Drivers Heated Seat Failure
12-01-2010, 02:28 PM
#1
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Ontario
Posts: 117
Drivers Heated Seat Failure
Hey everyone!
Finally acquired my first Audi and it requires some love to bring things a little bit back.
As the title says the heated seat in the drivers side doesnt work well - sometimes just your legs.
My guess is that its worn out - I will check the connections later - I just wondered if anyone has tried buying a seat where the heater works and switching them?
I havent even looked at tearing it appart, so it might be very complex - but I talked with a guy last night and he seemed to think it wasnt a big chore.
I also saw that other thread where the replacement heaters are being used... I was thinking I could get a deal on a seat and tear it appart - even if it was a passenger seat.
Thanks
Chad
Finally acquired my first Audi and it requires some love to bring things a little bit back.
As the title says the heated seat in the drivers side doesnt work well - sometimes just your legs.
My guess is that its worn out - I will check the connections later - I just wondered if anyone has tried buying a seat where the heater works and switching them?
I havent even looked at tearing it appart, so it might be very complex - but I talked with a guy last night and he seemed to think it wasnt a big chore.
I also saw that other thread where the replacement heaters are being used... I was thinking I could get a deal on a seat and tear it appart - even if it was a passenger seat.
Thanks
Chad
12-01-2010, 06:00 PM
#3
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 180
Re: Drivers Heated Seat Failure
my guess as I have never ran into this problem, is the heating elements inside the seat are worn out, failing..
I'm not sure if there is a quick fis, but a i don't think its as simple as taking it out.. i think that would mean riping apart the whole seat..
If it is the case of a bad seat heater, it may be cheaper to find someone parting out and buying the seat off them and switching them out.
I'm not sure if there is a quick fis, but a i don't think its as simple as taking it out.. i think that would mean riping apart the whole seat..
If it is the case of a bad seat heater, it may be cheaper to find someone parting out and buying the seat off them and switching them out.
12-01-2010, 08:41 PM
#4
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: South of Heaven
Posts: 117
Re: Drivers Heated Seat Failure
There can be a number of things that go on these seats but typically it stops them from working. If you have one pad or another that is working then it sounds like one of the connections are bad or the seat harness isn't plugged in properly. There is a temp sensor for the elements in the seats and sometimes these go which can cause odd temps or the seat heater won't work at all. I am not sure about the Audi but on my Corrado there is a control unit for each seat so you can check for this and if it is the case you can swap the control units and see if it changes anything. The heating elements in the seats can also burn through but typically this stops the seat from heating at all. If you can you may want to switch the switches and see if this makes any difference.
12-02-2010, 06:20 AM
#6
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Ontario
Posts: 117
Re: Drivers Heated Seat Failure
Yeah, I will check the physical connections for sure - see if something has come loose.
I definetly have heat on the back of my legs, but everywhere else is shot.
The passenger seat will roast you out in 2 minutes...
I have the blue/tan (white?) interior - so I am guessing there are many more black leather guts out there than the tan stuff.
Anyone taken the seat apart before?
Chad
I definetly have heat on the back of my legs, but everywhere else is shot.
The passenger seat will roast you out in 2 minutes...
I have the blue/tan (white?) interior - so I am guessing there are many more black leather guts out there than the tan stuff.
Anyone taken the seat apart before?
Chad
12-02-2010, 06:21 AM
#7
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Ontario
Posts: 117
Re: Drivers Heated Seat Failure
Yeah, I will check the physical connections for sure - see if something has come loose.
I definetly have heat on the back of my legs, but everywhere else is shot.
The passenger seat will roast you out in 2 minutes...
I have the blue/tan (white?) interior - so I am guessing there are many more black leather guts out there than the tan stuff.
Anyone taken the seat apart before?
Chad
I definetly have heat on the back of my legs, but everywhere else is shot.
The passenger seat will roast you out in 2 minutes...
I have the blue/tan (white?) interior - so I am guessing there are many more black leather guts out there than the tan stuff.
Anyone taken the seat apart before?
Chad
12-02-2010, 09:17 PM
#8
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: South of Heaven
Posts: 117
Re: Drivers Heated Seat Failure
It's not really that hard, the heading pat sits under the cover so you just need to get the upper and lower cover loose and then work the pad out. The rear plastic seat cover has two hooks on the bottom and the seat cover holds it in place around the rest of it. The lower cover would be held in with hog ring clips that would need to be removed before the cover would come up. You can also do some tracing with the wiring diagrams to see if there is continuity in the heating element. I have never checked the manual to see if there are any documented trouble shooting steps for the seat heaters so this would be worth a try.
12-03-2010, 06:42 AM
#9
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Ontario
Posts: 117
Re: Drivers Heated Seat Failure
Going to head to a wrecking yard tomorrow where they have half a dozen seats listed online and see what I can find.
Anyone know if the connections for driver and passenger seats are in the same area/side - meaning if I put passenger heaters on the driver seat, will the wires be in the right spot to hook them up?
Chad
Anyone know if the connections for driver and passenger seats are in the same area/side - meaning if I put passenger heaters on the driver seat, will the wires be in the right spot to hook them up?
Chad
12-06-2010, 06:57 AM
#10
Audi Forum - Posts like an A4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Ontario
Posts: 117
Re: Drivers Heated Seat Failure
Well I went to the yard on Saturday and bought an old passenger seat from an A4.
I started tearing it appart to get at the heater and quickly realized that I dont think I can get my seat back together properly if I was going to try and put these heaters in.
On the seat, each of the ribs that are defined are attached to the lower part of the seat with these little metal clips. I managed to cut them off on the old seat, but I have no idea how I would replace them if I decided to tear my seat apart.
Anyway, I have the back and lower cushion on my floor right now - I havent tried the heaters yet to see if they will even work again... Anyone pulled their seats apart before?! lol
Chad
I started tearing it appart to get at the heater and quickly realized that I dont think I can get my seat back together properly if I was going to try and put these heaters in.
On the seat, each of the ribs that are defined are attached to the lower part of the seat with these little metal clips. I managed to cut them off on the old seat, but I have no idea how I would replace them if I decided to tear my seat apart.
Anyway, I have the back and lower cushion on my floor right now - I havent tried the heaters yet to see if they will even work again... Anyone pulled their seats apart before?! lol
Chad
