Can someone help me identify the plug in the attached photos. It has a yellow wire and an orange wire in a round plug. It was behind the driver's side kick panel and was not attached to anything when I remove the panel. Thanks.

 

ALWAYS helpful to state the year and model of vehicle this should apply to....magic 8 ball is broken.

 

sorry Norm, this is on my 1970 442 coupe.

 

Sorry, can't help you on that one. It isn't a plug I'm familiar with & it doesn't appear to be a GM OEM plug for a 1970 A-Body I'm aware of. Most likely aftermarket radio/stereo system. Yellow wire often used for switched (IGN) position & orange for power - and, I'm guessing.

 

I did play in a golf tournament with a woman from Midland, MI this past Sunday (that's weird eh?).

 

I agree. It doesn't look familiar to me. Doesn't look like any factory plug that I have seen. My only guess because I have never dealt with one would be a power seat back release but like I said doesn't look like any Oldsmobile plug that I have seen before.
Can you follow it ?

 

Thanks for the replies. I will follow this to see where it goes. It might be a week or two before I can do that. I need to get a bathroom tiled before they come to pattern for the counter top and tub deck on May 4th. I've procrastinated on that task too long!

 

That IS a factory plug! It is part of the rare power seat back release option. There should be two door jamb switches on your car in each side (or at least holes drilled for 2 switches if one or both are missing). One switch controls the interior lights/ key buzzer and provides gound when the door is open. The other switch plugs into that connector and creates a connection between the yellow and orange wires to power the seat back release relay. The relay gets a positive trigger which is why a seperate switch is needed to trigger it. If your car has bucket seats, the relay will be bolted to the floor under the driver seat. If it has a bench seat, the relay will be mounted to the bottom side of the seat on the drivers side. If you tilt the seat backs front (as if getting in the back seat) you should see a single black wire in a plastic conduit running from the base of the seat to the seat back. This option automatically releases the seat back latch when the door is open without needing to uses the button or lever on the seat back. Cars equipped with that option should have power locks as well.

 

FYI: If you are missing the switches for those connectors, they are very difficult to find and as far as I know they are not reproduced. For reference, here is a link to a complete setup on ebay that recently sold for over $1500.00:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/33481545573...p2047675.l2557

 

My guess was correct? Better go buy a Lotto ticket I guess.

 

Very Cool! I didn't know such a thing existed.

 

Next question is there one on the passenger side as well?

 

Yes, there is a release in the passenger seat and a switch in the passenger door. Opening either door will release both seat backs. On a side note, the reclining passenger seat option was available on many GM models up through 1970, but could not be ordered with the automatic seat back release as the reclining passenger seat used the 67-68 style side push button up through 70 while the automatic seat back release uses the 69 and up style center release button.

 

When I removed the the kick panel and saw the loose wires I thought they were for the door switch, but I could see that there were already wires attached to the single door switch my car has. I then thought maybe the loose wires were for an ashtray light or a glove box light. I didn't know. Yesterday, when the wires were identified as being for a power seat back release I have to admit I was a little excited. Could my car have that rare option? I got the build sheet out and that option does not appear on that. I wanted to make the hour drive to my lake house, where the car is parked, to check it out. I already had plans to go there today to do tile work.

I had originally removed the kick panel to access the power window relay because the power windows weren't working correctly. You can see my other post regarding that cluster! I spent so much time under the dash tracing wires that I bought a device to depress the door switch while the door is open to silence the door buzzer. I knew there was only one door switch. But I had hope. I also removed the bucket seats to make it easier to get under the dash and I know I didn't have to unplug any wires from the seats. But I had hope. Maybe they had been previously disconnected. The replacement carpet in the car was done so poorly I bought new ACC carpet which I have yet to install. Maybe the power seat back relay was really under the carpet (oh no, not another relay).

I was able to check out the car today. No relay under the carpet. No hardware in the seats. Apparently the car does have factory installed seat back under-dash wiring and nothing else. Must have been all that was available when the car went down the line. Oh well. I still think the car is pretty cool.

I did trace the wires under the dash and have confirmed that all the wires are there for both the passenger and driver side power seat back release door switches. I've included a photo of the connector where all those wires connect to the hot for the power door locks. I had also wondered what that connector was for, so mystery solved.



power seat back release connector circled in red

 

In case you didn't spot the burned wire at the top of your picture.....

 

I did not notice the burned wire. Good eye! 'll check that out tomorrow. Thanks.

 

Good catch...it does look a little toasty.

 

What looks like burnt wires is actually 53 YO electrical tape residue. While trying to fix a problem with the power windows I removed some of the old tape to isolate various wiring. Better safe than sorry. Thanks for your input.