GUIDE: Heated seat repair.

[andrewjs18]

folks, how do I disable the SIR system?

I'm looking at a pdf that spriteman sent me and it says to disable it before removing the module.

 

[HotZ28]

Disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait one minute and then you can go to work. You don't need to pull the fuses. Disconnecting the cable will eliminate power going to the fuses.

 

[andrewjs18]

Disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait one minute and then you can go to work. You don't need to pull the fuses. Disconnecting the cable will eliminate power going to the fuses.

thanks.

I'm confirming that what bobbo said about not having to remove/unbolt the seat to be true: if you raise the seat as high as it can go and then tilt it back so the front tilts up while the back of the butt cushion dips down, you'll have plenty of access to unbolt the module.

one thing I'll mention that I needed to do because the 1 bolt is so close to the seat frame is remove the 2 bolts on the left and right side of the seat frame so that I could lift the seat cushion up to give me enough clearance to unbolt the 1 side of the heated seat module.

now that's out of the way, of course I swapped out the passenger side module (confirmed to work) with the driver's side and it still didn't work.

I've been talking with spriteman in e-mail and he seems to think it's likely a bad element.

do you gents know which wires need to be checked for continuity in the heating element?

as an aside, here's the guides that spriteman sent to me in e-mail with instructions on how to remove the seat and replace the module (there's 3 in here):
https://db.tt/jNnjQSwu

 

[andrewjs18]

no one?

 

[HotZ28]

do you gents know which wires need to be checked for continuity in the heating element?

Both elements (seat bottom & back) are wired in series, so if one goes out, you lose both. When you order new ones, you usually get a set, but if only the bottom is bad, that’s all you need to install. The elements are easy to install, but the seat cover removal/installation with the metal “bull rings” can be problematic. Some use Velcro, which is much easier.

The seat bottom & back heater plugs are the same, so make sure you are working with the correct one. (See Schematic & Heater Resistance) near the bottom.

Note: This schematic is ’96 PAU specific. I don’t think the heated seat circuit changed much, if any over the years.

 

[andrewjs18]

getting 0 continuity response from my multimeter on both the red/black and grey/grey wires on the 6 wire plug.

just to confirm the MM was working, I touched both probes together and it buzzed, like it should.

 

[cdkdc]

My pass. seat heat works, just not as warm as before. Would there be a different fix for this?

 

[buickpete61]

there is also a quick way to check without pulling fuses.

With the key ON/motor off and radio off. press the heated seat button to turn it on "HI" you should hear a click from under the seat. if it clicks once, then again within 10 seconds. you are getting power but you have a broken element. the issue will also cause this clicking when you press the button to go from "HI" to "LO" and will not allow you to turn off the seat, it will just switch back and forth to "HI" and "LO".
Use a multimeter on each element to determine which element is at fault and repair/replace the unit.

exactly what my 2005 lasabre does. thanks for your help

 

[buickpete61]

there is also a quick way to check without pulling fuses.

With the key ON/motor off and radio off. press the heated seat button to turn it on "HI" you should hear a click from under the seat. if it clicks once, then again within 10 seconds. you are getting power but you have a broken element. the issue will also cause this clicking when you press the button to go from "HI" to "LO" and will not allow you to turn off the seat, it will just switch back and forth to "HI" and "LO".
Use a multimeter on each element to determine which element is at fault and repair/replace the unit.

do you happen to know the 3 heating element numbers, or do they only come as a unit?? thank you.........Pete

 

[G-612750]

I just replaced the heat pads in my front drivers seat of my 2005 Buick Le Sabre. Before I did so the heat switch would go on high as it should, but when trying to switch to low and then off I had to continually push button many times before anything would happen., or simply just turn ignition off. The passengers seat works fine. But after heat pad install, which was fairly easy, now when I press heat switch nothing happens. No hi, low, no lights appear. On the front lower heat pad there is two wires coming out. Can these two wires be crossed??? Any ideas???? Thank you.........Pete

 

[weilandjason]

I just replaced the heat pads in my front drivers seat of my 2005 Buick Le Sabre. Before I did so the heat switch would go on high as it should, but when trying to switch to low and then off I had to continually push button many times before anything would happen., or simply just turn ignition off. The passengers seat works fine. But after heat pad install, which was fairly easy, now when I press heat switch nothing happens. No hi, low, no lights appear. On the front lower heat pad there is two wires coming out. Can these two wires be crossed??? Any ideas???? Thank you.........Pete

Most likely you need to remove and replace your heated seat control module. It is a box about 3.5" x 3.5" beige, blue, or black in color affixed with two screws with varying head types under the respective seat that the seat heater is not working on. I usually go to auto salvage yards and buy two to get one working module. Driver and passenger are the same so I try to scavenge both out of each salvaged vehicle. One electrical plug to the heated seat elements and one electrical plug to the heated seat door switch. I believe they usually burn out do to "static discharge" or something like that, also these modules are sensitive to the resistance within the elements of the heated seat and can burn out that way as well. . I have done several of these over the years and have never had to replace the heated seat control switch, though the illumination bulb of "heated seat" almost always burns out. Good luck.

 

[buickpete61]

Foe

Most likely you need to remove and replace your heated seat control module. It is a box about 3.5" x 3.5" beige, blue, or black in color affixed with two screws with varying head types under the respective seat that the seat heater is not working on. I usually go to auto salvage yards and buy two to get one working module. Driver and passenger are the same so I try to scavenge both out of each salvaged vehicle. One electrical plug to the heated seat elements and one electrical plug to the heated seat door switch. I believe they usually burn out do to "static discharge" or something like that, also these modules are sensitive to the resistance within the elements of the heated seat and can burn out that way as well. . I have done several of these over the years and have never had to replace the heated seat control switch, though the illumination bulb of "heated seat" almost always burns out. Good luck.

Do you happen to know the OEM part number for the heated seat control module????? All my local scrap yards do not have any Buick Le Sabre limited cars that would have one of these. Is there any other GM or Buick cars that have the same part???? Thank you.........Pete

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

This should be part number, but you may want to confirm on your vehicle.

2000-2013 GM Seat Heater Control Module 10399538 GM | GMPartsDirect.com

2000-2013 GM part # 10399538 - Seat Heater Control Module

www.gmpartsdirect.com

 

[buickpete61]

This should be part number, but you may want to confirm on your vehicle.

2000-2013 GM Seat Heater Control Module 10399538 GM | GMPartsDirect.com

2000-2013 GM part # 10399538 - Seat Heater Control Module

www.gmpartsdirect.com

Thank you for a quick reply. If you know it what is that door mounted high/low switch for the heated seats. Like I say when I push the button there is no light, but under drivers seat is a click. You said these are prone to burn out the LED lights. Again thank you......Pete

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Sorry but I only got you the part#, have no knowledge about the other items.

 

[buickpete61]

Sorry but I only got you the part#, have no knowledge about the other items.

Just to let you know I just received that heated seat control module and everything worked great. Not only was the heated seat working as it should, but the heated seat switch on the door was again working too. I thank you for your patience and to read my questions and to accurately answer them..............Pete

2000-2013 GM Control Module 10399538 | GMPartsDirect.com​

2000-2013 GM part # 10399538 - Control Module

www.gmpartsdirect.com

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Good to hear and just in time for summer lol, well at least you will be all good to go for next winter.

 

[msnott]

I know this is an old thread, but it is chock-full of helpful information as I am currently trying to make a repair to my heated seats. I'm hoping someone here might still be active and willing to offer solutions.

Here is what I discovered regarding my issue. . .

On the driver's side, when I pushed the heated seat button, the HI indicator light came on but no heat. The LO indicator light would not come on. I could not turn the HI indicator light off by pushing the heated seat button. In order to turn the light off, I had to turn the key off.

According to this thread, what this indicated was the the issue was in the element. When I pulled up the driver's side seat, I discovered it did have a break in the metal heating element. I tied the broken ends together to make the repair and checked for continuity on either side of the knot. All was good.

However, when I now press the button to turn on the heated seats, I hear the click, but the button no longer reads Hi or Low. It's simply blank, and the seat does not warm up. I checked the fuses, and all is good. Both connections going into the module under the seats are tight.

Any thoughts? Thanks!!

 

[BuickGirlFromMars]

I know this is an old thread, but it is chock-full of helpful information as I am currently trying to make a repair to my heated seats. I'm hoping someone here might still be active and willing to offer solutions.

Here is what I discovered regarding my issue. . .

On the driver's side, when I pushed the heated seat button, the HI indicator light came on but no heat. The LO indicator light would not come on. I could not turn the HI indicator light off by pushing the heated seat button. In order to turn the light off, I had to turn the key off.

According to this thread, what this indicated was the the issue was in the element. When I pulled up the driver's side seat, I discovered it did have a break in the metal heating element. I tied the broken ends together to make the repair and checked for continuity on either side of the knot. All was good.

However, when I now press the button to turn on the heated seats, I hear the click, but the button no longer reads Hi or Low. It's simply blank, and the seat does not warm up. I checked the fuses, and all is good. Both connections going into the module under the seats are tight.

Any thoughts? Thanks!!

sounds like your switch has always been a problem. if you read what I said before you would get a scan tool to look at the live data for them someone can be paid to look at this with theirs. High end

 

[RD_Atlanta]

A question for those who have repaired/replaced the LeSabre seat heating elements...has it been more 'typical' for one of the elements (back or bottom) to be broken? I thought possibly where the heaviest weight is applied (over time) might be more 'prone' to be the problem area? More specifically maybe where the hips apply pressure?