It may happen that one day you get in your car and the driver's seat won't move. This happens because over time the wires under the seat rub together wearing off the insulation. This exposes bare wire which then rub together and short out a fuse. So, check your fuse box first.
If the fuse is shorted then replace it. This will allow you to move the seat all the way back so you can get to the retaining bolts and remove the seat.
After the seat is removed find where the wires have chafed and repair it with electrical tape or some fancier method such a heat shrink sheathing. After this is done, replace the seat and you will be good to go.
Merely replacing the fuse is not a repair. As soon as you start driving the car the wires will rub and short out the new fuse.

This is a known fault with the XK8 and Jag has a little repair blurb on it. Easy repair, save yourself $500 and do it yourself.

 

The other major cause of seat not working (from my own experience)is the poor design of the seat control module. The PC board traces rub against the edge of the module case and eventually break. (there are some good threads on the forum regarding this issue and fix). When this happens the seat functions won't all work (especially the seatback movement). This won't cause the fuse to blow, if your fuse its blowing its probably the issue Greenforest56 suggests.

 

I have a 2004 XK8 Vert that the right passenger power seat functions quit. After rejecting a quote for $800 from the dealer ordered one for $127 on Ebay shipped. After some knuckle busting, got it hooked up under the seat but it worked like new. As luck would be, driver’s side crapped out a month later! $127 later and I had a power seat again. PS, both units are identical and they are FORD modules. The headrest motors are seperate and are in the backrests. Easy to adjust by hand so havent bothered repairing.

 

Hello Jetcock17
How are you able to adjust the head rests by hand? Maybe different than my 01vert.
My passenger side does not adjust and have not yet messed with control mod
Thanks

 

Hi Jeremy, The drivers side headrest motor works fine but the passenger side was tilted full forward. As an interim fix, (my wife wouldnt ride in it the way it was), I physically forced it upright! It fought back but It can be done. Not sure if it had to be moved vertically. Good luck!

 

Just a note. When removing or installing the seats cover your door sill with something rigid. The are heavy and its easy to scratch the step plate and even the paint. I've done it.

 

I agree that removal of the seats is a hazard that can damage interior panels, etc. However, I replaced the modules without removing the seats. Thay are fastened with just two bolts. First one took me 30 minutes with a bruided knuckle or two as the seat was fully down. Thw second one was much easier, (the second time is always easier as you know whatd required), because the seat was frozen in the up position. The headrest motor can also be changed with the seats in the car.