Asked by: Ghada Lopez Cozar
automotive auto parts

How does a seat heater work?

35
Heated seats are powered by a heating element, a long strip of material that functions as a resistor. A resistor resists the flow of electricity. When electric current flows through it, the energy is turned into heat, which flows through the seat, warming the rider.


Simply so, are heated seats bad for you?

Men who use heated car seats could be unwittingly putting their fertility at risk, new research suggests. Scientists warn that the seats could damage sperm production by raising men's temperature to unhealthy levels. Scientists tested the effect of heated car seats on 30 healthy men.

Furthermore, can cloth seats be heated? You can absolutely introduce a heated seat option with a cloth seat. Traditionally, we think of leather or ventilated seats with heat.

Keeping this in consideration, why is my seat heater not working?

If a fuse is blown, replace it immediately. If that isn't the problem, check the electrical plug underneath the heated seat where the seat plugs into the main wiring harness. You can also check to be sure that there are 12 volts coming from both sides of the switch for the heated seats while the switch is on.

How much does it cost to put heated seats in a car?

Heated Seats Image via PFYC.com. Nearly any vehicle can have heated seats installed after the fact. The kits are simple, the installation is pretty straightforward, and the cost is surprisingly affordable (under $500 for most applications).

Related Question Answers

Sonia Rosenov

Professional

Can heated seats drain battery?

Your seat warmers are powered by electricity, Ralph. If the engine is running, the alternator is producing so much extra electricity that the seat heaters can run indefinitely. But if the engine is not running, the seat heaters will run off the battery. And eventually, that would drain the battery.

Adair Dalmau

Professional

Do heated seats use fuel?

Turning on the seat heaters therefore increases the alternator's resistance to being spun, which means more energy is required from the engine, which obviously would require more fuel. The good news is that it's such a small additional load that the effect on mileage would be insignificant.

Isard Krauhs

Professional

Do heated seats hurt your back?

Heated seats are in the "can't hurt" category, Mizhiritsky and Shamie agree. Heat in general is good for the back, Mizhiritsky says. However, he is not sure that the heat from vehicle seats is capable of penetrating deeply enough to reach the muscle tissue, especially when people are bundled up in winter clothes.

Alexi Elgue

Explainer

How much power do heated seats use?

Luckily the heated seats have their own fuse which makes it easy to tap the circuit and measure the current. The answer is about 3.25A per seat when the seat is heating.

Aylen Reinards

Explainer

Is heated steering wheel worth it?

Heated steering wheels are AMAZING and worth every single penny. Heats up way quicker than the car does. Remote start is nice but if it's freezing or below, the steering wheel will still be cold. Heating steering wheel is nice to have but I would not pay extra just for that option alone.

Kepa Shoshan

Explainer

Can heated seats cause infertility?

Research has shown that car seat heating significantly raises the temperature of men's testicles. Too much heat is also known to lead to infertility.

Montiel Betin

Pundit

How do I stop my car from sweating in the back?

Most of the people generally use antiperspirant underarms but a thin layer on the back can help to stop sweat. Some of the experts also suggest applying antiperspirant at night as it's better and more effective, the next day. Additionally, wear clothes made of natural fibers, if possible.

Tamou Gopfer

Pundit

How do you fix a heater seat?

  1. Step 1 - Start Easy Checks. Checking a heated car seat is a car repair you can take on yourself.
  2. Step 2 - Check the Shifted Thermister.
  3. Step 3 - Check the Heating Wire.
  4. Step 4 - Replace the Heater Element.
  5. Step 5 - Access the Element.
  6. Step 6 - Put Everything Back.

Jerlene Ludwigsen

Pundit

Why does my heated seat keep turning off Jeep?

Haven't had that problem on my Jeep, but on previous vehicles whenever that happened it was due to one of the heating elements breaking. The heated seat system will automatically turn off if an open or short in the heating element circuit is detected. Check under the seat and make sure the connection is secure.

Dorinel Zapatera

Teacher

How long does it take for heated seats to warm up?

Takes probably 2 min to start feeling the heat and another 2-3 min to fully warm up.

Hiedra Sirgado

Teacher

Why do my heated seats keep turning off?

It may be an issue with the adjustable pedal position, seat recliner position sensor or seat thermistors. If any of them fault, it will cause both heated seats to shut off.

Amaral Janov

Teacher

Can you install cooled seats?

ADD HEATING AND COOLING TO YOUR NEW LEATHER SEATS!
Degreez heating and cooling can only be installed on a Katzkin perforated leather interior. We can install aftermarket ventilated seats and heated seats on whatever vehicle you drive.

Xueling Ingenbleek

Reviewer

Can you put seat covers on heated cloth seats?

Putting ordinary car seat covers on heated seats isn't recommended. However, there are covers and fabrics that are fire resistant. These would make good covers if your car's heated seats are torn or wearing thin.

Yared Goerlach

Reviewer

Why are seats heated?

Warmth. Clearly, the main reason people come to us for heated seat installations is to stay warm. When the temperatures drop, there's nothing quite like a warm seat at the touch of a button to make the commute more bearable. When the temperature drops below 40 degrees, our technicians' calendars get full fast.

Zsofia Corado

Reviewer

Is leather or cloth better for dogs?

When we bought our leather couch the salesman who sold it to us said that while leather does hold up better to dog claws than most cloth, damage caused by animals would not be covered under the warranty.

Elinor Brias

Reviewer

Are leather seats better than cloth?

Leather seats are usually seen as the more luxury option for cars and usually cost more. Leather gives a very lush feel and look to a vehicle. Leather seats are much easier to clean and very stain-resistant. Leather seats are also resistant to smells that can come with stains and the passengers who cause them.

Steve Amzehnhoff

Supporter

When did Heated seats come out in cars?

Heated seats were invented by Robert Ballard. He came up with them in 1951 with a patent issued in 1955.

Adur Alemany

Supporter

Does Ford make heated cloth seats?

Other cars I know that have heated cloth seats available are the Honda Civic and Accord, Toyota Corolla, Camry and RAV4, Ford Focus and Fusion, and Hyundai Elantra and Sonata (the Sonata has heated cloth REAR seats as an option).

Gift Caramona

Supporter

Will cooled seats work with seat covers?

While there might be some tricks to keep you cool, a very effective method is with breathable car seat covers. A lot of newer vehicles have heated and air conditioned seats, and Mesh car seat covers are compatible with them – actually, all of our seat covers are.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

3

4th February, 2020

16

90% of readers found this page helpful.

4.9/5

Click a star to add your vote

Similar Asks
Trending