The seat back is supposed to heat as well? Looks like I might be making a trip to the dealership. Luckily it is still under warranty.

 

I have an '04 that I have been dealing with a drivers-side seat-heater issues since the day I bought it. I thought I was just unlucky but it's been out twice and now my warranty is up and I've been trying to decide on paying the $600.00 the dealer wants to re-install a "3rd!" heating element or not. The heated seats are a joke in these cars!

 

If they attempted to fix it under warranty and couldn't and now your warranty is up they have to resolve the problem without any cost to you. That's what they're doing for my rear end rattle... although I do get a mouthful every time my car goes in to any dealer.

If they say they can't do that call Chrysler and file a complaint (1-800-922-1997) make sure you know your vin#... good luck!

 

I brought mine in on Friday since the seat back was not heating up. Of course, they did not have the parts on hand so it will be another trip back. I hope I don't have the same problems that others have encountered after replacing the heating elements.

Kevin

 

Another mis-leading title.

Where's the "HOT" butt? I was expecting something like this .

 

Is it normal for after maybe 5 minutes of use of the seat heater, that the control unit automatically drops it to the "low" setting?

 

Yes, otherwise you may catch fire
You can always push the button one more time if you like that kind of thing

 

Thanks 04Fire... I did call Chrysler regarding the issue but they said that it's a specific dealership problem and the dealership that I bought my car from is out of business. Just unfortunate for me! Believe me I have tried calling, writing letters, sending emails and even posting comments (like this one) and all I get from the various dealerships that I have taken my car to and called is ..."The Heated seat system is faulty in '04's, especially on the drivers-side." So if yours is working properly and you've had no issue's, consider yourself lucky. But after reading these post and hearing soooo many complaints about the seats, I just don't have any faith in them. I truly think they are a design flaw from Chrysler.

 

As was the OPs intent.

 

Just Repaired Both Seat Heater In Seats Bottom Seat Back Driver Bottom Passenger.

It Looked More Like The Wire Braking Into From Movement Not Over Heating.

This Was On My Seats Just Soldered The Wire Back Together And Hot Glued Every Thing Back In Place.

Module Checked Ok. Wasn't To Hard To Do. Good Luck With Your Repair.

Bought Used And Found Plug Disconnected From Module.

 

Usually when this problem occurs it is not the seat elements that are faulty, it is the "Control Unit" that will cause the elements to burn out. When I had issues back in early 2005 my seats where replaced entirely and the Tech also installed a new "Control Unit". My Dealer ordered new seat backs & bottoms, sent the car out to an Upholstery shop for installation the car was returned and then the Tech installed the new Control Unit. I have not had an issue with my seats since.

 

Snakewolf,

I'm very interested in your home repair for this problem. How hard was it to peel back the upholstery to find the heating units. Also exactly which wires were damaged?

 

Removed Everything With Help Of Service Manual. Removed Seat Took Inside And Did Repair Close To Computer Also It Is Cool I Am In The Sweat Capital Of The Us.

You Will Easily See The Wire That Brakes Or Is Burned Into Where The Wires Come Together.

Just Take Your Time And You Will See Everything Nothing Is Hid.

Did Not Take Pitchures Because Everything Was Visible. You Might Look At Repair For Range Rover Seats Just Type In Repair Heated Seats Under Search. This Will Help On Wire Location.

Lookup And Read All Threads For Seat Repair In This Forum.

Sorry I Always Belived That If I Can Repair It Any One Can.

I Was Trained Buy A Monkey,

 

Will be paying a steep price for staying off the forum for a while. Warranty is over....thougt I ad a heate problem, as the back gets warm, but the seat stays cool. Was sure that both got warm when I first brought my baby home. Now with fall here and winter coming I see that there are many problems with the heated seats. Rats! Can't afford $600 to get a bun warmer. At least the back still functions. Haven't bothered to check the passenger side.

 

Never did get my drivers seat working (bottom or back) however the passengers side works perfect! Had it repaired by dealer and it burnt out or stopped working and then they just replaced the whole seat and it worked for a coupole weeks then stopped again ...Strange? I'm convinced it's just a faulty design. I took it to an upholster and he took it all apart, called me and was stumpted at how these seats ever heat. He said the heating wires were just hot-glued to faom and that couldn't possibly be all there was to it? But oh well, I finally gave up on it as it was costing too much money.

 

Sometimes it is a combination of problems, if the elements keep burning out then it is the control module that is faulty.

 

Where is the seat heater - control module located?

 

The switches and the module are one unit....

 

The Heated Seat System will operate only when the Ignition Switch is in the ACC or ON/RUN position. The Heated Seat Module receives switched power through Fuse 1 and non-switched power through Fuse 24 in the Underhood Accessory Fuse Block. Individual illuminated Heated Seat Switches control each seat and are designed as toggle switches that return automatically to their original position after being pressed. The switches and control module for the heated seats are consolidated into a block with other switches to form a Switch Group. Switch illumination is provided through instrumentation lighting. The Heated Seat Control Module controls the differing electrical power consumption requirements of the heated seats in each heating stage and heating time.

 

I just installed SLK seats in my base model. They have seat heaters so I hooked them up to 12 volts and ground. I was not impressed. My questions are how long does it normally take for these to heat up? Are the heaters in the sides of the seats or the middle? Are they supposed to get noticabley warm to the touch. I was in a cold garage (34*F) and it seemed like the seat just got less cold (not really warm) after about 2-3 min. It could also be my mind playing tricks on me because I want them to work so bad lol.