Anyone ever repair their seat heater?

Post by **vjaneczko** » 10 Feb 2011, 11:28

I've lived without this for so long that I forgot about it, but the cold weather we're getting made me realize that my 855 has seat heaters that don't work.

Back a few years, Volvo issues a recall on the seat heater thermostats. The problem was that it can go bad and cause the heating elements to burn themselves out. Well, they burned out just before I got word of the recall. When I was in the shop, I asked what could be done. I was told the recall was ONLY for the thermostat, and not any part that it may have damaged (nice, huh?! Rat-bastard penny-pinchers . . .) Anyway, he said I’d probably have to drop $300 a seat for repairs (this was back before I learned of this site and how to fix stuff on my own!) and I didn’t have the cake to drop 600 bones for a warmed arse.

So I have two seats that don't heat your caboose. I’m guessing the elements are fried, but I’m not sure how I’d go about testing. I’m guessing I would have to peel off the leather covers, replace the heating pads and slip the cover back on. But . . . might it also – or just – be the thermostats in the seats or a wiring harness?

I read Ozark Lee’s post at VS (http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/topic/94 ... p__1245971) which has some great tips, so I need to probe the wires for power but just wondering if there may be more to it. Since it’s my daily driver, I’d like to fix it all at once – never driven a car without a driver’s seat, and I don’t intend to try!

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 10 Feb 2011, 12:45

Most of the time the problem is the element in the seat bottom and the pad can be changed out in about half a day. If you follow through the multimeter tests I posted on V/S you can figure out where the problem is for sure.

This writeup was specific to replacing the foam on the seat bottom but the same things apply to replacing the heater element.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 0367#30367

...Lee

Post by **charlyW** » 10 Feb 2011, 15:18

Here in the UK there is a current recall on seat heaters so it might be worth seeing if it's current for you will save you a lot of hassle

Post by **vjaneczko** » 10 Feb 2011, 19:51

Nothing on the NHTSA website about the heaters, just the thermostat

thegrapist · Post by **thegrapist** » 04 Jan 2012, 16:22

Hi everyone,

My 850 has manual seats but with the heating elements. I have the same problem on the driver's side only.

I've narrowed it down to the cushion. There's a guy I know parting out a 99 s70 with a similar set up. Will they be a plug and play job? I know there should only be two wires, but after installing 05+ seats in my 04 s60r, I'm not going through that hassle again. If anyone knows what seat cushions are interchangeable (and the right shape), please let me know.

Thanks guys!