GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Diagnostic Instructions

    • Perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle prior to using this diagnostic procedure.
    • Review Strategy Based Diagnosis for an overview of the diagnostic approach
    •  Diagnostic Procedure Instructions provides an overview of each diagnostic category

DTC Descriptors

DTC B3920 01: Group 1 Seat Motors Circuit Shorted to Battery or Open

DTC B3920 02: Group 1 Seat Motors Circuit Shorted to Ground

Diagnostic Fault Information

Circuit

Short to Ground

Open/High Resistance

Short to Voltage

Signal Performance

Driver Seat Front Vertical Motor Down Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Driver Seat Front Vertical Motor Up Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Driver Seat Rear Vertical Motor Down Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Driver Seat Rear Vertical Motor Up Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Driver Seat Horizontal Motor Forward Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Driver Seat Horizontal Motor Rearward Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Driver Seat Recline Motor Forward Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Driver Seat Recline Motor Rearward Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Driver Seat Lumbar Motor Down Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Driver Seat Lumbar Motor Forward Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Driver Seat Lumbar Motor Up Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Driver Seat Lumbar Motor Rearward Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Adjustable Pedal Motor Forward Down Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

Adjustable Pedal Motor Rearward Control

B3920 02

1

B3920 01

--

1. Power seat motor inoperative

Circuit/System Description

The memory seat module (MSM) controls the seat, lumbar, and adjustable pedal motors via half bridges that are connected to a common power rail internal to the module. Group 1 includes the following motors:

    • Seat front vertical motor
    • Seat rear vertical motor
    • Seat horizontal motor
    • Seat recline motor
    • Seat lumbar horizontal motor
    • Seat lumbar vertical motor
    • Adjustable pedal motor

When a power seat switch is pressed or when a memory recall is requested, each seat or lumbar motor receives battery voltage and ground from the MSM via the motor control circuits. All seat and lumbar motors are reversible, so the direction the seat moves depends on which control circuit voltage is applied and which control circuit the ground is applied. For example, to move the seat in the forward direction, the module applies voltage to the seat horizontal motor forward control circuit, and ground to the seat horizontal motor rearward control circuit. When the seat is operated in the opposite direction, the module reverses the polarity and applies voltage and ground to the opposite circuits to move the seat in the rearward direction. All seat and lumbar motors are powered this way.

Conditions for Running the DTC

The MSM must be powered.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

B3920 01

The MSM detects a short to battery voltage on a group 1 motor control circuit.

B3920 02

The MSM detects a short to ground on a group 1 motor control circuit.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

The MSM disables all motors in the group for which the DTC was set.

Conditions for Clearing the DTC

    • The current DTC clears when the malfunction is no longer present , and the power mode changes to OFF then back to ACC or RUN.
    • A history DTC will clear after 50 ignition cycles or with a scan tool using the clear DTCs function.

Reference Information

Schematic Reference

    •  Driver Seat Schematics
    •  Passenger Seat Schematics
    •  Adjustable Pedal Schematics

Connector End View Reference

    •  Power Seat Connector End Views
    •  Adjustable Pedal Connector End Views

Electrical Information Reference

    •  Circuit Testing
    •  Connector Repairs
    •  Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections
    •  Wiring Repairs

DTC Type Reference

DTC Symptom Description

Scan Tool Reference

    •  Scan Tool Data List
    •  Scan Tool Data Definitions

Circuit/System Testing

  1. Ignition OFF, disconnect the C1 harness connector at the MSM.
  2. Ignition ON, verify that a test does not illuminate between any of the following motor control circuits and ground:
  3. • Front vertical motor terminal 12
    • Front vertical motor terminal 13
    • Rear vertical motor terminal 15
    • Rear vertical motor terminal 16
    • Seat horizontal motor terminal 9
    • Seat horizontal motor terminal 10
    If the test lamp illuminates, test the control circuit for a short to voltage.
  4. Test for infinite resistance between the following motor control circuits and ground:
  5. • Front vertical motor terminal 12
    • Front vertical motor terminal 13
    • Rear vertical motor terminal 15
    • Rear vertical motor terminal 16
    • Seat horizontal motor terminal 9
    • Seat horizontal motor terminal 10
    If less than infinite resistance, test the motor control circuit for a short to ground.
  6. Test for greater resistance values than specified between the following motor control circuits:
  7. • 1 ohm for front vertical motor terminal 12 and terminal 13
    • 1 ohm for rear vertical motor terminal 15 and terminal 16
    • 10 ohms for seat horizontal motor terminal 9 and terminal 10
    If less than the specified resistance, test the control circuits for a short together or shorted motor.
  8. Ignition OFF, disconnect the C4 harness connector at the MSM.
  9. Ignition ON, verify that a test does not illuminate between any of the following motor control circuits and ground:
  10. • Lumbar vertical motor terminal 1
    • Lumbar vertical motor terminal 2
    • Lumbar horizontal motor terminal 12
    • Lumbar horizontal motor terminal 13
    • Seat recline motor terminal 15
    • Seat recline motor terminal 16
    • Adjustable pedal motor terminal 9
    • Adjustable pedal motor terminal 10
    If the test lamp illuminates, test the control circuit for a short to voltage.
  11. Test for infinite resistance between the following motor control circuits and ground:
  12. • Lumbar vertical motor terminal 1
    • Lumbar vertical motor terminal 2
    • Lumbar horizontal motor terminal 12
    • Lumbar horizontal motor terminal 13
    • Seat recline motor terminal 15
    • Seat recline motor terminal 16
    • Adjustable pedal motor terminal 9
    • Adjustable pedal motor terminal 10
    If less than infinite resistance, test the motor control circuit for a short to ground.
  13. Test for greater resistance values than specified between the following motor control circuits:
  14. • 10 ohms for lumbar horizontal motor terminal 12 and terminal 13
    • 1 ohm for recline motor terminal 15 and terminal 16
    If less than the specified resistance, test the control circuits for a short together or shorted motor.
  15. If all circuits test normal, replace the MSM.

Repair Instructions

Perform the Diagnostic Repair Verification after completing the diagnostic procedure.

    •  Front Seat Adjuster Replacement
    •  Front Seat Recliner Actuator Motor Replacement
    •  Front Seat Lumbar Support Replacement
    •  Brake Pedal Assembly Replacement
    •  Control Module References for the memory seat module replacement, programming and setup