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Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:55 am
by Gagger14
Well guys, a fear of mine has occurred today. While driving to work, I figured I would give my heated driver's seat a go and of course it is not working. Now my question is, do you think it is the switch or the actual seat?
I haven't driven the car much lately as I had the dash board out to fix the instrument cluster nor do I even use the heated seats much, but the last time the seat work perfectly fine. Now, when I try to switch the heated seat to 'on,' the little yellow light that normally comes on to display if its the "high" or "low" temp setting doesn't show anymore. Also, no heat comes from the seat. Now I was thinking maybe something happened while I was removing the dash or re-installing it, but the passenger heated seat seems to work just fine.
I was wondering if you guys think its the seat or just the swich that needs replacing. Also, how would I go about changing either of them? Are there some threads that show this procedure already? I would like to replace the switches anyway as the backlighting is out and the previous owner did not "handle with care."
Thanks for the help in advanced!
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 12:31 pm
by yourgrandma
Usually its the element that breaks in the bottom of the seat. Typically there's a point toward the front outside of the seat bottom that breaks and needs to be soldered back together.
Symptoms would be that the light will come on for a second or two, then go off. No heat, nothing.
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:38 pm
by nos4blood70
If the light doesn't come on at all, then maybe the switch died. You can try switching the passenger switch with the driver switch and see if that helps anything.
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 5:48 pm
by 00Beast
Or it could be as simple as a popped fuse...
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:49 pm
by Gagger14
Thanks for the help guys!
Although I don't want to exclude any possibilities, I have a hard time believing its the element right now since I haven't been using it all and no symptoms of the "on for 2 sec and then off." There appears to be just no life in the switch as no lights come on.
I'll take a look at the fuses tomorrow, but out of curiosity, what are the steps in replacing those switches? Can I do it once I remove the dash trim?
Thanks again.
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:14 am
by nos4blood70
You pop out the dash trim and then there are 2 tabs you gotta push down if I recall correctly and wiggle the assembly out.
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:37 am
by Archon
Each seat also has its own control module for the seat heater.
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:09 am
by 00Beast
You need to pop off the main dash trim, then there is a 7mm screw that holds the panel in that the switches are in. You can just swap the wires to test.

Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 12:40 pm
by sethjamesrimrodt
http://static.photobucket.com/player.sw ... EO0045.mp4
Sorry if it makes you sea sick, but this is how to do it.
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:42 pm
by Gagger14
Thanks everyone for the help!
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 11:15 am
by Gagger14
Does anyone know how to replace the control module for the drivers heated seat?
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 5:34 pm
by 00Beast
Unbolt the seat, tilt it back and it's underneath, attached to the bottom.
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:30 am
by Gagger14
You wouldn't by chance have a picture of what I'm looking at would you? Can't say I've done work on a seat before so this is definitely going to be new to me...
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:55 am
by harofreak00
Here is a picture. However, please understand that most of the time you can learn more by doing instead of just asking.

Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:29 pm
by Gagger14
Thanks again for the help.
I completely plan on doing the work, just was looking for a point in the right direction...
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 3:54 pm
by Bvill_GXP
SO how do you know it's the control box? Mine is doing the same thing, well the button does light up for 2-3 secs and then it does off!! he pass side is fine!! But like you i never really used the driver side to be honest!!
Re: Heated Seat Issue
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 4:06 pm
by sethjamesrimrodt
Bvill_GXP wrote:SO how do you know it's the control box? Mine is doing the same thing, well the button does light up for 2-3 secs and then it does off!! he pass side is fine!! But like you i never really used the driver side to be honest!!
You have a broken wire in the seat. There is a topic here in tech info.