November 26, 2023
It's chilly outside. You flip on that switch that looks like a picture of a seat with little heat waves rising from it. You expect soon you'll feel that warmth but… wait! It's not getting warmer. Oh no, what's wrong with my seat heater? There could be lots of reasons it's not working, and it could be as simple as a fuse or as major as the heating element itself. But it's something to leave to a pro to diagnose and repair.
Let's say it turns out to be a blown fuse. Simply replacing the fuse may not fix it because there was a reason the fuse blew in the first place. It's possible the on-off switch has worn out or corroded. Perhaps the wiring connection isn't completing the circuit (could be corroded or full of dirt) or the voltage reaching the heating element isn't correct.
There's a little sensor that keeps track of the seat heater's temperature called the thermistor. When the seat is hot enough, it will stop the juice from heating it any more. Sometimes those fail. But if all of these components are healthy, you may need a new heater element.
Those seat-heating elements are made up of wires that get sat on. A lot. That can put significant strain on them. Putting something heavy on the seat can break them. Or, if you put your knees on the seat cushion as you're getting something in a rear seat, that can also damage the element. Sometimes they can be repaired but often they have to be replaced. And here is where the technician's expertise comes into play. That heater element is attached to the seat's fabric and replacing it can be tricky. It also can require disassembling a lot of the seat to access it.
Seat heaters are a wonderful feature and they make your vehicle oh, so much cozier. So keep them working and enjoy the warmth!
Tuffy Wyoming
4315 Clyde Park Ave. SW
Wyoming, Michigan 49509
616.534.8643
March 2, 2025
After months of postponing travel far away from home, a lot of us can't wait to hit the road and scream "Road Trip!" again. But how long has it been since the vehicle you're planning on taking has had a thorough inspection? And is it roadworthy for several days on the highway? Time to schedule a... More
February 23, 2025
Talk about exquisite choreography; it happens under the hood of your vehicle every time you take a drive. Your engines many complex parts must work exactly together. One key is a part called a timing belt, which enables the synchronizing of two of your engines components, the camshaft, and the ... More
February 16, 2025
Maybe your vehicle feels like Breaking Bad. In other words, when you brake, things are bad. You may find it takes you a longer distance to stop, you feel a vibration, or its pulsating when you depress the brake pedal, or perhaps your vehicle pulls to one side. Those can be symptoms of failing b... More