12-way electric front seats with memory function - is lumbar position memorised?

**circus83** · 04-01-2012, 08:47 PM

Hi, I recently took delivery of a Passat Wagon 118TSI optioned with the power seats package, and I have a question about how the memory function is meant to work with the lumbar support (if at all).

Those familiar with the 12-way seats would be aware the the lumbar support allows for adjustment in two dimensions - an "in-and-out" adjustment and an "up-and-down" adjustment. Currently the memory function of the seats always stores the "up-and-down" position of the lumbar support, however it generally doesn't store the "in-and-out" position. I find it strange that VW would design the memory seats to store only one of the two lumbar support settings.

Further to this, a few days ago I hopped in and started driving after my wife had been using the car. Partway along the trip I pressed the memory button corresponding to my saved position. On this one occasion, I could feel the lumbar support adjusting in the "in-and-out" dimension (as well as the "up-and-down" and the various other seat adjustments). I was surprised by this, so to test it I further adjusted the lumbar support and pressed the memory button again to see if I could repeat it. Sure enough it did repeat, however the next time I drove the vehicle, the memory seats reverted to their prior behaviour.

Can someone who has the memory seats package (either as an option on the TSI or TDI models, or as standard kit on the V6 FSI model) share with me how their memory seats operate?

**Riker** · 05-01-2012, 12:46 AM

Hmmmmm, can't say I have noticed the lumbar moving, though I am the only one driving the car so I am not playing with the memory much. My wife hasn't set her memory position yet so i'll have a play in the next day or two setting another position with the lumbar setting out & up & we'll see how it goes in the second memory position...

**circus83** · 05-01-2012, 07:05 AM

Thanks Riker, would appreciate that.

**Hillbilly** · 09-01-2012, 09:04 AM

Do you realise you can save the settings to your own key and when you get in it will automatically adjust them for you. Instructions in the manual about page 84 I think.

**circus83** · 09-01-2012, 10:45 AM

Yes, only it didn't happen on this occasion as I didn't unlock the car before starting driving (it was already unlocked by my wife).

The question is whether or not lumbar support position is meant to be covered by the memory operation?

**passatpout** · 09-01-2012, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by circus83

Yes, only it didn't happen on this occasion as I didn't unlock the car before starting driving (it was already unlocked by my wife).

Try pressing the unlock button on your key then - my parents' 2 Calais (a VT and a VE) both reset the seat positions whenever an unlock button was pressed.. considering that the VT (which has now been replaced by a Polo) would be getting ready for high school now, it wouldn't be beyond the realms of imagination to think that VW would do the same.. Quite a cool show, of sorts, to sit there with both keys, pressing buttons and watching the seats rearrange themselves..

And good luck sorting out the lumbar stuff too..

**circus83** · 03-02-2012, 07:55 PM

By the way, the memory function now consistently stores and retrieves the lumbar support position (for both up-and-down and in-and-out positions). I've still been waiting for my Volkswagen service centre to get back to me while the problem miraculously fixed itself.