X290 - step by step access to the under driver seat leisure battery compartment

[ivorantony]

One point not shown or advised Is not to turn on the ignition with the seat belt tensioner disconnected or you will throw a fault code, additional the earth lead on the seat frame doesn’t need to be insulated with tape unless you are very careless with it near the battery positive terminal,

 

[GoldenVision]

One point not shown or advised Is not to turn on the ignition with the seat belt tensioner disconnected or you will throw a fault code, additional the earth lead on the seat frame doesn’t need to be insulated with tape unless you are very careless with it near the battery positive terminal,

Thanks. I did read that.

 

[pelican]

Well done.
But what stupid bloody idiot decided to place the battery there.
We have 2 domestic batteries in an outside locker.

 

[GoldenVision]

Well done.
But what stupid bloody idiot decided to place the battery there.
We have 2 domestic batteries in an outside locker.

PVCs do not have external lockers

 

[Boaty]

Working on system components subject to various sensors monitoring should be done after battery disconnection and cuppa time before starting.
Reconnection of components like airbag connector should also be done before powering up and ignition on.
Good practice if nothing else.

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[pelican]

PVCs do not have external lockers

Poor design then☹

 

[GoldenVision]

Poor design then☹

I suspect some might disagree.

 

[pelican]

I suspect some might disagree.

Until they have to remove the battery!

 

[French Charlie]

I‘ve prepared a step by step guide to removing the drivers seat and seat swivel in a Fiat X290 PVC (2016 Globecar 600L Revolution) with 2x95Ah Varta LFA AGM batteries fitted in case anyone wants to see how to access the leisure batteis that are located under the drivers seat.

Step 1
Remove 2 or 3 screws from offside plastic handbrake cover

View attachment 543669

Step 2
This Exposes a plastic inner cover - remove single retaining screw to expose yellow seat airbag connector
View attachment 543670View attachment 543671

Step 3
Push purple release button on yellow connector to separate airbag connector
View attachment 543672View attachment 543673

Step 4
Look under the seat frame where the plastic cover was located.
locate 13mm bolt on threaded stud - this holds on seat earth cable.
remove 13mm bolt
View attachment 543674View attachment 543675

Step 5
Cover ring terminal to prevent shorting out on seat frame
View attachment 543676View attachment 543677

Step 6
Gently withdraw airbag connector and seat earth connector out of central hole in seat swivel
View attachment 543732
View attachment 543679

Step 7
Slide seat fully back on the runners
use a T40 L lever to loosen the 2x T40 socket head bolts for the seat runners - it is easier with an L than a socket, as the seat padding somewhat fouls the socket.
View attachment 543681

Step 8
Now Slide Seat fully forward on the runners to make access to the 4x13mm seat retaining bolts and remove these
View attachment 543682View attachment 543683

Step 9
Carefully lfit seat up off the rear runner studs - Careful as is very heavy and awkward
this exposed the seat swivel base
View attachment 543684
Step 10
Rotate seat base 45 degrees counter clockwise to expose 5 x T40 seat retaining bolts (front 2 are socket head, rear 3 are countersunk
remove with ⅜” T40 socket
View attachment 543685
Step 11
Spin seat base another 45 degrees counter clockwise to align hole in top with mushroom headed bolt.
Use 20mm shallow socket to remove bolt by hole
View attachment 543687View attachment 543688View attachment 543689

Step 12
Seat base is still held by fixing on mid centre on inboard side
Remove 3 x crews from centre plastic seat base cover
View attachment 543697
Step 13
Locate mirror of threaded stud holding earth wire on Step 4
View attachment 543698

Step 14
Lift seat base off to expose battery compartment
View attachment 543703View attachment 543704View attachment 543705

Step 15
Refit is reverse of removal
When refitting the seat swivel, locate all the 5x T40 bolts plus the mushroom head 20mm bolt finger tight before tightening any up. The fit is not great and If you tighten up a fitting before all the bolts are engaged properly in their threads it can make tightening some of them difficult an I guess you risk cross threading

Battery compartment dimensions
345mm front to rear
345mm side to side
195mm tall

And then stop for a restorative brew!

 

[Richard J]

Working on system components subject to various sensors monitoring should be done after battery disconnection and cuppa time before starting.
Reconnection of components like airbag connector should also be done before powering up and ignition on.
Good practice if nothing else.

From what I’ve read the process for disconnecting the battery would need a whole chapter to itself!

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[GoldenVision]

Until they have to remove the battery!

Not necessarily :

you probably only need to undo 4 bolts and tilt the seats up

 

[Boaty]

From what I’ve read the process for disconnecting the battery would need a whole chapter to itself!

Depends on which battery .

 

[Tony50]

I would just make a comment looking at this info it makes it more urgent for me to fit a Deadman Switch on outside of seat in case battery/or batteries develop a fault, as you would never have time to unscrew the 4 seat bolts to lift seat to disconnect battery before it turned out to be a major incident especially if they were Lithium batteries, it's stupid for manufacturers to put them there in the first place.

 

[ivorantony]

I use these on both batteries so totally isolated if you get a massive short,

Blue Sea Systems 5191 MRBF Terminal Fuse Block 30-300A

Space-saving, ingition-protected MRBF 5191 fuse block for high amperage circuits such as DC main feed, inverter, windlass, bow thruster etc. 58VDC, 300A rated.

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

 

[pelican]

I would just make a comment looking at this info it makes it more urgent for me to fit a Deadman Switch on outside of seat in case battery/or batteries develop a fault, as you would never have time to unscrew the 4 seat bolts to lift seat to disconnect battery before it turned out to be a major incident especially if they were Lithium batteries, it's stupid for manufacturers to put them there in the first place.

Well said and as I said earlier "bloody stupid place to put a battery"

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[SteveandSue]

Thanks for the info Gerry - really well explained and good photos - brill
Got seat out OK - couldn't get the earth off the stud easily so cut and will just use connectors to put back - and the stud that acts as a bump stop the suggestion of short shoulder socket? - had to use a spanner in the end- but all good - as mentioned previously why would you put a battery under there particularly when we have a large double floor with outside access through lockers - and the Electrblok and Shaudt Booster are all under there with a nest of wires - I can see the need in a PVC where space is a premium but we have oodles of space. Bloody difficult to get at!