Circuit/System Description
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2016 GMC Acadia, 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2016 Buick Enclave. 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 seat heating control module and on the low side by individual element control circuits. The module connects the seat heater element supply voltage circuits to a common reference point. This reference point is biased to approximately 2.5 V. Before the module 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 to a shorted heating element, it allows heated seat operation. After which it continues to monitor for a shorted circuit.