Bigdogs

I jsut bought an '01 TL. I've tried to turn on both seat heaters in HI & LO settings but they hardly seem to work. The heated seats on our Odyssey and Acadia can roast you right out of the seat in less than a minute!

Has anyone else noticed this?
Is there something to fix or replace?

AlanW

Do a search on "heated seats". Common problem with broken wire in them. There is a DIY on a fix in the DIY post.

Mine work, but be aware, it takes some minutes for them to heat up where you can feel them (on High) I can't really tell much is happening when I switch it to low, but I guess they are still heating a little.

finalcross

iTrader: (3)

Its a very common problem on our cars. A wire in the seat heater burned out so you have to take apart your seat and resolder it together. Very annoying process. Are you sure that they even work? When they work you will really feel it. I know because my back works but the butt doesn't. I think there is a youtube video that someone made on how to fix it on our cars. Its like a 1 hour process (or more if its your first time) of taking apart the seat to change like a 3 dollar part.

03tLsNBP

iTrader: (9)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Ftv3hnDXk

its a major pain in the ass process.

im getting my heated seat repaired when i get my front seats reupholstered next year.

01tl4tl

the driver seat has butt and low back heater mats--much like a home mattress electric blanket looks
The butt section often breaks a wire--about where a wallet and use of high too much
would affect the thin wire,,diy has fix--takes time to remove seat and its leather cover to get to the problem--and a few dollars of parts to repair
acura gets several hundred for a whole new heater mat--thats crazy talk!

passenger gets only butt heat due to side airbag and passenger postion sensors

to use either: run on HIGH a few to 5 minutes, then switch to LOW for the rest of the use
ON high it puts out power until it hits a temp overlimit switch and shuts off
when system cools off it will reset itself

On LOW it cycles like a thermostat on and off- to maintain and even temp
Its the same anmout of heat generated--just how its controlled is what happens

need to be making some rpm and electricity to power all the systems in winter:,,headlights, heater, seats, stereo..all adds up to more amps than are on hand
at idle
do not run both seats on HIGH `at idle`--bad for battery and alternator

Bigdogs

Thanks to all!

Alan's early post got me on track with what to research. The following posts helped me even further and the youtube is simply awesome!.

01tl4tl knocked it home! Thanks for the tip on Hi to lo operation.

I have to say, I've been a member on several forums as I've owned several different cars. Back in the day of making big $$, I bought an A4, then an A6, then a Landrover. All of the forums were very helpful but this is by far has been the most concise, useful and friendly forum yet!

Thanks guys! I tend to get way too involved with my cars and I hope soon to start returning the favors!!

I'l be setting a 1/2 day aside very soon to do the repair as a project with my 2 sons. It looks like fun project and they are very excited!

01tl4tl

make sure you know the radio and nav security codes!!!
then remove battery neg cable before touching the seats
Failure to do so will result in an SRS light after you are done

mark the connectors under the seat,,there are 2 similar or same that have been a pita before,,
take the minute with masking tape and a marking pen to make tags for each side of a connection

finalcross

iTrader: (3)

hey 01tl4tl do you have all of your posts saved onto different files and then once someone has a question, you just search for example "Seat Heater Response.doc" on your computer and then you copy and paste. Because you answer every question so thoroughly and if you don't have that system already, then you must type very fast now from all the typing that you do everyday to help us out.

Just wondering you know. Because a lot of people on here don't like to search.

thelastaspec

Tom, check this out, pretty cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpQMU...eature=related

Clearly shows, axle thing, mount, and transmission all apart - stuff that people have problems with on here
maybe this is good future reference for new people to see what the part is...

thelastaspec

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4i7HsX40wQ

thelastaspec

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwN1OOs8E2U

whats this heated transmission flusher? Good/Bad?

01tl4tl

that doesnt look like a seat heater to me??

thelastaspec

cdn_rider

same thing happens to me, it was wonrkng awesome but just noticed this recently. looks like i have another project....fuck.

Severin

Regarding the drivers seat:

On HIGH, the seat back and bottom heaters are two different circuits: If one is NOT burned-out, it will heat up (the two pads are in parallel on HIGH).
On LOW, if EITHER the back or bottom is burned-out, not even the good heater will get warm (the two pads are in series on LOW).

So, if on HIGH, neither the bottom or back heater gets hot, either BOTH pads are burned-out or they are not getting power at all.

FWIW: Repairing only the seat-back heating element is simple to do on-car and takes me only 20 minutes to remove the leather and put it back. The seat bottom heater requires you to take the seat out of the car.

AlanW

Thank You Severin, that explains my car-the driver's side seat bottom works on High, but the seat back does not. Nothing seems to work when switch is on Low.

I didn't really want to mess with the seat bottom thing just to fix the back, but if i don't have to take the bottom apart, just the back....I'm in!

Can you provide more details on fixing the seat back heater only?

Severin

Here is a link to to a very good thread for the seatback procedure from earlier this year; page 6 has the pictures I submitted.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...=607220&page=6

01tl4tl

good info-- I was not aware of the wiring details

AlanW

Awesome! Thanks!!!