No gloves. I have felt it on freezing cold days when its in the teens outside (and I LOVE it!). It is definitely not turning on when it should. I will ask the dealer to check it out, maybe I do have a problem with my "temp sensor" as suggested above.

 

Could be, I agree they need to make it work especially now, brrrrrrr

 

According to the Owners Manual (page 53 in mine) it comes on automatically wihen the ignition is switched on and the interior temp is below 54F (12C.)

From my personal observations on my car 54F interior temp is about right.

 

poor babies !!!! your little delicate hands...ahhaahahahaha....the auto switch on and off is fine with me...just put on some gloves..

 

Just got my car back from the dealer, they ordered me a new steering wheel (I may get it installed this Friday).
They tested the heating element by removing the steering wheel and bypassing the circuitry to make it heat up, there was definitely something wrong with mine. BTW - They said this was the second 2005 they had seen this on.

I will post my results after it get it replaced.

 

I think the heated wheel is great. I haven't really noticed when it does or doesn't come on, it just seems to come on when I need it, no need for gloves on a cold morning.

 

They installed the new steering wheel, same problem. Now they think its computer related. More updates to come.

 

I think this is going to be the comfort control module has anything else seemed strange ? i.e seat positions

 

Everything else is ok, though I don't have memory seats.

 

That's interesting, since before they told you they bypassed the circuitry to heat up the wheel and it still wasn't heating -- which would seem to indicate the heating element in the wheel. If they really DID bypass the circuitry like they told you, then the computer should have been out of the loop, right??

 

They returned the car to me with a new steering wheel and the same problem. They said they called Porsche and were told my system is working normally. I told them to call me back when the TSB comes out on this….. I was furious.

Oh, and on top of that they said they fixed my rear seat rattle and didn’t. Maybe its time for me to find a new dealer to do my service.

 

Their story doesn't match up at all with what they told you before -- including their statement that it was the second 2005 they'd seen with the same problem. Now they claim there is no problem?? That's ridiculous, your heated wheel doesn't operate at all the way it is supposed to according to the owners manual (and I can vouch that mine DOES work as described in the manual.) If you've got another viable service option it could be a good idea to try another dealer.

The other option would be to ask to speak to the General Manager, and then escalate to the Porsche District Service Manager. This shouldn't be a hard thing to fix; you have to wonder why they aren't willing to try harder to satisfy their customer.

On your rear seat rattle, have you tried removing the cargo cover and net to see if it goes away?

 

I tried removing the cargo cover - no difference. The cargo net seems to be attached to half the seat, I didn't think it was removable. Is it?

Lat night I sat in the back and had my wife drive, it sure seems to be coming from below the seat cushion (at the 60/40 split). I looks around and tightened what I could, still no improvement.

 

Update on the steering wheel saga. The dealer called me this morning (I wonder if they read the Rennlist forums? ) They said they spoke to their Porsche rep and were told the following (It sort of makes sense to me):

The 2005 Cayenne without Climate Control (like mine) has no thermostat sensor in the car (like the models with Climate Control). Therefore the car doesn't know when to heat the wheel based on temperature alone.

The cars that have Climate Control - On a cold morning the fan speed is running at maximum to heat the interior cabin, this triggers the heated steering wheel.

They told me if I set my fan speed to maximum the steering wheel will heat. Its very possible those were the circumstances when I did feel it in the past. If the fan speed is one notch below full, the wheel will not heat.

I will test it tonight and post my results, if this is true (sounds like it could be) this should be stated in the manual.

More later.

 

30f outside, probably 30f-40f inside. Fan speed made no difference - No heated steering wheel. Good theory though....