Seat heating pad replacement difficulty?

jj46 · September 23, 2016

I've already had all four seat heating elements replaced in my 2014 under warranty. Unfortunately, the drivers seat base element went out again. The truck is well out of warranty at this point.

Can anyone speak to how difficult it is to replace this pad? I'm very mechanically inclined by trade and hobby... but when it comes to messing with leather seats I get nervous. Trying to decide if I can just buy the pad and do the swap myself. These are heated & cooled buckets.

Thanks

Rawyzf · September 23, 2016

I've already had all four seat heating elements replaced in my 2014 under warranty. Unfortunately, the drivers seat base element went out again. The truck is well out of warranty at this point.

Can anyone speak to how difficult it is to replace this pad? I'm very mechanically inclined by trade and hobby... but when it comes to messing with leather seats I get nervous. Trying to decide if I can just buy the pad and do the swap myself. These are heated & cooled buckets.

Thanks

If they were replaced once by warranty, I would have the dealership replace them again. They should honor that.

Sorry, I don't know difficulty though, but I would not want to tackle taking leather covers off and putting them back on straight and tight.

TJay74 · September 23, 2016

GM warranties it for one year from the last time it was installed by the dealer under warranty. I have also been told GM warranties it longer, my dad had a fuel pump put in his 1996 Yukon under warranty. His dealer changed that pump an additional 4 times for free under warranty. I know the 12 month / 12,000 miles part is accurate at the minimum.

jj46 · September 26, 2016

Ok guys, thank you. I'll give the dealership a call and see what they say.

It may have been two years when they were replaced the first time, I honestly can't remember if it was last winter or the winter before. Will find out.

jj46 · October 5, 2016

If anyone is interested, I have a follow-up on this. I called the dealer and they quoted me $800-$900 to replace this heat pad. He said it could be less, but blah blah.

I bought the replacement pad for $115. It took me about an hour and a half to do the job. I did not have to remove the seat from the truck.

The job will try your patience, and scrape your knuckles... but as long as you take your time, don't rush, pay attention to all the little clips and such, it's not a difficult job. GM does a decent job of making it pretty fool proof as far as any wrinkles or whatever, my seat looks just as good as before the repair. BTW this was on a heated & ventilated seat.

Willyone · October 5, 2016

Good to know jj. Where/how did you find out the how to on the change out? Mine are currently working as they should (cloth seats and no vents) but ya never know when they might quit.

jj46 · October 5, 2016

Unfortunately unless you have GM documents I haven't been able to find any how-to for this job. I've pulled apart enough dashes and done enough work on cars I just had to figure it out as I went. The biggest thing is to remove the plastic with the adjustment switches on the side of the seat. There is a phillips head screw in front, and a torx in back. Once you get that out of the way, you can start undoing the clips that hold the seat cover on.

Willyone · October 5, 2016

Thanks !!

EFLine · October 6, 2016

Very good to know! My 2014 has had the heating element replaced 5 times under warranty and about 300 miles away from being outside the CPO warranty. Where did you buy the part?

jj46 · October 10, 2016

Very good to know! My 2014 has had the heating element replaced 5 times under warranty and about 300 miles away from being outside the CPO warranty. Where did you buy the part?

Wow that is ridiculous! It's amazing that such a weak heater is so prone to burning out. They do flex a lot as you get in and out of the seat, but from what I could tell the traces looked fairly wide and intact.

I just picked up the part at the dealer. For 2014 there are two versions though, based on the size of the plastic duct that connects to the blower. I was told there is no way of knowing which you need until you take yours out. Luckily though if you've had them replaced already, the service department can give you the part number used.