jsherid1

A little background:

I purchased a set of 8-way heated seats from Roger a week or so ago and they are in great shape and I am happy with the value without the heaters working--just want to be clear that this is in no way a complaint about the seats I purchased. But with "Global Warming" resulting in low single digit temps here in Dallas it would be great to have them working.

We put them into the car, installed a 7.5 amp fuse in the proper slot (8 I think) and while the seats move and function properly and there is power to both heating switches the seats do not heat up. (Neither does).

Sean and I looked up the old threads on heated seats and it generally talked about relays and elements. Any thoughts on what the cause could be? I am thinking it might be the relays but any other advice would be welcomed.

jayc67

I believe, and I'm going off memory here (I had trouble about 10 years ago with mine) that there is a single relay for both, and it's under the drivers seat. I'm fuzzy on that though, been a long time.

I'm pretty sure I had to replace a relay but I can't remember if there was just one or if there were 2.

I think I have a wiring diagram, let me see if I can find it.

Sorry I can't offer much more help.

I enjoyed using mine this morning. They get nice and toasty that's for sure.

jsherid1

Thanks Jay--Sean and I were scratching our heads. Will get a new relay and try that, thought it was strange that neither seat worked...

byrdman454

I wrestled with this when I first got my '88, so I am going off memory...

Don't be surprised to find elements are blown in both seats. The heaters did not work in my car either. If I recall, the elements are wired in series, so if the butt element is blown, then the back element will not function either(or vise versa). This was the case with my passenger seat. My driver seat had both elements blown and the seat heater switch itself did not work.

You can trace the wiring underneath the seat to each element, unplug them and run a simple continuity test. If the test is good, then the element is still functional and you have another problem.

I ended up getting a NOS element from 928 intl clearance for my 1 blown element in the passenger seat, but I upgraded the driver seat to the newer technology style heaters rather than the wire elements.

I should have several posts long ago on this topic.

jayc67

What's that just out of curiosity? I'm surprised mine still work honestly, would be nice to have an alternative when they die.

Alan

I'd not get a relay yet - the elements in these break over time and if that is the case a new relay won't help. Test the heating element for resistance first - look for the 2 pin connector under the seat - Black & Brown wires to both sides... if you get infinte resistance the elements are shot and the only option is replacement.

new style heaters are pads not wire elements

Alan

Leon Speed

How long did you wait for he seats to heat up? I know mine take a while to heat up and I need to sit on them to really feel it.

Champagne

I do a lot of these and 9 times out of 10, it's the heating element that is bad.

Paul

jsherid1

Looks like I am buying an element or two, will check resistance first. Thanks guys. I'll probably get it sorted in time for a Texas summer.

Elmiko

Has anyone tried generic retrofit heaters? They're pretty inexpensive and simple in design. Only thing is, you have to remove the leather first-I don't know if that can be done on a 928 seat without destroying it.

Champagne

If the leather is still in good condition, removing the cover is not the problem.

Aftermarket heaters do not work on 928 design inserts without severe modifications. They need to be sectioned in panels and interconnected. You can only do that with a specific type of heater and it ends up costing just as much as factory units, which are readily available.

Paul

Calgary Ole

Where can I get factory units?

Champagne

Roger

Calgary Ole

Thanks

byrdman454

The aftermarket heaters I used can be cut and modified quite easily. It was not my idea. See this old thread.

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...highlight=seat

My leather was in good enough condition to pull off. I had a family friend in the interior reconditioning business do it and install the heaters.