kevin0171

Got quote at $600 for replacing the heat element for my driver seat. after searched on the forum, i decide to replace by myself. need some advice. thanks

btw, do i need to disconnect battery first, then remove the seat, or just take it off?

Blazin_TL

iTrader: (1)

it never hurts to disconnect the battery.. but its not always necessary..

hog ring pliers might be helpful

http://www.beaconfabric.com/vindex.html?cat3.htm

kevin0171

shit, i don't have hog ring pliers, is it really needed?
anyways, thx man

Blazin_TL

iTrader: (1)

you can always use regualar pliers to close them back up.

fsttyms1

Make sure to disconect the battery first and wait 10 min or so for the airbags. If you dont disconect the battery first you will get a SRS light. Hog ring pliers would help but you could get away with regular pliers.

randomwalk101

take lots of pics...do a DYI for this..

kevin0171

i'll update and see what i can get. preparing to start on this Sat. update soon...
any other attentions?

kevin0171

finally fixed it and it works fine now. only cost me $3 on copper wire, hahaha

i took some pictures, don't know how to upload.

03typeStl

Isnt seat heater covered in the manufactur warranty ?

kevin0171

finally fixed it and it works fine now. only cost me $3 on copper wire, hahaha

i took some pictures, don't know how to upload.

but to be honest, the seat is too heavy, and the screws are too tight up, spent me some time there. after i took out the seat, spent 20 mins to look over. unplug all the connectors, and moved 4 screws located at both side. then I could easily to get the bottom piece(for my ass) out from the main frame. after that i cut off all the cable ties, many of them. after that, i got leather surface out of the foam. then the problem is pretty straight forward. one wire was burned. so, I went to home depot bought $3 high temperature copper wire(-15c to 105c), and high quility insulated tape. and I think those are really needed. then came back home, and kept my ass busy. cut off the burned wires, did some soldering job to make sure it is perfect solid. then taped it all over. put everything back. move that heavy stupid leather seat back into my car. (scratched the side door a litter bit, sucks), connect the two major plugs back, connect the battery, and started up the car. turn it to HI, only 2 mins later, i can felt my balls were getting warmup. hahaha, mission accomplished.

thanks everyone here.

kevin0171

I'm hitting 75k km, dealer said the warranty for heated seat is only 3years/60K km. sucks

kevin0171

finally fixed it and it works fine now. only cost me $3 on copper wire, hahaha

i took some pictures, don't know how to upload.

but to be honest, the seat is too heavy, and the screws were too tight up, spent me some time there. after i took out the seat, spent 20 mins to look over. unplug all the connectors, and moved 4 screws located at both side. then I could easily to get the bottom piece(for my ass) out from the main frame. after that i cut off all the cable ties, many of them. after that, i got leather surface out of the foam. then the problem is pretty straight forward. one wire was burned. so, I went to home depot bought $3 high temperature copper wire(-15c to 105c), and high quility insulated tape. and I think those are really needed. then came back home, and kept my ass busy. cut off the burned wires, did some soldering job to make sure it is perfect solid. then taped it all over. put everything back. move that heavy stupid leather seat back into my car. (scratched the side door a litter bit, sucks), connect the two major plugs back, connect the battery, and started up the car. turn it to HI, only 2 mins later, i can felt my balls were getting warmup. hahaha, mission accomplished.

thanks everyone here.

fsttyms1

Good job. Hopefully it safely lasts.

Here is a link to how to post pictures. Im sure many members will want to see
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113321

wside09

i went dealer for this and they cost me 450 for driver side.

hope this DIY is easy =)

2Rude

I have to do it for my car too...pictures would help alot. thanks!

03typeStl

My car is still under manufacturer warranty, and I was thinking before the warranty expires, if the seat heater weakens, should I just take it in to get it replaced under warranty ?

Ken1997TL

Absolutely yes.

kevin0171

get the bottom seat part out from the frame, easy, only 4 screws at both side.


cut off all the cable ties, then you will see that heat element


here is the problem, the wire was burned.

kevin0171

replace the burned wire with some high quality copper wire. and soldering job is recommend. then put everything back. move that heavy, stupid leather seat back into car, watch your doors, dont get any scratches because of your careless. good luck you all, pm me if you have any questions.

wside09

how do i take off seat from car ?

and leather from seat..

btw thanx for the pix

kevin0171

easy, only four big screws on the floor, take a look at the bottom of your seat, you will find it.

kevin0171

and the leather is a little bit complicated, read my post

Phrosttz0

nice DIY looks pretty involved, when i use to work at a Cadillac dealership I use to see the tech's do the same thing on STS' looked like a bitch, good work Kevin0171

twighunter00

Nice Diy...comin from south florida I rarely use heated seats...(cept when it dips in the 50's one day outa the year But this is def a cool repair...nice job

fsttyms1

You use heated seats in 50 deg weather??? I wouldnt even consider using them till it dropped below 0, and then i still never used them.

kevin0171

your guys are lucky.....I'm in Toronto, from Nov to Mar, the temperature will stay between -30C and 0C, sucks here, really need heated seat for my cold ass....

mezzerTL-S

^^yup what he said

vzuptnguyen

great success man.

i want to try this and relocate wires to my back (back pains) that would be great, do you think its possible?

SatinSilverTypS

iTrader: (1)

hey kevin, great job, but one question: you clipped the hog rings for the leather, but how did you reattach the leather to the seat?

SSTS

laidback93

Nice job man! I still haven't figured out if my seats work or not. I guess the passenger side does, but I don't know how hot the seats are supposed to get. I mean I think the drivers side seat gets hot just from my butt on it. LOL

It can get nippy here in NorCal in the winter time, but not enough to justify the cost or headache of fixing it.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Great post. It's been one of the things on my list to fix. I figured I could do the same and you just verified it for me.

Thanks.

kevin0171

the manufactory uses cable ties to attach the leather. once you take the seat apart, it's very easy to see. and don't worry, the design is pretty good, you can reattach the leather back as original.

kevin0171

the theory is the same, it'll be easy, don't worry.

kevin0171

easy to identify, dont seat on it, turn the switch into HI, wait for 10 or 15 mins, (you can wash your car, smoke for a while, clean your rims....lol), then get into your car, feel it. if you can feel your balls burning, then you are good to go.

kevin0171

one thing to let you know, that stupid seat is heavy, watch your doors, dont get any scratches.

SatinSilverTypS

iTrader: (1)

that's kind of cheap and surprising....but i suppose it works. Thanks!

SSTS

randomwalk101

hey kelvin01, I commend you on that great DIY with pics....helps a LOT.
My TL seating element is going out. Only the back is heading up and the bottom (my butt) is not heating up. Is your the same thing?
also, anyone knows how much is that heating element costs?

SatinSilverTypS

iTrader: (1)

last time i looked into it the prices ranged from $40-$80 per set, per seat. that was a while ago though. if you hit up ebay and google you may find them cheaper.

SSTS

kevin0171

i think around 100

Budget_Phoenix

heated seats suck here in alaska.....takes forever to warm them up...usually I just suck it up and shiver my ass off while I drive