Circuit/System Description
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 GMC Sierra, 2008 GMC Cab & Chassis Sierra, 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, and 2008 Chevrolet Cab & Chassis 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. The module connects the heated seat heater element supply voltage circuits to a common reference point. This reference point is biased to approximately 2.0 volts. 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 into a shorted heating element, it allows heated seat operation. After which it continues to monitor for a shorted circuit.