(GM Merlin)Troubleshooting heated seats

[lweford]

I have a 1999 Z71 with heated seats and the driver's side doesn't work. I am just wondering if there are any GM techs on here that can let me know how they troubleshoot heated seat problems. I have checked all plugs and fuses and I have even taken a ohm reading on the elements themselves. I just want to know when to know that the elements are bad or something. Thanks for the help.

[777stickman]

Power comes from the floor thru the switch to the "heated seat module" and out to the elements. This is true for both seats. If you've checked the elements with an ohm meter and have a resistance reading (not open) then the elements are probably good. So if you've got power and the switch is working and the elements have resistance it's probably the module. You can swap between the 2 seats to find out. The module is located just under the seat cushion in the front. Small black box.....Steve

PS: This is for '99 "old body style". If your's is a new body style '99 it may be different.

[lweford]

I don't guess I mentioned that the passenger side works okay. Here's what I did...my wife has an '01 Tahoe so I checked the resistance on the driver's side elements and came up with about 112 ohms per element. I then checked the elements on my new body style '99 Silverado and only came up with about thirteen ohms per element. That leads me to believe that I have bad elements but I don't know if the two vehicles' systems work exactly the same. Can you "reflash" or reset the heater module?

[777stickman]

Compare the resistance between the drivers and pass seat. As far as I know the module cannot be reset.