DIY: Heated Seat Troubleshooting & Replacement

[boydnhere2]

This was a great help

This was a great write up, thanks for the time and effort. I had the same issue you did, where my heated seat would kick off after a few seconds and never really heat up. After reviewing my GM Service Manual, there is a resistor in the bottom cushion wiring that controls the shut off to the switch. I ordered just the bottom cushion with the heating element and replaced it. It was nice and toasty again today with our first real snow day this winter, about 5" in accumulation.

I had started to troubleshoot this issue by replacing the heated seat control module under the seat, but it then needed to be programmed at the dealer. I just guessed it was the controller malfunctioning. The dealer then charged me $116 to program the new module I installed, and I still had the same issue.

The cushion replacement is something anyone can do, and cheaper to try and fix any heated seat issues first.

 

[LorbeerTLC]

2012 Sonic LTZ Hatchback Both Heated Seats Failed

Well, my Sonic has almost 60,000 miles and both front heated seats stopped working. I saw this post and was impressed on both the time and the detail that stimpy2301 did! Unfortunately, I don't possess the necessary tools and the equipment to do this kind of work but I sure appreciate the photos! At least I know what kind of job this can turn out to be!

So I took my Sonic down to the Servicing Chevrolet dealer and they're currently doing that work. opcorn:

 

[lordkirkel]

Hey Guys,

my Sonic has the same problem. Is there any chance to get the pictures back to the thread? I would apreciate the DIY.

Thanks!

Chris

 

[stimpy2301]

Sorry, just discovered the photobucket crap. I'll see if I can find another host (and some time to do this).

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

Agreed, Photobucket needs to hurry up and die off with it's BS ransom of $400 just to do photo sharing through third parties.

 

[5.0]

Anyone know if it's possible to take the passenger seat lower cushion and swap it with the drivers side or are they different?

 

[Miranda_huffaker]

Anyone know if it's possible to take the passenger seat lower cushion and swap it with the drivers side or are they different?

That's exactly what I was thinking cause of course my driver seat dies but passenger didn't. Eff that guy, i want my butt warm!! Lol!

 

[Maddmatts]

The part numbers are different for the driver and passenger seat cushions with and without the heated option. So probably not interchangeable. Unless someone actually tries we won't know 100% for sure.

 

[stimpy2301]

Holy freakin hell i hate photobucket even more now. What a PitA to get all those downloaded. Anyway, I've painstakingly downloaded & rebuilt the DIY with hosting from imgur. I'm so sorry it took me so long to do this. I didn't even really have time for it now, but the requests keep pouring in, so there you go. I hope you're all able to get your seats working again!

Also, if anyone actually needs the backrest cushion, I still have that. lol

 

[Syclone]

Just finished fixing mine and wanted to say thanks for the info! Gotta have it with the single digit temps we have been having!

Mine also was turning the light on for a minute or so the shut off. All tested fine through method A. Made the most sense that the cushion would go bad with 145k miles of my 240lbs on it so I went with that and it fixed it.

 

[Papasonic]

Not proud of how I fixed mine, but:
Prior to trading in the wife's Sonic for our Malibu, I swapped seats, putting my non-working heated driver side seat into the trade-in, and the working one into my hatch. I also swapped the modules to keep it simple.
My justification for doing this: To compensate for the less than anticipated trade-in value.
Mine had a defective seat back heating element, causing the on for a minute, then shut off issue.

 

[5.0]

Made the most sense that the cushion would go bad with 145k miles of my 240lbs on it so I went with that and it fixed it.

That's actually a fairly reasonably amount of wear. Mine died after only 50,000km(30,000 miles) of use. And I only weigh 170lbs.

 

[macdiesel]

Thanks Stimpy. This how-to saved my ass from freezing. Literally.

 

[blasirl]

Holy freakin hell i hate photobucket even more now. What a PitA to get all those downloaded. Anyway, I've painstakingly downloaded & rebuilt the DIY with hosting from imgur. I'm so sorry it took me so long to do this. I didn't even really have time for it now, but the requests keep pouring in, so there you go. I hope you're all able to get your seats working again!

Also, if anyone actually needs the backrest cushion, I still have that. lol

If you have your pictures hosted on Samsung Cloud or if you posted as an unregistered user on Imgur , you will again lose the pictures for this thread.