Heated Seat not working

Gems · 11-21-2005, 04:40 PM

I noticed this cold morning that my driver side heated seat is not working... Getting no heat in the seat in either the low or high switch setting... I checked the fuse labeled "LH HTD ST/BCM" and it appears OK although I didn't put a meter across it yet... When pulling that fuse out and putting it back in I heard a slight buzz noise inside the instrument panel somewhere like something was resetting itself... The car and all other accessories seem to be working OK, I think... What else would cause no heat in the seat?... Bad switch maybe? ... Something else?... Thanks in advance for any suggestions...

bermis519 · 11-21-2005, 06:20 PM

Could it possibly have become disconnected under the seat, i know that when you move the seat back and forth all the time it takes a toll on the wireing harness. Just a thought, at least thats what came to mind when i read it....hopefully it's that simple....

mike

Gems · 11-21-2005, 09:04 PM

I could be what you suggest... I use the seat all the way back and my wife has it all the way forward due to her short legs... So the seat is run back and forth quite often... I'll poke my head under the seat tomorrow and take a look for the wire harness... That's if it's not snowing or raining or something!!!... I'm spoiled for the heated seats when the weather turns cold!!

crazy Jim · 11-22-2005, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gems

I could be what you suggest... I use the seat all the way back and my wife has it all the way forward due to her short legs... So the seat is run back and forth quite often... I'll poke my head under the seat tomorrow and take a look for the wire harness... That's if it's not snowing or raining or something!!!... I'm spoiled for the heated seats when the weather turns cold!!

my '02 Imp's heated seat will not work either. The relay is good the switch appears to function where is the control module and is this the "body control module"? how do I remove the seat cover to access the heating elements? thanks for the help

Gems · 11-22-2005, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy Jim

my '02 Imp's heated seat will not work either. The relay is good the switch appears to function where is the control module and is this the "body control module"? how do I remove the seat cover to access the heating elements? thanks for the help

Relay? Where's the relay for this and how did you test it? (I'm driving an '01 Impala)

crazy Jim · 11-23-2005, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gems

Relay? Where's the relay for this and how did you test it? (I'm driving an '01 Impala)

Underneath the seat clipped to the inner seat frame rail. I just switched it out with the passenger side. BTW, I talked to a mech at the dealer and he told me if the switch and relay function and the fuse is not blown that it is most likely the element. The element is made into the seat cover and my particular vehicle has side impact airbags so this is not a DIY (do it yourself) job.

Gems · 11-23-2005, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy Jim

Underneath the seat clipped to the inner seat frame rail. I just switched it out with the passenger side. BTW, I talked to a mech at the dealer and he told me if the switch and relay function and the fuse is not blown that it is most likely the element. The element is made into the seat cover and my particular vehicle has side impact airbags so this is not a DIY (do it yourself) job.

Thanks for that info... I'll be checking this out this weekend... I have side impact air bags also... If it's the heating element that's broken does the repair invlove changing out the whole seat?... I wonder if this repair is covered under the extended GM protection plan I bought?

Gems · 11-24-2005, 01:43 PM

I ran the seat all the way forward and looked underneath... Nothing is disconnected... I'm not sure I see the relay you are talking about... I see a black "connector" clipped to the lower frame rail on the right hand side (center of the car side)... I'm not sure if that's the relay because I think I see wires going into it from both ends, so at first glance it lookes like just a connector, not a relay... I also see a bright yellow connector with a blue safety tie around it... I'm guessing that's for the side impact air bag and I don't want to mess with it... Any more ideas?... I want my heated seat working again!!

crazy Jim · 11-26-2005, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gems

I ran the seat all the way forward and looked underneath... Nothing is disconnected... I'm not sure I see the relay you are talking about... I see a black "connector" clipped to the lower frame rail on the right hand side (center of the car side)... I'm not sure if that's the relay because I think I see wires going into it from both ends, so at first glance it lookes like just a connector, not a relay... I also see a bright yellow connector with a blue safety tie around it... I'm guessing that's for the side impact air bag and I don't want to mess with it... Any more ideas?... I want my heated seat working again!!

the relay is difficult to see, its clipped to the inside of the inner frame rail of the drivers seat. It's black and it will have wires going into it only on one end. I was told that my entire seat cover wouold have to be replaced.

Gems · 11-26-2005, 09:56 AM

CrazyJim: I'll poke my head under the seat again today and take a look... Obviously I didn't see the relay last time I looked... On Monday the car will be at my local Chevy dealer to finish fixing the power steering (intermediate steering shaft and P.S. pump)... While I'm there I'll have them check the seat out... Maybe my GM Extended service plan will cover the seat also... I'll let you know what they tell me...

Gems · 11-28-2005, 12:53 PM

OK... Just got the car back from the dealer for the ISS replacement and P.S. Pump replacement... The P.S. feels good and quiet again... As far as the heated seat is concerned the dealer says the heating element in the seat is burnt out... They ordered a new one and they will have to take the seat bottom apart to put it in... All covered by the GM protection Plan... I suspect the heater element is not "burnt" out but just has a broken wire or connection... Be that as it may, when they get the part I'll have them fix the seat...

Gems · 12-04-2005, 10:21 AM

Just a little more info on the heated seat repair here in case anyone is interested... Under the GM Protection Plan that I have the dealer ordered a new seat heater element for me... It's in and I take the car back on Dec. 19th... The repair involves taking apart the entire bottom seat assembly and changing out the heater element... The dealer says it's kind of a PITA job... It would be much easier to just replace the whole seat assembly but GM doesn't work that way with the extended service plan... They replace parts down to the lowest level component as much as possible even if it involves significant more labor hours to do the repair... Basically the dealer gets screwed quite often working under the extended warranty rules...

bigrod118 · 12-04-2005, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gems

Basically the dealer gets screwed quite often working under the extended warranty rules...

GOOD!!

I know not all dealerships are assholes, but most are, its to to hear them have to bend over and grab their ankles.

Gems · 12-04-2005, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigrod118

GOOD!!

I know not all dealerships are assholes, but most are, its to to hear them have to bend over and grab their ankles.

The smartest investment I made was buying the GM Protection Plan, with zero deductable, when I bought this car... So far I've had the ISS, PS Pump and soon the seat heater replaced all for zero cost on my part... I'm sure as time goes on I will be adding to this list... My last GM car was a 1964 Chevy Belair, but I knew from experience when buying this Impala that it would be a fun car but at the same time not the most reliable vehicle on the planet...

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