Heated Seat Element: Description

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Dodge Stratus and 2005 Chrysler Sebring. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Vehicles equipped with the optional heated seat system have two sets of electrically operated heating element grids located in each outboard seating position of the front seat, one set for the seat cushion and the other set for the seat back. Each of the heated seat element grids consists of a single length of resistor wire that is routed in a zigzag pattern and captured between the leather trim cover and the foam rubber backing on the underside of its respective seat cushion trim cover and seat back trim cover assembly. Short pigtail wires with connectors are soldered to each end of each resistor wire element grid, which connect all of the element grids for each seating position to each other in series with the heated seat module through the seat wire harness.

One temperature sensor is used for each outboard seating position of the front seat, and it is located in the center insert area of the seat cushion cover. The heated seat sensors and their pigtail wires are also captured between the leather trim cover and the foam rubber backing on the underside of their respective seat cushion trim cover assemblies. The heated seat sensors are Negative Thermal Coefficient (NTC) thermistors. The sensors for both front seats receive a voltage feed from a single output of the heated seat module, but the module receives individual sensor inputs from the driver side and passenger side sensors.

The heated seat elements and sensors cannot be repaired. If damaged or faulty, the elements and sensors must be replaced.