There's a few threads on the go about failure of the heated seats.
I'm starting a new one in what I perceive as the correct forum area.
Just over a year ago my driver's heated seat bottom failed - this was due to the first element, which is just at the back of your knees, this is where the power enters the seat cushion elements and is fead to the other 3 element (rear and each side). It failed again about a month ago, this time I have been told that I require a new seat cushion - they cost ~$400-$700 depending on VIN #. Originally I was planning on bypassing whichever element was broken - I assumed they were wired in series as none of the elements are warming up. After mulling it over I decided on installing one larger element, and just tap into the existing wiring.
There's two sites I've found which offer heating elements:
www.heatmyseats.com (my preference)
www.heatedseatkits.com

I plan on doing this over Christmas when I have some spare time - I'll let you know how it goes.
Attached are the installation instruction if anyone is interested.

 

Nice find and nice job!

What material are the elements in the xFire seats made of? CF? Copper? Nickel?

They seem to fail way too easily.

I should have mine back from the dealer tomorrow afternoon. All 4 elements replaced.

Under warranty fortunately!

 

Please try and find out if they replaced all 4 elements, or the whole seat cushion - if it's all 4 elements then part numers etc would be ideal.
Both dealers I have contacted say that I need a new seat cushion - I prefer the current setup over the one I described above - the one above does not warm the side bolsters.
If it's a choice of $400+ for a new cushion or a cold @$$ - I'll take the cold @$$!!!

 

I'll let you know tomorrow PM?

Thanks again!

M

 

hey spence, nice find...I am wanting to install seat heaters in my wifes Mazda 6, she is always complaining about not having them, since everything else we own does...looks like a simple install and a grt Xmas present to get off my butt...but warm hers...

 

if you can use any of their aftermarket heated seat units let me know as we get sdiscounts thru them...
http://www.rostra.com/

 

I went for:
CD-SPS-03A Large 10"x20" Single Pad Carbon Fiber...
www.heatmyseats.com
I plan on cutting all the controls off and just connecting the wires.
I'll do it over the Christmas holidays, then I'll post results.

 

spensly,

I work with a lot of high current/low voltage heater circuits, and was wondering, since you have first-hand experiecnce, if the basic mode of failure is the connectors. If so, this is without question a design error and can be argued (with any success?) on repairs for those past warranty.

 

Here is a reply I rec from heatedseatkits.com:

 

I've been attempting to load the instructions I've written for the last half hour, but with no luck. Maybe soon I'll be able to share with you how/what I've done by installing an aftermarket seat heating pad.

 

Well I did the repair to my seat over Christmas - attached is a quick write-up.
For this thread I wanted to attach all 4 documents that I have gathered/created but the forum will not let me attach them again.
The 4 attachments if I could add them would be:

• Mopar Installation instructions for the official Mopar repair which just replaces the front heating element.
• A picture showing what you get for your $85 in the above kit.
• The aftermarket pdf document attached earlier in this thread.
• The attachment here which briefly shows what I have done.

 

Thanks Spensley, great information to have.

 

Hey all . . . I posted my repair in another thread . . .kit from Mopar was $99.00 to do ONE seat, bottom and back (if needed) . . . have detailed pics of complete fix. My two cents worth . . . as this was an issue on the MB SLK unit, it should be warranty. It looked like where they tied up the wire to the seat, to keep it from moving or whatever . . .it was too tight and cut/broke the wire.

Then, once the heater element is not working, it can cause the control unit to fail . . . sort of a cascade failure. . . .

I have heated seats in my 2006 Magnum, and no problem at all . . . have almost 60k miles on the car now. So can assume Mopar got it right on this one . . .

Cheers

Mark
A12Rag

 

Any chance you could post a link for us to that thread?

 

Spensly . . .here is start of when I repaired the seat . . .

Hey everyone . . . I just picked up the Seat Repair Kit from my dealer. . . . I have attached a few pics, showing the part number and contents. . . . it has the instruction sheets included. When I get some more time I will scan and add these. Will let you know how it works out . . . .

Mark
A12Rag

PS - Interesting to read on the instruction sheet bottom corner :

K6855424 TP Instruction Sheet
Date : November 20, 2002

Would seem like this was an issue with the SLK that Merc. or Chry. did
not address when they built the XF !!!
Attached Thumbnails
Attached Files Heat Seat Repair Kit Instructions.pdf (517.7 KB, 57 views)

Last edited by a12rag : 02-02-2008 at 07:22 AM . Reason: Adding Instruction Sheet Document

[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MARKLI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MARKLI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg[/IMG]

 

Here is thread with the photos . . . .

Re: Heated Seats - 04-26-2008 , 03:12 PM

Hey all . . . FINALLY after all this time, I was able to work on the Crossfire today and fix the drivers side seat heater - seat bottom. The kit that I got and described earlier, is for ONE seat. It will fix either the bottom (with new element), or the back with new connector . . . anyhow, I have uploaded pics and description of the repair (step by step) . . . I think the hardest part was following the instructions that were provided. However, was able to complete this in about 2hrs. probably could have done it quicker, but was trying to be very fussy about it . . .anyhow, repair is great, with seat heat happening !!

The pics are at the attached URL . . note that you have to start on page 3 and go backwards to page 1. Don't know why they uploaded in reverse order . . . .

Anyhow, hope that helps all . .

Cheers

Mark

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rapom70/page3/

 

I had that repair done on my drivers seat just over a year ago, then when the seat stopped heating again just before Christmas I did the same repair and it didn't work, that's why I had to replace the whole heating element on my seat. My heating elements were broken elsewhere, which according to the dealer meant I would need to buy a new seat bottom cushion (covered and eveything) which was going to cost about $400 (model/year dependant).

 

Spensley, how are your seats working with the single pad install? It looks like you just cut the wiring and ran the single pad to the main harness.... which only had 2 wires, supposing + & -, or red and black. Simple enough if so. Afterwards everything worked as normal? ie. dual temp setting? Thanks. Both of mine are out and its getting cold so I want to go ahead and get my seats squared away. Everyone says there are 4? total per seat? I assume Lower back, bottom center, and 2 x bottom sides is this correct? If so, does the one larger pad compensate enough heat compared to 4 heating pads?

Sorry for such overload, I just want to get it right the first time, Thanks mercedez for leaving this to us.

 

Did the pad work from heatmyseats.com and has any one checked the voltage going out to seat.
I had 4 volts when switched off? 13 on high and 8 on low.but my other seat had 0 when switched off.

 

Success with a new pad from heat my seats.