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Heated seat stopped working.

nhproxr

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nhproxr Enthusiast

nhproxr

Posted
Posted

This past winter the drivers side heated seat in my Yukon stopped working. Anyone have any ideas?? I figured it is a good summer project to get it working again. How hard to work on it, I need to do a new seat cover on the seat bottom anyways, so maybe a good time?

nhproxr Enthusiast

nhproxr

Posted
  • Author
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First place I looked, fuses all good. I've been told the fine wires in the element, similar to wires in defroster, may break after being sat on for so long??? :banghead:

GMCTech Enthusiast

GMCTech

Posted
Posted

The heated seat element is actually pretty rugged. Only seen one bad element in the dozen or so seats that I've done.

 

What year is your truck?

 

You'll need to see if power is getting to the element, unfortunately there is no easy way to manage that test.

The cover comes fairly easily and the element is right there, so maybe you can start there.

The only other way is to hit the dealership up to diagnose it - they can hook up the ol' Tech2 and see the status of the seat, and whether or not the element is commanded on. - But then of course you gotta dish out the $$$.

 

I say try it yourself, we'll try to help you through any problems.

 

Hope this helps.

nhproxr Enthusiast

nhproxr

Posted
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Truck is a '98. Your saying pull the cover off and test for power at the plug for the element. How are the seat covers held on, cause I actually am going to be replacing the lower cover. I don't imagine they still use hog rings, probably some fancy clip now???

Quadrasteer Enthusiast

Quadrasteer

Posted
Posted

They had a problem with those seat elements in those years. That's why the new ones are not as hot. Mabye someone with a service manual could e-mail you the test procedure. Sometimes you can ask a tech and they will print it out and even give you some tips. I've done it many times.

GMCTech Enthusiast

GMCTech

Posted
Posted

The cover ids held on by long strips of plastic J-channel. Just put a long screwdriver between the channel and the steel frame of the seat, and pry apart.

 

The back seam is hooked with 2 pieces of j channel (sort-of) and those too can be pried apart with a screwdriver.

 

Once you have that off, you should be able to locate the plug for the heating element pretty easily.

 

Since it is a '98 it is possible that the element is bad as Quadrasteer said above. I was thinking that your truck was newer than that.

 

It should be pretty simple to test, just push the heated seat button, and test at the connector for 12v power.

 

Hope this helps.

nhproxr Enthusiast

nhproxr

Posted
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Thanks for the help guys, I'll test it out soon.

 

Intruder, are you sure the element is sewn right in, or is there just a pocket it slips into? My wife called while I was at work and got a price for the lower leather seat cover of $362 and a new element for $76. There was no mention of the element being sewn right in, and I would think they wouldn't have different part numbers??

sonjaab Senior Enthusiast

sonjaab

Posted
Posted

NH............GM has had quite a few problems with the bun warmers

lately. Prob. another 3rd world quality part !

I see a LOT of failures posted in the Caddy forums !

 

My bun warmers failed in my 02 Caddy. They had to replace the entire

seat bottom. Pretty SPENDY too ! Good thing for warranty !

 

Call the Chevy customer 800#, have your vin# handy............

There might be a "silent" recall for your truck !

 

I called on my gf 96 Blazer and got the wiper motor (crummy circuit

board solder job) replaced FREE !

Dealer played stupid BTW. But were suprised when I rolled in with the

GM replacement id # and got it fixed ! ............geo

intruder217 Enthusiast

intruder217

Posted
Posted
Intruder, are you sure the element is sewn right in, or is there just a pocket it slips into?  My wife called while I was at work and got a price for the lower leather seat cover of $362 and a new element for $76.  There was no mention of the element being sewn right in, and I would think they wouldn't have different part numbers??

I only know what the dealer found out after a rather lengthy part search. I gave up on the heated seat as soon as it got warm out. I'll probably have to take the seat apart to confirm what they told me.

Please post back when you learn more.

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