Heated seats not working when using remote start

Isriam · November 21, 2014

I use the remote start everyday since I bought the truck. During the coldest days of winter or the hottest days of the summer the truck has never "automatically" turned on the HVAC while it was in remote start mode. Main reason I know why is during the summer months when I drive into work it is cool enough that I drive in with the windows down and the HVAC is turned off. When I come out to the truck while it is running under remote start mode the HVAC is not running at all.

I can tell you that since it got cold last week that while under remote start mode the heated seats were on and working.

I need to have the dealer look into the HVAC module. This summer I noticed while running the AC that if I pressed the button to turn the AC off but left the HVAC system on so that the fan could continue to blow air thru the vents that the AC never turned off. Air would stay just as cold as it was with the AC turned on. Tested this out for 30 minutes so I know it wasn't residual cold air from the internals of the vents. Then I would turn the HVAC off then back on and with in minutes the air would stop coming out cold and would come out at what ever the outside ambient temps are at the time.

Makes me wonder if I have a defective HVAC control module. I am going to have the dealer look into on the next oil change.

I also noticed AC did not work during remote start for me this summer as well. But I was surprised that when i had the system OFF, the heater was actually going when i remote started.

skauffman · February 17, 2015

I have the same problem with my heated seats not coming on with remote start,, however I bought this truck last march, I live in a cold climate so I liked this option. Before my recalls which were instrument cluster,tran. And another one my seats worked like they were suppose to they were. Ice and warm with remotestart, now they don t come with it anymore. I have all my setting correct. The dealer can t explain it. Something in their program changed this option but I can't get any answers.

BigBadSierra · February 17, 2015

Sit in the seat and remote start the truck the seat will heat up.

Some bright STAR at GM thought it would be a good idea for the heaters to only work if there is weight in the seats.

This is for sure a screw up on GM's part.

The same is true whenever you use them someone has to be in that seat.

thefishhawk · February 17, 2015

I thought mine had the remote start not working issue for a long time, and then one day it was below zero and I had the time and actually let the truck run through both of the two remote start cycles, then I felt some warmth when I get in the seat. Not hot, but sorta warm. Without a butt in the seat they just don't get hot. and fwiw, my driver's seat I can't even use the high setting on, I get it started with that and turn it to low the rest of the time.

Basscat · February 18, 2015

Heated Seats are a problem. Just bought a new 15 All Terrain GMC SLT and you guys guessed it. Heated do not work with remote start or remote link. I am well versed in My Link and Intellink and I know the settings are correct. My 13 worked like it should on below zero days in Northern Mn. I hope GM can figure out the communication on the start feature to correct this. This is a

big deal for me. Any fixes out there

Green 1364 · February 18, 2015

From everything I've read I think the trucks with heated and cooled seats are the worst. I have heated and cooled and on high heat even after 1 hour of driving they barely get warm. Is everyone with heated and cooled having the same problem I am? Seems from what I read the heated only seats are much better.

Newell33 · February 18, 2015

From everything I've read I think the trucks with heated and cooled seats are the worst. I have heated and cooled and on high heat even after 1 hour of driving they barely get warm. Is everyone with heated and cooled having the same problem I am? Seems from what I read the heated only seats are much better.

I don't have the cooled seat option, but my heated seats are just like everyone else's. Heated seats are nice for warming up the seats before the cabin is warm. If I run my truck through two remote start cycles, get in, and can barely tell if they're working, then the system is poorly designed. Like everyone else's, mine eventually warm up to a point where I have to turn them down. By this time, though, the cabin is fairly warm, and the heated seats aren't needed. I think this is one of those examples of "what were they thinking?" Some have mentioned liability issues as the reason. If that's the case then I think they could have found more of a happy medium. Based on the failure rate of the heating elements as noted on this board, I'm guessing the whole system was just poorly executed.

Green 1364 · February 18, 2015

I sent TJAY a message because he wrote there will be updates to the next radio update that may address this issue. Waiting on his reply.

Rme2513 · February 26, 2015

I have noticed if I use the key fob they do not come on but if I use the onstar app to remote start the truck they do come on have not really looked into it

DougOhio · February 26, 2015

Sit in the seat and remote start the truck the seat will heat up.

Some bright STAR at GM thought it would be a good idea for the heaters to only work if there is weight in the seats.

This is for sure a screw up on GM's part.

The same is true whenever you use them someone has to be in that seat.

sounds like a good use for that extra bowling ball...wish I had one!! I would be out there tonight setting my trap for tomorrow morning.

therink · February 26, 2015

Last Friday it was a high of 1 F. After the truck sat for a while I used the remote start (2 cycles) and the seat was good and toasty when I sat on it. It does work with remote start. I have found that in the morning when truck is at its coldest it dies not appear to be warm but is just slow to warm from long term cold.

POS VETT · February 26, 2015

GM has experiences with seat covers overheating when heaters running without an occupant. So, now seat heaters in our truck won't go full power until there is certain weight placed on the seat.

ShotgunZ71 · February 27, 2015

I remember in 99, that the heaters wouldn't come on until the seat belt was latched, or something to that effect. Wonder if it's something similar with these seat warmers.

derfsaint · December 16, 2020

I may have looked a little strange to my neighbors, but here is what I did. I let the car cool down completely in 30 degree weather. Then I went out, sat in it, locked the door, remote started it, and waited. After about 5 minutes I felt heat coming from the seat and lower back... Wasn't "hot" but it was warm. I felt the passenger seat, and it was warmer that the back seats... Conclusion, the seat heaters barely turn on when using the remote start, but they do turn on.