RS4 Power Seats Dead: Motor vs Harness Repair Guide

Had the same issue on my 2003 S4. The power seats completely failed after working intermittently for weeks. The seat wiring harness under the seats was damaged from years of seat movement, causing a short circuit that drained the battery. The actual fix involved: Testing the seat switch connections, Replacing the main seat wiring harness, Installing new connectors for the electric seat motors, Resetting the control module It was a serious electrical issue that could have caused further problems if left unrepaired. The damaged wiring was creating resistance in the system, putting extra load on the battery and seat motors. The seat harness replacement is a complex job requiring removal of both front seats and careful routing of new wiring. My car seats worked perfectly after the repair and the battery drain issue was resolved. This is a common problem on these models as the original seat wiring tends to break down over time from constant movement. Would recommend having a proper diagnosis done focusing specifically on the wiring harness rather than just replacing motors or switches.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the seat harness repair. Did the fix hold up over time? I had similar issues with my 2001 RS4 passenger seat where the motors completely died. Ended up being a combination of broken wires and a faulty seat switch. Would be helpful to know what you paid for the full repair since prices seem to vary quite a bit between shops. Also curious if you had any other electrical gremlins pop up after fixing the power seats, since these cars can be tricky with electrical issues.

After getting it properly diagnosed and fixed at the shop, the passenger power seat issue was fully resolved. The main problem turned out to be the battery, which was heavily discharged and needed replacement. Total repair cost came to 290 Euro, which included testing the seat wiring system and fixing the electrical connections. The seat motors and harness have worked flawlessly since the repair 6 months ago. No other electrical problems have surfaced. The key was having a thorough diagnosis of the power seats and electrical system rather than just replacing parts out of nowhere. The original battery drain was causing the seat control module to malfunction, which made the passenger seat completely unresponsive. Once the new battery was installed and the system reset, all seat functions returned to normal operation. The seat wiring harness and motors were actually fine, it was purely a power supply issue. This is a much simpler fix than having to replace the entire seat harness or motors. Would suggest getting the battery and charging system tested first before assuming worst-case scenarios with the power seats.

Thanks for the advice. Finally got my seat issue resolved last week. The automotive seat specialist diagnosed a damaged seat harness combined with a failing control module, pretty much exactly what others described. Labor and parts came to 450 Euro, which included replacing both power seat wiring harnesses and installing a new control module. The electric seat functions now work perfectly. Mechanic showed me where the original wiring had frayed badly from years of seat movement. Whole repair took about 4 hours. They had to remove both front seats to access and route the new seat harness properly. Worth noting they also found and fixed some corroded connectors while they were in there. Really glad I asked here first instead of just throwing parts at the problem like my previous mechanic attempted. Having a proper diagnosis made all the difference in getting it fixed right the first time.