I have a 1996 4.0 Sovereign in which the driver's seat acts like it has a memory setting but doesn't have the 1/2/3 module in the door. When I return to car and use the fob the seat and steering wheel do the dance and rest in differing positions each time. I can't think why it would use some sort of 'memory' to adjust itself when the option wasn't specified with this car. Any thoughts? Could I adjust the seat manually to my preferred setting and then pull a fuse so that it stays put?

 

It could be that you do actually have memory seats but that someone changed the door switch for a non memory version in the past?

But you should be able to turn off the function with the little steering adjustment knob. As well as being a joystick for the steering, it has a auto/off switch. Setting to off should stop the seat/steering movement on entering the car.

 

Thanks - so I tried the steering column round switch. Options are auto/off. Neither makes a difference - the seat continues to reset when re-entering the car with the fob. Weird.

Any other ways in which I can freeze the setting of the drivers seat anyone can think of - it's already getting on my nerves having to make so many adjustments!

 

Beginning to think it is a key fob-related action - maybe it is going into an 'entry' position when I press the small button to unlock. However, should it not return to the previous position once I'm in the car and have inserted the ignition?

Whereabouts will this 'memory' unit be sited?

 

I believe the memory functions reside in the seat module which is mounted to the underside of the seat itself. I'm sure about the module location, less sure that's where memory originates. If you just want to set it and leave it, you can always pull the fuses once you get it where you want it. IIRC, Driver's seat power fuses (there are 2) are located in the RH heelboard fuse box for my LHD car, while pax (RH) seat power fuses are in the LH heelboard. Better consult the underside of your tool box lid under the bonnet as you likely have RHD.

 

Investigating the key fob further - the larger/longer button locks and arms the car but won't then reopen. On using the shorter button the car reopens and the seat re-moves (to what looks like an 'exit' position ie. seat lays back in semi recline and the steering wheel retracts). According to the manual that came with the car the longer button should both open and close the car but not move the seat/wheel. The shorter button should open and close the car AND move the seat. So half there with that aspect.

However I am none the wiser as to how the seat has any memory function without the 1/2/3 module in the door. How could the seat be set in any position and 'remembered' in the first place? Would the standard car (non-seat memory option) have some sort of memory module to remember the last adjusted position and store an 'exit' setting permanently?

 

I don't have a manual that covers the operation of the remote. However, mine works exactly as you describe and always has. My understanding was that was how they all worked. Mine is a 1995 MY car so maybe they changed it?

So big button is lock - should get red LED flashing on fob when pressed. Second quick press on big button after locking is a second stage lock (deadlock I think ?). A press on the big button when car is already locked will turn on the headlights for 30 secs (I think it's 30).

Small button is unlock. You should see a green LED flashing as you press this button.


Are you in Manchester England, or Manchester somewhere else?

 

More investigations/intell:

I have two remote fobs and both act the same way.

The larger button only unlocks. When I unlock with the fob the drivers seat reclines a bit - if I repeat lock/unlock it reclines some more. After repeated lock/unlocks it reaches the fully reclined position. A no point in the lock/unlock procedure does the seat try to return to a normal driving setting.

The auto/off button on the steering column makes no difference to this sequence.

The drivers handbook and separate security system booklet both say clearly that the large button should LOCK and the smaller UNLOCK.

They also say 'key ring transmitter 1 is dedicated to driving memory one and key ring transmitter 2 to driving memory two'. Does this mean the large and the smaller buttons or two separate fobs?

Either way it suggests that there is some memory function inherent in the fobs/seat - over and above the optional memory 1/2/3 buttons in the door (which my car does not have).

I wonder if I should re-programme the fobs and get a fresh base? Maybe the reprogramme will make the large and small buttons at least operate as per the manual?

Hi Brendan- I'm in south Manchester (Didsbury area).

 

The 1 and 2 is talking about different key fobs, his and hers if you will.

 

You could try to reprogram the fobs but I don't think it's a fob issue, especially if you have two that behave the same.

Just for kicks, can you look for the part no. on the seat module. The module is under the front of the seat and the part no. should be on a large label on the module facing down. You may be able to see the label with just an inspection mirror or your phone camera, but worst case there are just 4 Torx bolts (T40? from memory) that hold the seat and it can be tilted back to see the module. The Part no. should start with DBC or LNA.

I'm in Urmston area. I have Jaguar diagnostics so if you don't get it sorted you could pop over one day and we can plug it in. Not sure it will show anything for this kind of weird issue but worth a try in absence of anything else.

 

Thanks all thus far. I'm going to try and identify if I have the memory or non-memory seat module before I go further. I believe non-memory is DBC 11828 - anyone know what the memory version would be?

If it has a non-memory module as I expect - the manual says the fobs 1 and 2 have a setting made to suit each fob (why that isn't called a 'memory' I don't know) but does not explain how one would set the seat with those two fobs in the first place. Any ideas?

Still curious as to why my fobs have the reverse button functionality compared to the manual ie. large button unlocks.

 

The memory seat module part no is LNA2165xx. You can check out part information here

https://parts.jaguarlandroverclassic.../brand/jaguar/

 

Thanks Brendan - very useful.

If/as soon as it stops raining I will get out and identify whether I have a non or a memory module.

If I were to pull the plugs out of the current unit would I risk any fuse/electrical issues do we think?

 

No there's no risk in pulling the connectors from the seat module, but you may find that other things stop working if you're thinking of that as a longer term strategy. Even though the cars are 25 ish years old, there is a surprising amount of electronic integration.