1995 850 Turbo About those heated seats...

[Ozark Lee]

Mine dont get too hot either. I was wondering what would happen if I cut the thermostat out, and just wired together the two cables. Would that work better?

If they don't work then chances are one of the heating pads has burned up. Nine times out of ten it is the seat bottom pad but they are wired in series and if one goes bad they both quit working. Sometimes the wires fall out of the thermostat.

If you bypass the thermostat be ready to quickly jump from the car after the foam catches on fire.

...Lee

[dosbricks]

As Lee noted, there was some issue with the seats toasting themselves. I got my wagon in '98 when it was two years old and took it in for the recall a year or so later. Also the seats do not even come on if the ambient temperature is above a certain degrees--the number of which I can't remember. They do work however--we used them today.

[BEJinFbk]

The only tstat is the one in the seat cushion.
There's no connection to any ambient sensor.

[dosbricks]

From the 2000 S70 manual.

"Heated front seats

The heated front seats can be switched on and off as required. When switched on, the system senses the ambient temperature and regulates the level of heat applied. When the optimum temperature is reached, the heating switches off automatically. While driving, the seat heating for the passenger seat should be switched off when the seat is not occupied."

My 850 was recalled to make it conform to the above. Above a certain ambient temp it won't come on. Fairbanks doesn't usually get as hot as S. TX in the summer, so might explain the way yours performs.

Recall for 1996 Volvo:
Recall Number: 02V314000
Recall Date: 11/19/2002

Problem Summary: ON SOME SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT HEATERS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT EXCESSIVE COMPRESSION OF THE SEAT CUSHION COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING OF THE SEAT HEATER.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

What Owners Should Do: DEALERS WILL DISCONNECT THE EXISTING WIRES AND INSTALL A NEW ELECTRONIC THERMOSTAT AND CABLE HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

[matthew1]

Mine dont get too hot either. I was wondering what would happen if I cut the thermostat out, and just wired together the two cables. Would that work better?

You could insulate the tstat so it's not triggered as easily.

[BEJinFbk]

From the 2000 S70 manual.

"Heated front seats

The heated front seats can be switched on and off as required. When switched on, the system senses the ambient temperature and regulates the level of heat applied. When the optimum temperature is reached, the heating switches off automatically. While driving, the seat heating for the passenger seat should be switched off when the seat is not occupied."

My 850 was recalled to make it conform to the above. Above a certain ambient temp it won't come on. Fairbanks doesn't usually get as hot as S. TX in the summer, so might explain the way yours performs.

Recall for 1996 Volvo:
Recall Number: 02V314000
Recall Date: 11/19/2002

Problem Summary: ON SOME SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT HEATERS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT EXCESSIVE COMPRESSION OF THE SEAT CUSHION COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING OF THE SEAT HEATER.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

What Owners Should Do: DEALERS WILL DISCONNECT THE EXISTING WIRES AND INSTALL A NEW ELECTRONIC THERMOSTAT AND CABLE HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

The "ambient" that the manual refers to is the temperature in the seat cushion.
This system consists of a switch, a tstat in the seat and the two elements - That's it.

[dosbricks]

That's correct--it won't heat (initially turn on) if the ambient temp in the seat cushion is too warm. Nowhere did I state that there was a sensor elsewhere.

I quote myself: " Also the seats do not even come on if the ambient temperature is above a certain degrees."
Perhaps that was a rash or ill-advised statement which I now regret.

So have we split enough hairs now?

[wjhandy850]

A well designed heated seat is one that you don't notice but the seats aren't cold. Thats what I seem to have in my car.