Factory Heated Seats Failure

I asked my buddy and he doesn’t want to do any more. But if you went to an electronics tech, they could surely help you out. Just show them my photos of the repair.

 

Funny. I just finished doing the passenger seat today when I seen this message.

 

Aren't these notorious for burning out in just about all vehicles. The heated seats in my wife's Honda Odyssey lasted about 2 years (2013). I'd like to think manufacturers have imporved them and my 2021 heated seats in the Tacoma will last longer. Hoping. Not expecting.

Would love an upgrade kit to repair with instructions!

 

Toyota has known about this problem for years. They refuse to use a better quality connector or repair the defective parts. They usually last just past the end of the warranty period.

 

Gonna bump this again. I'm going to attempt the same repair, I thought you got a new module and then hacked in your own design upgrade (more distance between amp). I see now its the burnt existing module lol. Exactly like mine. So did you have to cut factory harness to solder in your 5 wires?

 

Yes I cut off the old connector. Only actually 4 wires.

 

The picture is of the old and new connectors side by side. I just cut off the old connector and soldiered the old wires to the new connector wires.

 

Just my thoughts, this problem need a talented YouTuber to make a step by step video showing and listing everything needed to preform this task as Toyota clearly doesn't care to fix this problem.

 

Outstanding soldering job!

BTW, is this the connector?

$15 QOFOWIN 5 Pin Connector Waterproof,5Pin Way Car Electrical Connector,with Wire 16 AWG Marine for Car,Truck,Boat,Motorcycle and Other Wire Connections. (5pairs)

Amazon.com: QOFOWIN Waterproof Connectors,5Pin Way Car Electrical Connector,with Wire 16 AWG Marine for Car,Truck,Boat,Motorcycle and Other Wire Connections. (5pin 5pcs) : Automotive

 

Thanks. Want to make sure before I go hacking into the harness

 

So this is literally a $9 part and some soldering to fix it?

How easy is it to get the to harness? Do you have to remove seat? Any worry about side air bags (not 100% positive if Tacoma has side air bags in the seat but safe to ask)?

If there is an explanation of how to get to the harness elsewhere in thread, just say so and I am happy to go thru the pages.

 

Yes, they have air bags from 2nd gen on. Disconnect the battery. Remove the rear bolt covers and bolts, then the front bolts. Tilt the seat back forward and then the entire seat backwards including the bottom. Then unplug the yellow air bag connector, heated seat plug, and power seat connectors if you have them. Lift the seat out.

 

Im joining the club also.... 2016 sport
i think I'm just going to solder 6 to 8 inch long wires to it and go directly from harness to board..
My PCB board looks OK i think...
Sucks that it is -5F to 15F out, need to make time for this.

 

All the heat gets shared to the 2 big chips connected to the trace with the “20” by the terminal. Those are the ones that usually show heat damage if it goes on for too long. Use over size wires, the extra copper and mass helps dissipate the heat in the absence of any other heat sink.

 

Well i was toying with the idea of adding a IC chip cooler to it with thermal tape..
but yes looking at some bigger wire to pull some off the heat out..

 

So update. My butt warmer now works again just by rewiring it.
Driver side was dead with a burnt out red wire, i did the other side at the same time because i had all the stuff ready to go and the green wire was dark with that seat but still worked (for now) And you KNOW its going to die anyways.

I used some 16AGW wire from a 30amp relay plug i had for both. just took a few hours for both, just screwing around under 1 hour if you had stuff ready for it.
Just solder it right to the cut off plug as it is burnt anyways.
unbolt the seat /undo the few plug/ and just tip it back to work on, no need to pull it out


So many thanks for the people that have added to this thread and gave me the idea to fix it and where to look for the problem. THANKS TW
because it was 5 Deg last week.

Yes this has a TSB but it should be a safety recall

2016 Sport with 56K and i dont even use them a lot.


ALSO !

























Red was DEAD on one and Green going bad on the other.

Witte
Scotty_P
bagleboy

 

You used the burned module and just put a new connector on/in it?

 

Is there a replacement module available? Took mine to the dealer, they told me $700 for parts, and “lost” the module I brought in, which was fried. I would attempt to reconnect myself with the burnt module, but now I no longer have it.

 

Go back to page 1.

 

Look up
TOYOTA 87501-0C020 Seat Heater Control Sub Assembly
around$75