heated seats in 2001 silo---problem

I just recently purchased my first minivan--2001 Silhouette Premier. The driver side heated seat doesn't seem to get as warm as the passenger side. My wife says it warms up fine. Should I check something out electrically or take it to the dealer? Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks

Welcome to your biggest mistake ever. Sure, you think GM makes good vehicles, but our Silhouette vans have some of the WORST crash ratings I've ever seen. Not to mention that my family's 2001 has the EXACT same problem, along with about 200,000 other problems. Our whole power steering assembly has already been replaced, and Olds was such assholes about it, we had to go through 3 different dealers before someone even thought that having no power steering when it's cold was a problem. :mad:

We're so fed up with all the other problems that we've just left this heating problem go. Cause when that gets fixed, Olds will have to fix that plastic panel on the inner side of the seat that broke off, taking the bungee basket along with it. :angryfire I'll never ever tell someone to buy one of these vans for as long as I live.

you recently purchased it you say? perhaps you could trade it in for a used GMC Safari AWD, we had one of those and it was a great vehicle, didn't have any problems with it. Heck, we even pulled a 2800lb camper with it through the mountains.

nah, you bought your vehicle because you liked it, if you think you can find the glitch then go for it, and if you don't find it, take it in for someone to look at.

Been working for Gm for 15 years and I ave never heard these 2 complaints with the u or x van..? I'm curious about the seat issue. GM just released a recall on the steering racks though.

Originally posted by bowtiebandit
Been working for Gm for 15 years and I ave never heard these 2 complaints with the u or x van..? I'm curious about the seat issue. GM just released a recall on the steering racks though.

You've got to be f*ing joking w/me!!! Olds treated us like sh!t the 4 and 5 times we took our van in for loss of power steering when cold. It took at least 6 visits and 3 dealerships to get it fixed, and all the while the B@stards were racking up complaints to a recall!!!! :mad:

Also, they go in and replace the steering column but conveniently don't fix the seat that doesn't heat or the huge plastic part on the inner side of the driver's seat that has been hanging off for at least 4 mechanical repairs.

I'm learning VERY quickly not to buy GM for their horrible service and lack of common sense, present company excluded.

Yes the recall came out last week. I cant be sure if it involves your vehicle or not but it is out there. You know just as I opened my mouth we have 1 in the shop with you exact same complaints. Tech is putting a steering rack in it and a seat heater element. I posted this else where but I cant remember where but if your dealin with a dealer ask them for their CSI report. This is their report card from GM based on what other customers feel about their service there. Its based on a 1 to 4 scale, 4 being the best. This way you can avoid worthless dealers and trust me I know they're out there and they make the rest of us look bad. You can also request a copy of each technicians individual CSI but most dealers fight this but I never understand why. If your good your good if you suck then fix it or get out.

Originally posted by bowtiebandit
I posted this else where but I cant remember where but if your dealin with a dealer ask them for their CSI report. This is their report card from GM based on what other customers feel about their service there. Its based on a 1 to 4 scale, 4 being the best. This way you can avoid worthless dealers and trust me I know they're out there and they make the rest of us look bad. You can also request a copy of each technicians individual CSI but most dealers fight this but I never understand why. If your good your good if you suck then fix it or get out.

Right on! Thanks a lot! :) Sorry for going off on you, but our van was just in for *yet another* service. At least this dealership (although not very close to where we live) seems to have some common sense. This will help my family out a lot. :D

Its all good, unfortunately it happens alot. Peoples frustrations are ten fold now that vehicles prices have done the same. Worst part about the whole mess is they come out with new things faster than they can train us on it. No diffewrent then recalls...seems the ower gets the info before we do.

I just recently purchased my first minivan--2001 Silhouette Premier. The driver side heated seat doesn't seem to get as warm as the passenger side. My wife says it warms up fine. Should I check something out electrically or take it to the dealer? Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks

I have exactly the same problem with my heated? seats. Does anyone know whether this is a fused problem or is it something more serious?
The only difference I have experienced is that the seats just stopped working altogether. I'd sure appreciate someone telling me what to do,
aside from dumping the blankety-blank vehicle in the lake!

Hugh Thornton

[QUOTE=Hugh Thornton]I have exactly the same problem with my heated? seats. Does anyone know whether this is a fused problem or is it something more serious?
The only difference I have experienced is that the seats just stopped working altogether. I'd sure appreciate someone telling me what to do,
aside from dumping the blankety-blank vehicle in the lake!
I just finished spending $1200.00 replacing an intake manifold gasket
problem, thermostat, antifreeze and spark plugs. And the vehicle has only 76,000 kms!

Heated seats in the 2001 GM Silhouette

for us the driver seat was TOO HOT. the dealer fixed it at no charge.

for us the driver seat was TOO HOT. the dealer fixed it at no charge.


Thanks troyandmarsha) I'm currently not disposed to any kindness with
my dealer. Colonial Motors in Newmarket Ontario has been not only indif-ferent but downright rude in addressing my problems. I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for a solution.

Hugh Thornton

i think asking the dealer to see their CSI rating is the best way to go. then ask the service manager if you can fill a "CSI Follow up sheet" out. that should get his attention. i would suggest being super polite about the task so that he may feel an opportunity to revisit your car woes prior to you filling out the CSI rating survey. it appears that GM is putting more and more pressure on dealers to have high level of service ratings. good luck.

.......otherwise....if they're not into customer surveys, then moving on to a dealer that really cares might be best.

i also suggest that you find the customer assistance or support number from your owners manual. call it and complain about the dealer if they don't treat you right. most likely the dealer will get a call from GM telling them to take care of you. give it a try and let us know.

i also suggest that you find the customer assistance or support number from your owners manual. call it and complain about the dealer if they don't treat you right. most likely the dealer will get a call from GM telling them to take care of you. give it a try and let us know.


Thanks troyandmarsha. I will follow your suggestions and let you know how I make out.
Hugh

I have exactly the same problem with my heated? seats. Does anyone know whether this is a fused problem or is it something more serious?
The only difference I have experienced is that the seats just stopped working altogether. I'd sure appreciate someone telling me what to do,
aside from dumping the blankety-blank vehicle in the lake!

Hugh Thornton

Hugh, did you get a reply to this issue? I am having exactly the same problem. Lights on the switches still work, but no HEAT! Tried checking all fuses and circuit breakers...can't find a fault. Also can't get the change oil light to go out. Wonder if the two could be related?

John

Hello John; Yes, I did find out that there are no fuses that operate your 2001 Silhouette seats. The heating element is built right into the seat, and unless you have an extended warranty, it'll cost between $300 and $400 to repair. Hugh

[QUOTE=Hugh Thornton]I have exactly the same problem with my heated? seats. Does anyone know whether this is a fused problem or is it something more serious?
The only difference I have experienced is that the seats just stopped working altogether. I'd sure appreciate someone telling me what to do,
aside from dumping the blankety-blank vehicle in the lake!
I just finished spending $1200.00 replacing an intake manifold gasket
problem, thermostat, antifreeze and spark plugs. And the vehicle has only 76,000 kms!

Is your van older than 5/years? My 2001 is supposed to be under warranty for 5/100,000 kms.Also the dealer told me(one week after signing the bill of sale)that the 3.4 liter engine will blow intake gaskets(normal for this engine)and eventually start to slap the pistons when it is cold (started at 39500kms).There is no warranty on the pistons,but the intake is supposed to be covered.

Is your van older than 5/years? My 2001 is supposed to be under warranty for 5/100,000 kms.Also the dealer told me(one week after signing the bill of sale)that the 3.4 liter engine will blow intake gaskets(normal for this engine)and eventually start to slap the pistons when it is cold (started at 39500kms).There is no warranty on the pistons,but the intake is supposed to be covered.

My van is just coming up to 3 years old, has 72000 km and has blown a head gasket. GM refused to honour any warranty as it was over the 60000 km mark. Apparently, the head is cast iron and the manifold is aluminum. This creates what in nautical terms is "a less noble metal" situation wherein one metal becomes what is called a sacrificial anode.GM's designers should have known better! In any event, I'm told the modified gasket which was installed (at my expense) should overcome this problem in the future. Slapping pistons I have not encountered and hope I don"t.
Hugh

JUST A SUGGESTION. IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH WARRANTY SERVICE AT YOUR GM DEALERSHIP. TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO YOUR NEAREST CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. I HAVE HAD EXTREMELY GOOD QUALITY SERVICE AT MORSE CADILLAC AND DIMMITT CADILLAC IN THE TAMPABAY AREA AND I THINK YOU WILL HAVE BETTER SUCCESS AT A CADILLAC DEALER NEAR YOU. IF IT IS A GM VEHICLE, ANY GM DEALERSHIP CAN HANDLE THE WARRANTY. GOOD LUCK. Charley

My 2001 Silhouette has had the heated seats replaced twice under warranty. I don't see why they won't need to be replaced again, they have yet to actually work when we need them...

This is the worst vehicle I've ever owned. We just had to have it towed to the dealership this weekend because the tranny went out.

I don't know if saying "I'm glad to see other people having problems" is appropriate, but when we take it to the dealer they act like the Silhouette is the most trouble free vehicle on the road. We've had this reaction at two different dealerships.


i also suggest that you find the customer assistance or support number from your owners manual. call it and complain about the dealer if they don't treat you right. most likely the dealer will get a call from GM telling them to take care of you. give it a try and let us know.

We tried this after the drivers side sliding door fell of the van - yes it actually fell off. They were even more useless then the dealership and wanted nothing to do with us. All we wanted to do was take it to a Pontiac delar that we knew would take care of us but the beyatch on the other end told us if we did we had to pay for it. We "just had to work with the Olds dealer to get things taken care of..."

I just recently purchased my first minivan--2001 Silhouette Premier. The driver side heated seat doesn't seem to get as warm as the passenger side. My wife says it warms up fine. Should I check something out electrically or take it to the dealer? Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks
Sorry about your luck, replaced driver side heated seat element 2x in 1 year in my 2002 amongst too many other problems to list for a vehicle with under 60,000 Kms. Friend has a 2001 - same as above