Drivers side back only heating up. Anyone find this is an issue with the need to resolder element or another solution.

 

Some have been able to resolder and fix the problem, others have had to replace the element.

 

Don’t waste your time trying to repair the OEM heater

Just get the heat pad that can be cut to size and solder it in the the existing harness. It’s really easy to do but the seat needs to come out and the upholstery needs to be pulled back

The pads are available on EBay (i know I have the box from the pads I’ll check my parts bins tomorrow). I believe there are a few posts about this on the forum and a few replacement DIY videos on YouTube

 

Charlie Schidmt has managed to solder together broken seat elements - I watched him do it at a tech day at Tricia's in Georgia.
He takes the seat right out of the car, inverts it, and goes at it.

I've never done it but Iv'e seen him do it.

 

When you say invert, are you meaning taking the seat skins off and turning them inside out? Or, when he pulls the seats out he flips them upside down and can fix them without "tearing" into the seat? I'm just trying to find a better way then pulling the seat covers off. Thank you in advance

 

He simply yanks the seats out and turns the seat over, and fixes the heating element with a soldering iron.
I think he had to remove part of the motor assembly in order to get to the underside but I really cant remember.
I had a picture of him doing it on an old phone.. but that's gone.

 

Remove seats
If you are replacing the element in the back, it’s a lot easier to separate the seat and back. If your not sure if you’ll be able to put it back together, take lots of pictures or video to help you with assembly. You don’t want to mess around with the existing heat element. It broke for a reason and it’s way more work trying to repair it. Just replace it.

12V Carbon Fiber Universal Car Seat Heater Element Seat Warmer Heated Pad Kit. Make sure the pads in the kit or pad only can be cut. The element is placed on the foam, below the cover

I could not find any other way to repair these without removing them and pulling back the covers. It’s not hard to do but it does take time

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/184605171689


I did both seats and back for both passenger and driver 5 years ago and they still work perfectly.