Circuit/System Description
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2007 GMC Sierra and 2007 Chevrolet Silverado. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The front seat heating elements are controlled by a common high current relay internal to the Memory Seat Module (MSM) and on the low side by individual element control circuits. Before the MSM will allow heated seat operation, it checks to see if the heating element supply voltage circuits and control circuits are shorted to ground or battery voltage. Once the module verifies that it is not closing into a shorted heating element, it allows heated seat operation. After which it continues to monitor for a shorted circuit.