Remote Start / Heated Seats Issues

[Batcat]

Yea, heat transfer theory 101. You would think the GM guys would understand this and allow the seats to heat at a higher level during remote start so there would be some warmth retained in the seat.

[2016 Sierra Owner]

I see this topic is still going strong. I can add a brief explanation (note I have heat only seat). The electric resistive heating elements warm objects (your butt) via radiant energy. If there isn't an object to absorb the energy from the resistive heaters the energy is dissipated into the cab of the truck. The amount of energy (watts) these heaters produce is so low that it is lost very quickly if you're not sitting on the seat. The radiant energy the heaters produce will actually add "some" heat to the cab but it is so quickly lost to the heat loss of the cab you would never notice it. So basically the seat heaters are working (at least mine are) but you need to sit in them for a minute to feel them. I have found not all seat heaters are the same, my Ford F250 uses some kind of heat pump that produces a ton more heat than little 12v electric resistive heaters. When I first got my Silverado I thought the seat heaters were not working either (being used to my Ford seats), I have access to a thermal imaging camera and sure enough they were working.

 

EXACTLY!!! What he said. We can complain about this all we want but, it's not going to change. Mine work just like you said. Unfortunately the guys in the colder climates have to deal with GMs lack of competence on the issue.

[ShotgunZ71]

I seem to remember something about the heated seats in my 1999 Sierra that was the seats would not get hot until that particular seat belt ws latched. That may not be the exact way it worked, but I believe it was something to that effect. No factory remote start back in the day, either. You actually had to go outside and start your vehicle manually (GASP!) to warm it up on cold mornings.

[michaeldc46]

Just got a 14 Sierra SLT and have used the remote start several times with the heated seats enabled - not warm once seated but warmed up extra fast - must have been on in the low setting. On a similar topic - my 05 Yukon XL SLT heated seats on the drivers side would not operate - light on, then off in 5 seconds - here are pictures of the drivers side right seat back heating element - wife sets on high all the time and keeps it on. I'm glad the new vehicles start on low and if set to high once in the truck time out to lower settings ........the 05 heated seat configuration is dangerous to say the least.

 

[Doug_Scott]

Where is "drivers side right seat back"? Are the images from the drivers seat in the 2005, or the passenger seat?

[Dnt]

I am so glad that GM is saving us with crappy heated seats THANK YOU THANK YOU Groooowwwlll Seats are on high in remote start but will not warm up until you actually set in it.

[gmissed]

Even when you sit in them it takes a good 15 minutes to heat your backside. ARG!

[michaeldc46]

Where is "drivers side right seat back"? Are the images from the drivers seat in the 2005, or the passenger seat?

Drivers seat; seat back; right side of the seat back - there are two heating elements in the seat back - this is the right element

[pm26]

I am so glad that GM is saving us with crappy heated seats THANK YOU THANK YOU Groooowwwlll Seats are on high in remote start but will not warm up until you actually set in it.

You obviously need to buy a remote start seat preheat package.

[Dnt]

You obviously need to buy a remote start seat preheat package.

Oh yeah that is funny..........Get out of town pm26.................I thought I did buy the remote start seat preheat package to the tune of $51,845.00 maybe what happened is that I just PAID for it and did NOT actually GET IT? haha this subject has pretty much been beat to death. The seats simply do not heat unless you sit in the darn things so the best thing to do is hire someone maybe your children to go out and sit in the seat for you on cold mornings and get them warmed up (YEAH RIGHT FAT CHANCE) . Look at this GM is soooooo smart they have figured out a way to put more people to work "Yeah for Government Motors" that is why we love you baby, your always trying to assist your customers even putting their lazy kids to work. Ain't it great?

[Dnt]

Just got a 14 Sierra SLT and have used the remote start several times with the heated seats enabled - not warm once seated but warmed up extra fast - must have been on in the low setting. On a similar topic - my 05 Yukon XL SLT heated seats on the drivers side would not operate - light on, then off in 5 seconds - here are pictures of the drivers side right seat back heating element - wife sets on high all the time and keeps it on. I'm glad the new vehicles start on low and if set to high once in the truck time out to lower settings ........the 05 heated seat configuration is dangerous to say the least.

photo 2.JPGphoto 1.JPG

 

Dangerous Naw I don't think so, COMFORTABLE is more like it man. Those little singed spots on the heaters in the pics just indicate that they are very very good at what they do PRODUCE HEAT!!! I am with your wife (not literally) I like the heated seats that actually produce heat, not the pretend heated seats like in the 2014 GM trucks..............I think I am going to go trade this truck in for a Found On Road Dead this weekend. I am MAD now and I am not going to stand for it anymore. Lets start a revolution TONIGHT who is bringing the booze?

.

[Texrock]

My MOPAR seats heat perfectly without having to sit in them. I got rid of my truck 2 months ago and couldn't be happier to get rid of that GM nightmare piece of crap. I still get email notifications for this forum just to remind me of the best decision I made. Good luck getting GM to do the right thing and actually fix their mistakes.

[Dnt]

My MOPAR seats heat perfectly without having to sit in them. I got rid of my truck 2 months ago and couldn't be happier to get rid of that GM nightmare piece of crap. I still get email notifications for this forum just to remind me of the best decision I made. Good luck getting GM to do the right thing and actually fix their mistakes.

Oh man not sure I want a Myopiaeye (Mopar) product. Do you remember the old commercial "Don't you buy no UGLY TRUCK" I looked at them and they are just plain ugly the design engineers have myopia no doubt. LOL just messin wit U Texrock. I bet if I went over to the Dodge Truck forums for a while that I would see some problems with that vehicle also. I am glad that they got the heated seats right though. Funny thing is that GM's heated seat product worked just great up until this 2014 model year. They had to work hard to mess them up......................................................................BAM shot themselves in the foot AGAIN. Maybe Obama will stop in and see if HE can fix it since he has no idea how to fix da PUTIN.

[rocnrol]

I had my truck in to the dealership today for a few issues, the heated seat being one of them. It was found there was an open in the heating elements, new parts are on their way. I was happy to find I wasent crazy after all.

[Canuck1]

Just an update, the viper remote start I had installed does not turn on the heated seats when the truck is started with it so it didn,t help even though the run time is set at 1hr. They admit to having a problem with the software and are working on it (or so they say). So I guess i,m stuck with gm,s weak attempt at seat heating. I see some of you guys making jokes about heated door handles and the like and you know what it just isn,t funny. Let's see how people react when it gets really hot in the south and the cooled seats don,t cool. Am I being fussy about a small thing, no I am not, I do believe the seats should heat BEFORE I sit in them or don,t call them heated seats, they did heat in previous trucks. If gm wants to change the way things work they could say something before they sell it. Real world testing just doesn't exist anymore.