Heated Seats
heated seats
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New User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3
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heated seats
The heated seats in my 03 EB work, but they aren't very hot. Here's the problem though: They turn off after 20 minutes or so (normal operation) but then I can't turn them back on without turning off and restarting the vehicle. Any suggestions?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
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From: Blue Hill Township
I would be willing to bet there is something shorting out in the seat. You will have to pull it apart to look.
We had the drivers side heated seat replaced twice in our 2000 Expy due to the element burning out. Luckily, it was under warranty.
We had the drivers side heated seat replaced twice in our 2000 Expy due to the element burning out. Luckily, it was under warranty.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 44
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Any one have the problem that it just takes forever before they get hot? My Grand Cherokee would get hot in a few minutes but my expy don't get hot until well after its blowing hot air. defeats the purpose if you ask me.
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New User
Joined: Nov 2005
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In regards to the heated/cooled seats it is my understanding that these seats do not use a heating element but instead use engine heat. I do not know if this heat is supplied by warm ducted air or possibly engine coolant to the seat!?
In any event look around the seat base for small chunks of foam rubber. It appears some vehicles have seat cushions that are disintegrating. The cushions have channels in them for airflow and these get clogged by pieces of foam rubber. I believe there is a TSB on this problem.
In any event look around the seat base for small chunks of foam rubber. It appears some vehicles have seat cushions that are disintegrating. The cushions have channels in them for airflow and these get clogged by pieces of foam rubber. I believe there is a TSB on this problem.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2004
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I have an '06 Expy with the climate controlled seats. It does appear that they use the vehicle's heating/cooling system to control the seats. That's Ok in the summer when you want to cool them, but it sucks in the winter. Have to wait for the engine to warm up to get any heat.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,983
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^Ok, if you hvae the heated/cooled seats, you gotta live with the poor performance. Rather than using a resistive heating element, these seats use a TED (Thermo electric device). It is a semi conductor that produces heat when current flows one way, cold when polarity is reversed. A ducted fan moves the heat/cold throughout the seats. Like snapman says, the ducting in the cushioning can deteriorate and prevent the flow of air.
Even if that is perfect, you do NOT get as insantaneous nor significant temperature variance.
Even if that is perfect, you do NOT get as insantaneous nor significant temperature variance.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 249
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seats
hkiefus is absolutely correct---these heated/cooled seats could not possibly use engine coolant or refrigerant to operate them---think of the plumbing. That being said---the unit that cools when current flows one way and heats when current flows the other way is really far less efficient than the typical resistance heating unit found in just heated seats---like a toaster---
So those of us that have the heated/cooled seats have to live with the slow heat up --- but I really like the cooling feature---on hot days it's really nice.
It might be in my head but I find if when I want the seat hot if I flip the switch from heat to cool (let it sit there for couple seconds) and back to heat it seems to heat faster---can that be? I dunno.
But as hkiefus says---live with the slow heat up cause you can cool your toosh in the summer!
So those of us that have the heated/cooled seats have to live with the slow heat up --- but I really like the cooling feature---on hot days it's really nice.
It might be in my head but I find if when I want the seat hot if I flip the switch from heat to cool (let it sit there for couple seconds) and back to heat it seems to heat faster---can that be? I dunno.
But as hkiefus says---live with the slow heat up cause you can cool your toosh in the summer!
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2004
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Originally Posted by hkiefus
^You are so funny! I found the heat-cool-heat switch ends up heating the seat up faster too. I have NO idea why.
