2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Heated seat replacement

[TURBOs4LIFE]

Last winter my heated seat went out, I took to the dealer thinking it was covered under warranty... . wrong it is not! They wanted to charge me $800. 00 to replace. $600 for the seat and $200 for labor! I want my heated seat back! So my question is if I got the seat my self (bottom section) Can it be replaced by me? Has anyone replace a bottom section of a seat before? Any info would be helpful. . THANKS

 

[dzlcrayz]

Heated Seat

Go to a different dealer! I had to have mine fixed 2 different times. The first time it was just the relay switch, you might want to check that first. The switch would light up then go off within a matter of seconds. The second time it was the seat itself and the dealer replaced it, no questions asked. The WHOLE bottom seat cover was replaced because on the 01 the heater element is sewn into the leather seat cover itself. It is actually rather easy to replace, just a plug for the heater and the plastic attachments to keep it on the foam. I have 32k on my truck right now, how many miles are on your truck?

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

Can you tell me where the relay is located? When I push the button for the seat the little LED lights blink for a few seconds.

I have close to 67,000 miles on my truck. They told me it was not covered under the extended warranty? I have taken to two different ones and still the same answer! I will take to another if they are not telling the truth? But one things for sure I AM NOT going to pay them $200 for labor for a 30 min job!

 

[dzlcrayz]

SURE

TURBOs4LIFE,

Be glad to share what I know with you. The relay switch for your seat heater is in with your fuse box on the drivers side inside the cab, If you have added any type of wiring into that fuse block by using a spade adapter for the mini-fuse or just a wire along with the fuse you can actually cause a loose connection in the back of the fuse block. Mine was loose from this very thing, the dealer replaced the relay anyway and they pushed on the backside of the fuse block to ensure that everything was plugged in good and tight. I believe the mechanic told me that the relay was actually good and it was just losing the signal from the fuse block being loose. I always check to make sure this is snug after I replace any fuses now. You have to stick your arm up the backside of the fuse block(tight fit for big arms & small ones) to push on it from the back. Hope this helps. It definitely sounds like your relay switch though, that is what mine did the first time around, second time around nothing lit up.

 

[RKohn]

I'm in trouble too!!!

The one in the wife's van is out. Not the fuse or the breaker.



Cold seat = colder shoulder. :-{}

 

[otis]

When my seat warmer stoped working on my 01, I found a broken wire in the seat foam. I just sodered it back together with some good silver soder and haven't had a problem since.

 

[Weidner]

heated seats

I just installed some heated leather seats into my truck that came with cloth. If you have the wiring diagram, it should not be tough to fix those cold seats. Check for broken or loose connections.

I work at a dealer for a non-DC car line - we have heated seats in at least half the cars that come in, our guys replace the leather with the heaters in them in about an hour, really easy. Good luck.

 

[JHansen]

You can figure out what is wrong for sure by which LED blinks when you try to activate the seat. My '01 piled up the driver's side one-turned out to be a broken wire in the heat grid. The newer '01's-I'm gonna take a guess at the 2001. 5's-have the heater grid separate from the seat cover where the older ones do not-lot cheaper to fix the newer ones.



If you post which LED is flashing I'll have a look in my service manual for ya.....



Jason

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

Its the low light that is blinking,I assuming that it means the bottom is at fault? If i unplug the back rest heater the high light blinks,so it must be the bottom? I tested the relay its good. All fuses are good as well. I am hoping its just a wire broke it the seat itself! I'll post what I find out.

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

warm buns

I have warm buns again... ...

Otis you were right!! It was a broken wire right were the wire goes into the seat. The wires are held into place with hot glue.

This is not good for stress relief for the wires! I re-soldered and put down some more hot glue and WOOOOHOOOO it works!!!Oo. Oo. Oo. Thanks for all the help I just saved $800 smackers