The most common problem with a heated car seat is that the heater element breaks. It is quite rare for the actual heat switch to break. To determine if the heater element is broken, you will need to take apart the entire seat so this is the last thing you will check. There are several easy fixes and things to check first. One of the first things to look at is if any fuses have blown. If there is a blown fuse then you can replace it and the seat will work again. You also should make sure the plug that connects the seat to the main wiring is plugged in and free of dirt or corrosion. Use a voltmeter to check the voltage on each side of the switch. If there aren’t 12 volts then the switch is bad. If the plugs and switches are fine then you will need to check the heating element. The thermister may not be working properly. The thermister will set the temperature of the seat and adjust the temperature to your setting. If the thermister has shifted even a bit then it will not work properly.

Your car manual will tell you exactly where the thermister should be located. Normally when this shifts it will burn out the heating wire. The most common problems are that the wire that heats up the car has burned out. This wire is very fragile and small and will break over time. If you see any burn spots in the fabric around the element then there is a break in the wire. You will need to replace the wire or solder it together. Make sure you cover the joint with electrical tape or heat shrink wrap. Use an ohmmeter to determine if the entire element needs replacing or if only one section is causing a problem. A healthy wire will measure resistance on the meter. You will need a new element as this is much easier then repairing the old one again and again. Once it breaks it will be more susceptible to breakage. Pull the seat out of the car. You will need to unbolt the seat from the car or slide it off its tracks. Detach all the wires before you actually pull the seat out of the car.

You will need to separate the back and the base of the seat to access the elements. You will probably need a torx wrench to disconnect the sections of the seat. Remove the cushion and leather on the base to get access to the heater elements. You will see the element on the back of the seat. Try and take as much off before replacing the wire. Most elements are self-sticking. Make sure the wire goes on the same place that the old element was. You can now put the seat back together. Simply go backwards from what you did to take it apart. You will need to place the wires through holes in the base so you can connect the wires to the plugs and get power to you new element.Troubleshooting a Heated Car Seat Problems with heated car seats almost always occur in the seat heater element, instead of in the seat heater switch. However, checking the seat heater element requires taking the car seat apart, so you should begin by checking for other problems, working your way to the seat heater element as a last resort.

When you begin the troubleshooting process, the first thing you should do is inspect the fuses. Dogs For Sale BillericayIf a fuse is blown, replace it immediately. Car Seat Covers EgyptIf that isn't the problem, check the electrical plug underneath the heated seat where the seat plugs into the main wiring harness. Kittens For Sale East Bay AreaBe sure that all the plugs in the heated seats are free of corrosion or dirt that may inhibit them from working correctly. You can also check to be sure that there are 12 volts coming from both sides of the switch for the heated seats while the switch is on. If there aren't 12 volts, you know that the switch is bad, although this is rarely the case. If the plugs on the seat are free of dirt and corrosion and the heated seat still isn't working correctly, you need to turn the car's ignition to the "on" position and check that there is power to the plug.

If there is power to the plug, and there aren't any other problems, you know that the problem is in the seat itself. You can also check for continuity between the plugs. There should be three pins in the vehicle wiring harness under the seat. Use a continuity tester to determine whether there is continuity between the pins. If not, you have an electrical problem. Once you know that the problem is in the seat, you may remove the seat cover to examine the heater. The thermister's job is to sense the temperature of the seat and adjust the heater accordingly. Be especially mindful of the thermister's location in the seat. If the thermister isn't precisely in the correct location, it won't sense the temperature correctly, and so the heated car seat may not work properly. You can check with your owner's manual to be sure the thermister was in the correct location to begin with. If the thermister wasn't in the correct location, it may have caused the heater wire to burn out. A problem with the heater element itself is the most common cause of problems with heated car seats.

This is because the heating wire that heats car seats is usually small and quite fragile, making it susceptible to breakage over time. If, when you remove the seat cover, you see burn spots in the fabric that covers the heater element wire, you know there's a break in the circuit. You can replace the heater element wire, or you can repair it by soldering the broken spot back together, then covering it with electrical tape and heat shrink wrap. Quasi Motors: Heated Seat Repair Saab Net: Heated Seats FAQ 2 Car Pros: Car Heated Seats Question and Answer Luxury editions of the 2004 Ford Explorer came with options for heated leather seats. Although the heated seats are a nice luxury...Car Repair & Maintenance; Car Electrical Repair & Maintenance; Replace Turn Signal Switch; How to Troubleshoot the Heated Seats in a... The heated seats will not work if the ignition for ... How to Add Heated Seats to a Car. How to Repair a Heated Seat in a 2000... How to Troubleshoot a Car Heater.