dRock's Panther Seat Swap FAQ

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Taken From my posts in this continuously updating thread

This is a general 'FAQ' about 1992+ panther seats. Seats are a common question, so I figured it would be a good idea to try and get all the info I could in one place.

All information is believed to be correct, but I can't guarantee.
I'm doing this on my own, so cut me some slack. This is pretty much everything I could find.
Corrections, additions, and comments are welcome and encouraged.


General Info:

• All 1992+ panther platform seats share the same bolt layout/pattern. This includes the CV, GM, TC, and MM.
• -No other platform seats will bolt in without modification, some more than others.
• -All 1992+ CVPIs include manual bucket seats*, unless optioned with bench.
  • Power driver's seat is optional, but the wiring for 6 way driver's seat is present on all 1995+
• -*2003+ CVPI may have a power 8 way driver's seat with door mounted control
• -All 1992+ Town Cars*, 2001+ LX Sports and GMQ LSEs, and 2003-2003 Marauder have power 8 way seats, passenger and driverm with door mounted controls. (* 92-97 Executive Town Cars include 6 way seat, std 8 way driver's on Signature and 8 way both front on Cartier. 1998 Town Cars (ONLY) have 6 way front seats with seat mount control and manual recliner on most models - these are plug and play on driver's side 95-02 CVPI)
• -All 1992+ panthers equipped with keyless entry keypad feature autolock, on these vehicles a seat occupancy sensor is present on the driver's seat. If p71 or other non-autolock panther seats are installed, the autolock feature may be disabled if the existing seat sensor is not somehow swapped over.
• -All -97 Town Cars have a split bench, All 1998+ Town Cars have 40/20/40 style leather bucket seat with a center console.
• -All 98+ Town Cars will have leather buckets. 92-97* can be cloth, or leather. (* exc. Cartier, all leather)
• -97 Town Cars used a door panel mounted 6 way control switch assembly, and the recline andlumbar switch are located on the seat side.
• -All 99+ Town Cars have side airbags
• -2003+ CV/GM/MM have optional side airbags.
  • If your vehicle has side airbags install seats with side airbags to keep the airbag light off, and the system active.
• -All 92+ Crown Victoria LX and GMQ come with split bench with cloth surface (exc. 2001+ LX Sport/LSE) In recent years Leather has become standard on upper model CV LX's and GMQ LS.
• -All 98+ Town Car, 2001+ LX Sport, LSE, and 03-04 Marauder have 40/20/40 style leather buckets with center console.
• -All 2001+ panthers utilize a weight sensor in the passenger seatfor the dual stage airbags.
  • THe sensor tells the Restraints Control Module the status of the seat. This in turn helps to determine whether to deploy at Stage 1, Stage II or not at all for the passenger airbag during a collision.
  • If a -00 passenger seat is installed in a 2001+ the airbag light will illuminate, thus disabling the airbag system.
  • Additionaly, the 2001+s use a seat belt buckle switch on the passenger seat as well.
  • A 2001+ owner needs to use a 2001+ passenger seat to prevent this, or figure out a way of transferring over the old seat weight sensor and module to the new seat.
• -All 2001+ panthers use a seat track position sensor on the Driver's seat track.
  • This sensor should be swapped onto the new driver's seat if it is frm a 2001 or older to keep the airbag light off / system functional.
• -I recommend having the battery unplugged for 30 minutes before working on/around a side-airbag equipped seat.
• -2003-2004 Marauder seats have unique side bolsters, perforated leather in center, and embossed god's head logo. The lumbar switch is on the front, vs. the side on most panthers.
  • Map pockets on seat fronts were found only in early build 2003 m/y MM seats.
• -Front map pockets were also decontented from the LSE/LX Sport seats mid 2003 m/y.
• -2003+ panther platform seats have larger head rests.
• -A 92+ split bench seat can be used in a 92+ provided there is no center console in the way.
  • 92+ buckets will bolt in place of 92+ split benches, but a console should be added to provide an armest and lateral support.
• -Town Car and Marauder seats feature higher quality leather than the CV/GM leather seats.
• -CVPI buckets will be vinyl and/or cloth. The material itself is thicker and various components (ie frame, seat back, cushioning) are reinforced

• Driver’s seat and general info:
  • If installing a different model 8 way 95+ power seat in your 95+ with door mounted 8way seat controls, simply plug your existing seat motor harness into the new seats.
  • All 1995+ panthers w/o door mounted switch will have the 6way seat power feed under the driver's seat, regardless if the vehicle is equipped with a side control power driver's seat or not.
    • To add a power seat, easily, just find a 95-02 driver's seat with side mounted control and plug it in to the existing wiring.
  • If you have a non-power 92-94 you will need to run a power lead to the seat.
  • Naturally, if you already have a 6 way/side control seat, another one in it's place is plug and play.
  • If you are installing seats w/ side mounted controls in a door mount control vehicle, disconnect the seat control switch connector underneath the seat, and disconnect the 6-pin inline connector pictured above. Then connect your existing motor connector to the new seat's to utilize your existing door controls.
    • *Most* seats setup for side controls will be 6 way, so the recline motor switch movement will no longer be used, however the 6-way motions of the 8way door switch will move the seat properly.
  • If installing a 92+ seats setup for door control, in your 92+ w/ side mounted switches, you could either add the factory door mounted wiring, switch, and door panel w/ seat switch cutout. Or you could simply wire a 8 way power seat switch into the existing power feed under your seat. This switch could be setup with a lead of wiring such that it can be tucked under the seat when not being used.
  • All seats configured for door controls are 8 way. 1992-94 with 8 way (and 6way) used side mounted switches, all others with side mounted switches are 6 way.
  • 2001+ Driver's seats have a seat track position sensor.
    • One would need to find a way of transferring this sensor if the new seat is from a -00
• Passenger seat:
  • If the vehicle is not already equipped with a power passenger seat, you will need to install the factory door switch wiring, switch, and switch cutout door panel. Or route a fused hot at all times power lead to under the passenger seat, and wire in a seat switch that will be tucked under when not used like mentioned above.
    • CVPI owners will find the factory police power supply feeds, right in the passenger foot well area, to be a convenient place to tap power from.
  • *some* well equipped high level models will have the passenger seat wiring in place, but will not have the passenger seat switch or seat switch cutout door panel.
    • On these models you can install the passenger door panel w/ seat switch cutout, and then plug in the power-equipped seat and switch.
  • If you already have a power passenger 8way seat in your 95+, a 95+ power passenger seat is plug and play. If you have a power seat in your 92-94, a 95+ passenger 8 way seat won't plug into the exisiting harness, however, you can use the existing power feed to the side-mount 8 way switch, and wire a new (or the old one if you want to remove it/reduce wiring modifications) 8 way switch inline as mentioned above.
  • Many Town Car seats will be configured for memory features. If your new seats are, do not bother trying to utilize the feature, retrofit is extensive.
  • If you have memory seats, install seats from a comparable year range vehicle (92-94, 95-97, 98-02) w/ memory to retain the feature. Or try to swap your existing memory seat components/module/sensors from the old seats to the new.
• Recline motor connector (8way seats or 8way retrofit w/ exisitng harness only):
  • I could not find a pin out of it in the -01 EVTMs, however, like the 02+s it is only a two prong/pin connector.
    • If you are swapping seats in a 92+ and the recline motor connectors do not match up, just cut the connectors and wire the existing harness and the seat recline motor's wires together.
    • There is a short harness between the floor harness and recline motor on some models, in these cases, cut the recliner portion of the harness away and wire it into the existing (or new) wiring as needed.
  • Those retrofitting 8 way seats from 6 way are unaffected by this, as you are missing the harness anyway so you would have cut and connect the recline wires to begin with.
• Lumbar:
  • I also could not get any good pin outs of the lumbar connectors in the 2001 and older FSM EVTMs. The lumbar switch only needs a 12v feed and ground to operate the lumbar.
    • This can be sourced from the seat harness itself on some (ie the 6way driver's seat harness 12v feed) , or a new lead can be run (p71 owners can make use of the police power feeds in passenger foot well area)
• 2003+ Seats in 95-02 specifics:
  • 2003+ will be mostly the same as what is mentioned above. They share the same 6way track motor seat connector as the 92-02. This includes 03+ Town Car, Marauder, CV and GMQ.
  • If you get seats from a 03+ Memory equipped panther, the Driver's Seat module on the new seat can by bypassed by disconnecting it from the 6 pin connector that is the same as all other 92-02s.
    • The DSM will now be disconnected, and the 6 pin harness to the motor can be used just like on non-memory cars.
    • This will also disable any memory features, which would require additional parts to utilize anyway.
  • I would NOT attempt to try and figure out a way of using the DSM, you would have to use a 03+ DDM in conjunction with the switch to send the seat signals. Too much of a PITA when you can simply bypass it. This is mainly an issue when using Town Car seats in a CV/GM, like I said, I would bypass it.
• -1997 Town Car seats in 95-02 specifics:
  
  
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  • all 95-1997 Town Car seats are 8way. The door controls are for the 6 way movements, and the two seat controls are for lumbar and recline.
    • -94 TC may have manual recline, mounted on seat side. These still use the external 6 way control
  • For the driver's side in cars w/o 8way door control:
    • you already have +12v present at your 6 way seat connector, however, the 8 way seats use door controls not seat mounted. You could look for an 8 way swith from a 92-94 CV/GM (seat mounted) Or you could wire in an 8 way switch to the exisitng 6 way power feed under the seat, and leave it tucked under when not in use. Adding a driver's door panel w/ 8 way switch control and wiring is ideal, but extra work.
    • Or Your old 6 way seat switch can be plugged right inline of the TC seat's 6 way motor unit, and your factory 6way seat connector on the floor. If you don't have a 6way switch, they are easy to find. It will be plug and play. You can then just wire over a jumper from your +12v feed to the TC seat's power recliner switch as well as the two grounds to recline.
    • 6way power seat switch will plug right into the TC seat's 6 way motor unit.
    • If memory equipped, don't mess with the DSM and wiring. It will only be a major headache
    • On the existing floor/seat harness - you will find the other end of 8 pin connector which was plugged into your 6way seat control switch. This end of the harness has the two power leads, but also goes from the 8 pin connecotr to the power seat 6way motors themselves, looks almost like a jumper harness but its not. The motor end has the correct 6 pin connector for the seat motors to plug into the 8pin 6way control switch, plug this harness into the 6 way switch and the other end with the 6 pin plugs right into the driver's seat motors on your new town car seats.
  • Passenger side for retrofit into cars W/O 8way pass door control:
    • The passenger side doesn't have a 6 way feed present, so, you can source power from your driver's floor connecter (or police power feed on p71) and also wire in an 8 way seat switch and leave it under the seat - or use a 92-94 CV/GM seat mounted switch. Or use a 92+ seat mount 6way switch instead, and wire it just like the driver's side.
      • If you could soruce the floor and seat harness and switch from another 6way 95-02 CV/Gm, that would be ideal. you could wire it just liek the driver's side and just extend the 2 power leads (B+ and ground) from driver's 6way seat connector.
  • Wiring these seats in 95-02s with 8way door controls:
    • Basically, all you need to do is disocnnect all the plugs on the TC seats and plug your exisiting harnesses in
    • Plug your old 6way motor connector into the new seat motors.
    • Disconnect the TC seats recline motor inline connecter, and wire your existing 2 prong lumbar connector to it. Cut/splice if needed if connector is different shape.
    • If you DON'T have 8way power passenger, follow the directions listed above for 6way applications.
  • Recline:
    • For the recline switch, you are going to need to cut the RECLINE SWITCH connector off from the wiring (with plenty of room to work with it, though, as you will be extending all the leads)
    • THe recline swtich on your new seats has it's own 6 pin connector.
    • All you need to do is wire +12v and a ground from your old 6 way seat switch wiring, to the 6 pin connecotr +12v and groundS on the TC recline switch.
    • Pin 4 (W/P wire) and Pin1 (BK wire) and Pin6 (BK) are your +12 and ground pin on the recline switch, respecitively. There are TWO BK ground wires, you must wire ground to both.
    • Now, the output from this switch goes to the seat module for memory positioning - you DON'T want it like this.
    • Cut the 2 output wires which go form the recliner switch to the LF seat module's 16pin connector. These come off pin 5 and 2, and are GY, one with a BK stripe.
    • Now; Wire these two output wires DIRECTLY to the recline motor's c307 2 pin inline connector. The wire colors will be exactly the same. If you don't see the two prong connector, look at the recline motor on LH rear side of upper seat frame. See recline motor? See the two wire harness? Follow it back to the inline connecotr - Or just cut it wherever you want and wxtend those two output wires from recline switch to the motor. Again, they are the same colors so you won't get it messed up.
    • There will be a another connector from the recline motor unit with 3 wires on it (GY/R, BK/PK,O/LB) This is for the recline memory sensor - don't worry about this connector.
    • Wiring it like this will completely bypass the module, and have normal operation for the recline using the TC's on-seat switch.
  • Lumbar:
    • Lumbar just needs +12v and a ground at the lumbar SWITCH itself. There are no memory positioning features for lumbar, the switch gets power which goes right to the lumbar compressor motor.
    • The lumbar switch also has two small airlines attached to it - don't mess with these.
    • The BK/WH wire is lumbar switch's +12 feed Red wire from switch to motor is switched +12v BK wire off of lumbar motor is ground
  • Note - for the seat belt sensor use exisitng harness from old seats on town car seats.
• PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSORS/MODULE (OSCM, 01+ only)
  • As of right now, the 2001-2002 appear to use the same, or at least compatible Seat Weight sensor and module as 03-04.
    • The connector itself is the same, so they plug right in, and the pinouts are the same as well.
    • THe only change is that on 01-02, pin 9 provided a VSS ground, however, with the elimination of the VSS for 03+ this was made to jsut a standard ground.
    • ^^ Operation should not be effected.
  
  
  
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• Town Car Seats OSCM/Sensor:
  • THe 01-02 Town Car appears to use a different connector than the 01-04 CV/GM and 03-04 T.C.
  • THe wiring colors of both appear to match the 01-04 CV/GM and 03-04 T.C. harness, so one *could* cut and splice the exisitng OCSM wiring to the Town Car seat module.
  • What this means;
    • If you have an 01-04 CV/GM, you should swap seats with an 01-04 CV/GM or 03-04 T.C. to have the correct OSCM pinout & connecotr for your vehicle.
    • If you don't mind doing some electrical work, 01-02 T.C. seats can be used.
    • Now, I am wondering if swapping the old OCSM from the original to the new seats would be possible/easy to do.
  • THe pinouts and connecotrs of -04 are drastically different than the pinout of the 05+, so I don't see a way of using the 05+ OCSM with the 01-04 system. But if the old one is easily swapped in place, it shouldn't be much issue.
  • The seat weight sensor itself may share the same connector depending on seat model, so perhaps the old module could be used with the new seat weight sensor to minimize swapping parts.
  A neat thing I noted while browsing the EVTMs. On some where side airbags were offred, but not all recieved, in place of the airbag Ford used a resistor. I'm not sure on the rating, but this must be all it takes to trick the air bag module that an airbag is there. So... If someone has side airbags now, and swaps in seats without them, they could use a properly rated resistor across the side airbag terminals to simulate it's presence/ keep the airbag light off.