H2 Heated Seats

[hummercanuck]

Requesting advice on a Hummer H2 03 that I recently purchased:



Both front heated seats don't work. Rears heat fine. When I select the heat switch on either front side, the 3 indicator lights flash once and go out. I can hear the relays 'click', but no heat or sustained light indication. All fuses are in working order.



Side note, all the driver seat functions work, except the front lap -'seat height' portion. (not sure if these problems are connected).



I have read some forums that suggest the problem could be the Body Control Module, but no reply's to confirm/deny.



Anyone else encounter a similar problem?



Thanks in advance for your reply.



HC

[normsadler]

I had problems this winter with the heated seats turning off intermittently, or me turning on my seat causing my wife's to go off, and also at times loosing power to the seat position controls. I thought the plug underneith the drivers seat was just loose, wiggling it seemed to make the seat work again. I finally took the plug apart and found that a couple of the connectors where burnt and the main power cables where corroded and melted. I removed the two main cables from the connector, and joined them with a wire connector outside of the plug. The seats have been working perfectly ever since.

[MasterMechanic]

you have a tricky problem and i have seen it all too many times. i really dont have enough time to write everything to check but i will say that one seat will not work unless the other seat works fine. they use several modules and separate seat heaters to accomplish heated seats. there is a disgnosis procedure to follow and several things to look at. if i had to guess i would say that the drivers seat cushion heater pad is burnt out. this is the most common issue and it will give you the problem that you have. you will need a mechanic to look at it and follow the steps properly to find the problem quickly and hopefully inexpensive. if you need any other help please let me know thanks

[hummercanuck]

Thanks guys for your inputs. Appreciate it!



HC

[hummercanuck]

Update: Have taken the H2 into the shop. Turns out the problem is the actual heating element under the seat. All other systems/relays work.



New problem: GM parts department has informed me that the heated seats element for the H2 has been discontinued, and there are none available.



Any advice on hunting down a replacement element aftermarket? Haven't seen any on the internet. Does anyone know if I can use the element from a different vehicle?



Thank you,



J

[dwaxman1]

did you try gmpartsdirect.com?

[JL]

Depending on what parts department you visited.. I used to get parts from Shaw but found that they were not overly helpful! My opinion is they will just tell you anything to get rid of you. I started buying parts from Shaganappi and their parts counter MUCH better staffed, not to mention they could always get a part faster for Shaw and also charge LESS?! Shaw's full of crooks...



Anyway long story short it can pay to try multiple dealers because for some crazy reason they might all give you a different answer! Shaganappi has been pretty good to me in the past so might be worth giving them a try. They even have an online parts request system and they're really good about giving you a callback within a few hours. http://www.shaganappi.com/parts/index.htm



Another trick I learned... on the request page where it asks for a part number, if instead you write a short description of the part you're looking for they're pretty forgiving!

[hummercanuck]

The Result:



Wanted to post a follow-up in case anyone came across the same issue.



Had a mechanic look at the seats, followed the electrical trail, problem was the seat heating element. Due to use/wear, the elements had fried. With one seat not working, it prevents both front seats from working.



Stupid GM design: the heating element is integral to the leather seat. Can't buy a replacement element alone. A new leather seat cover is $600 from GM, and that's if you can find one (no longer produced).



I was able to find a scrap hummer with matching leather. Swapped the seat leathers = warm bum!



Cheers, J.

[dwaxman1]

tell HeavyDe, "Darcy" about where you found the scrapped Hummer.... he will want it..the entire or what is left of the truck...