Pasenger front right seat '03 Crown Vic or Grand MArquis

I gotta jump back in, since I started this...

The intent was to take concrete info to the dealer to request the work. They
were asked once after teh car was delivered, and the very hasty answer was
(ad you'd expect from a dealer service dept) was 'can't be done'. I know it
can, just not sure how involved I need to get. Buy new seat? Buy parts to
"upgrade" to power seats? Or is there some inherent adjustment already in
the assembly somewhere. My shop manual should arrive from Helm tomorrow,
that may or may not shed light on it.

But figured there was some one out there familiar with such stuff, who could
shed some liight that my dad could take back to the dealer. So far, as I
said, he asked the service writer. That's probably as good as asking my
neighbor's beagle. I try to do my own service, or at the minuimum have a
diagnosis figured 100% before taking it somewhere. Keeps more money in my
pocket, too many places, these days, service by changing parts until the
problem or customer go away. (vent off)

-GeorgeC

wrote in message

 > Let me clarify
 >
 > Via that program, Ford or an insurance company shouldn't have a problem
 > with an affiliated and trained professional modifying the seat in the
 > event of a "seat warranty" claim or personal injury claim against auto
 > ins.
 >
 > But from their vantage point when you get "some guy" with a welding kit
 > doing a home-fabbed setup, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE CASE HERE, it gives
 > them an easy out, because he's not a professional "seat modifier"
 > affiliated with the Mobility Program.
 >
 > Not much different than if I did electrical work at home without
 > getting it inspected and I burned the house down. I'm not an
 > electrician by trade and therefore my insurance might have an out on
 > paying the claim if fault were found in my electrical work by a fire
 > inspector. Just for laughs assume I was recycling some old aluminum
 > wiring. (not!)
 >
 > Makes sense?
 >

George Csahanin wrote:
 > I gotta jump back in, since I started this...
 >
 > The intent was to take concrete info to the dealer to request the work. They
 > were asked once after teh car was delivered, and the very hasty answer was
 > (ad you'd expect from a dealer service dept) was 'can't be done'. I know it
 > can, just not sure how involved I need to get. Buy new seat? Buy parts to
 > "upgrade" to power seats? Or is there some inherent adjustment already in
 > the assembly somewhere. My shop manual should arrive from Helm tomorrow,
 > that may or may not shed light on it.
 >
 > But figured there was some one out there familiar with such stuff, who could
 > shed some liight that my dad could take back to the dealer. So far, as I
 > said, he asked the service writer. That's probably as good as asking my
 > neighbor's beagle. I try to do my own service, or at the minuimum have a
 > diagnosis figured 100% before taking it somewhere. Keeps more money in my
 > pocket, too many places, these days, service by changing parts until the
 > problem or customer go away. (vent off)
 >
 > -GeorgeC
 >


 >
  >>Let me clarify
  >>
  >>Via that program, Ford or an insurance company shouldn't have a problem
  >>with an affiliated and trained professional modifying the seat in the
  >>event of a "seat warranty" claim or personal injury claim against auto
  >>ins.
  >>
  >>But from their vantage point when you get "some guy" with a welding kit
  >>doing a home-fabbed setup, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE CASE HERE, it gives
  >>them an easy out, because he's not a professional "seat modifier"
  >>affiliated with the Mobility Program.
  >>
  >>Not much different than if I did electrical work at home without
  >>getting it inspected and I burned the house down. I'm not an
  >>electrician by trade and therefore my insurance might have an out on
  >>paying the claim if fault were found in my electrical work by a fire
  >>inspector. Just for laughs assume I was recycling some old aluminum
  >>wiring. (not!)
  >>
  >>Makes sense?
  >>
 >
 >
 >

George,
The dealer most likely will not modify the seat mounting due to liability issues. If
they add blocks under the seat or anything like that and Mom is hurt or killed in a
wreck, they are wide open for you or another family member to try and sue their pants
off, even if the injury or fatality isnt caused directly by the modification. It's a
sad statement about our society today.

Adding accessories is sometimes plug and play, and sometimes a major undertaking. I
have added different accessories to various Ford vehicles and have usually had good
luck with it, especially electrical options. For example my 1995 Ranger pickup. I
added AC with a combination of new and used parts. The wiring was in the harnesses and
the electrical part was plug and go as was the control panel. Same thing with fog
lamps. Some additions arent so easy or even impractable.
I would suggest finding a passenger side power seat base and compare it to the
original to see if you can use the existing back and bottom.If not look for a
complete matching seat, then look to see if you can retrofit. Either way it will be a
project unique to the car and a lot of inspection will be needed so that you know how
to proceed.
You will have to look at the existing seat and wiring in the vehicle,and at the
replacement parts to see if you can combine the two to your satisfaction. The
mounting to the floor should be no problem. Another possibility would be a used power
seat and using the existing covers and inner foam. Again, inspection will show you
what will work.
Once you have the seat in and mounted you can jumper the motors and set it in the
proper position for Mom, or if you are up to it, acquire the switches, trim, etc and
wire it. It's possible the wiring is already in the main harness and in the door. A
good sign would be an unused connector under the existing passenger seat (my 98 taurus
has one)and\or inside the door.
Nothing is "impossible" on a vehicle but often things are impractable. Only physical
comparison and research on your part can tell in your particular case. I suspect
adding a passenger power seat to Moms CV might be a fairly easy challenge without
major headaches as long as you have some mechanical and problem solving skills. You
stated that you do some of your own work so you probably do.
Post back here and let the group know what you are doing. Some will be willing to
help you through the rough areas. You are on the right track with the manual from
Helm. Getting to know people at your local Auto Recycler (junkyard) can also be an
asset in a project like this.

   Hope this helps, Good luck.
    Tom