot of plugs for what must be at most 4 motors? Also seems like you're in for a beating with Porsche tax on anything electrical - that control box isn't cheap, even second hand.

One way I found to get around this on an Audi was to buy a LHD passenger seat (so drivers side for UK) which only had electric adjustment (no memory), you then only need to hook up 12v and ground to its switches to get it working although obviously you lose the memory function. Just an option if the control unit is too expensive.

Yes, it has the buttons for the memory seats. And yep, that box on Design 911 is I think the one I need - and which is completely absent on my car - it ends in 03 though, for post 2001 cars. The price caught me a little by surprise shall we say . The second hand hunt is on haha. Thanks again for your help, its much appreciated. I’ll update when I manage to find one

I think the garage are going to rig something up temporarily until I can find one. Having just shelled out on new tyres, front suspension, rear discs and pads, full service, fuel tank straps, interior panels - I think the previous owner had a dog in the back with a thing for chewing black leather! - and an upcoming fluid change on the gearbox, might have to wait until next month__

This could well be an option - check the part number then tell him to just send you the box and skip the rest... Ebay full seats - £225 + £45 postage

I took that box out and binned it when I fitted 997 seats. Though I don't miss the 996 seats one bit! Should have ebayed it!

youngsyr - thanks for the link, that might be an option sim996 - Nooo ! Small update, found the old memory seat module buried under other bits in the front, and it was in bits too tried putting it back together and plugging it in but no surprises - it didn’t work. The garage are going to try rig something up so I’ve got power to the seat and can move it forwards/backwards. It’ll do for now

The memory seat module can wait - next up is getting it through its matriculation here in Spain, i have a feeling the ITV station (Spanish MOT) are not going to like the wheels nor the bumper as they’re sticklers on factory specification/conformity. Anyway, thanks again for the help/posts…

I have what I think you might need. I’ve just replaced my memory seats in my C4S due to the leather being in bad shape. All motors and memory features working. I’m going to list it through eBay if it’s what you need I’ll send you a link