Drivers side Heated seat doesn't work

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SiriusFan

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My mechanic said that there might be a short in the heating element.

When I push the button the lights come on but after a few seconds they flash and turn off. Has anyone replaced the heating element in there seats?

How difficult is it. It only has 50,000 miles and in good shape except for 3 things. All minor in the grand scheme of things.

Remote Keyfobs- no keyring :)
slow drivers window going up- just a little spray lube hopefully.
Heated seat

Thank you
 

stamp11127

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Heated seats are usually an easy fix if the element has failed. It would be better to test the connector at the element to see if the element is "open" and to make sure it is being supplied with 12 volts at the plug.

Do you have a DVM or willing to invest in a cheap model?
 

Thermo

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Sirius, from what you are describing, I am betting you will find that after you strip the skin off of the seat, you are going to find a white lining under there and where your body would touch the white fabric, you will find black/brown spots in the white fabric. These are points where the heating element is either failed or is about to fail. What you need to do is to make a small rip in the fabric at these spots, then using a small piece of say 22 gauge wire (about 1-1.5" long), solder in the wire so that half of it is on either side of the break in the heating element and solder it in place. Verify with a multimeter that you have a good joint. Do this at each spot that has a dark spot. Then, with the seat skin off, reconnect up the seat and see if the light works properly. I bet you will find that it does.
 

RI-Matt

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SiriusFan,
You didn't list what model expy you have ( in your profile it just says 2010 )

Do you have heated cooled seats ( climate controlled) or just heated ?? I believe there is a difference in how the 3rd Gen Expy heated seats work and they don't use a "pad" type system.

From the manual:
"Climate Controlled Seats
The climate control seat system is able to heat and cool the front seats. Each climate controlled seat is operated by push-buttons on the HVAC module located on the instrument panel. Each front seat temperature is then monitored and controlled by the dual climate controlled seat module (DCSM) located on the passenger front seat track.

The front seat cushions are equipped with a plenum (duct) attached to the cushion frame suspension wires (serviced with the cushion frame). Air from the cushion thermo-electric device (TED) and blower assembly is routed through a plenum and into the manifold fitted within the cushion foam pad (serviced with the cushion foam pad). The front seat backrest TED and blower assembly operates similarly by routing air directly through the backrest manifold (serviced with the backrest foam pad)."


Matt
 

wheeler

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My drivers side seat also doesnt work. But with mine the light doesnt come one at all. Guy i bought it from says its jsut a fuse. I looked into it and both seats run off 1 fuse and passener seat works fine. Its an 03 EB. Sorry to Hijack jsut wanted to share. see if anyone had input.
 
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