Factory Heated Seats Failure

Best use awg16 or 14 if it will fit. 18-24 is more for switching relays rather than carrying the 5-7 amps an element might draw. The plug can dissapate heat better with a heavier wire to spread the heat load.

 

Right, but the wires are already there, so you don't really get a choice unless you also change the wiring.

Jeff

 

All the pictures I'm seeing looks like the red wire is burnt. Mine it's the green wire. I called dealer before I read all the posts but since I have 36,600 miles, I'm 600 miles past warranty. Ugh. I'll start a complaint on Monday with Toyota and NTS.

 

Guys is it possible that we are replacing the module every time assuming its bad when in fact much of the time it might simply be that the connection is burned and not making. are there at least some cases where we can clean up the connections and clean off all the charring, and see if it still works?
I have to believe in at least some of these cases its as has been mentioned here before, the connection works loose and because it draws tons of current, it starts arching, and getting hot and melts everything>

 

bump

 

Never had an issue with mine. Wish the steering wheel was heated

 

If that's happening then the harness is not heavy gage enough. Thicker wire will get more energy to the elements and also siphon heat away from the connectors. Hot wires and connectors are a sigh of voltage drops due to resistance from inadeqaute wiring.

 

yes... if you look back at the posts about adding in the thermal fuse and bypassing the burnt connector.


it all depends how bad the damage is. they guy who posted it said he was contained to the connector and it worked for him. i tried it but in doing so, i could tell my circuit board had seen some significant heat already. it didnt work for me and i had to put a new module in.

 

I called Toyota USA and got a case number. There is nothing they can do since I'm 600 miles past warranty. I went on the NHTSA website and it doesn't show any complaints for this issue? If you call instead of filling out online, they don't list it online? I was expecting to see some complaints. I'm going to fill out online and then call as well with NHTSA. My next step is to take the amp out and see if the damage is just the green wire on the connection and maybe bypass it. Maybe I'll just cut connector and amp off the passenger seat and put on the driver seat. Hard to believe that all the pictures of visibly burnt connectors won't get Toyota to help.

 

For anyone trying to stave off this issue, it would be prudent to spray some good contact enhancer in the connector if it hasn’t already failed. Mine are OK, but I took them apart today and put some Deoxit D5 in there to make sure this doesn’t happen to me.

This is the “real stuff”. Guys who know this product know it’s value. Not just a fluid that evaporates like most contact cleaners.

https://www.amazon.com/RadioShack-C...oxit+d5&qid=1583720801&sprefix=deoxit+&sr=8-3

 

Good idea man...

 

I just noticed today that my driver seat was not heating up. I've got a 2016 off-road, 61K miles. I just put a call into my local Toyota dealer. I'll see if the service advisor that I've worked with for years, has any info.

 

I called my service advisor and he did find the TSB, which is only good up to 36K miles, 3 years. He suggested I call customer support to see if they will by chance extend the coverage. I have an appointment for Tuesday to get the seat checked out. If I don't get any assistance with the TSB, I've got an extended warranty to work with. I'll make sure to file a claim next week, regardless.

 

I took my seats out again doing a deep clean last Tuesday. I figured I would take a stab at making mine work again. I popped open my module, took a little screwdriver and broke away the burnt plastic and scraped up the terminal. I was able to bend it up a little. I had the heater blower motor plug I had to cut off and replace so I stole one of the wires from it and slipped it over the terminal. I popped the module back together. I was able to slip the plug back on and use a butt connector to splice it back into where the burnt wire was. So far so good

 

Update: Toyota is replacing my driver's seat heating element and amp under my extended warranty. They would not extend the TSB for my mileage. I filed a claim with the NHTSA.

 

Finally! someone that's doing something to keep bringing this to light instead of just buy replacement parts or paying for the fix because there to afraid to stand for what's right and be heard, to address a problem so it can't be ignored by Toyota any longer. Bravo young man! (THE ONLY FIXES HAPPEN, IS IF YOU SPEEK UP!)

 

Group One Auto Parts said there is only 1 available in North America....from "Ontario Parts Center", in California.

Good luck guys....I'll pass on this one.

Unfortunately we do not have this part 87501-0C020
There is only 1 in the nation the ONTARIO PARTS CENTER in California has it
And it takes 10 to 15 days to get it
Best Regards,
Danny
Group1AutoParts.com Support


John

 

My 13 limited got hit with this blasphemy. The red wire burnt up pretty good.

Thinking of doing the connector thing and splicing in new sections of wire. Maybe even try do do that thermal switch back.

Any thoughts since this is so common across the board?

Definitely going to file with the NHTSA.

 

Can anyone help me find this part have looked everywhere but no luck