Troubleshooting Heated Seat
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aha2988
New member
the other simple thing to check is to be sure the plug is connected securely to the back of the switch.
If your indicator lights up on the switch and the fuse checks out then it's likely in the heater element itself. I haven't read up on to many problems with the heated seats hope you get it figured out.
also be sure the switch connection hasn't had anything spilt on it that could short out the system some how.
If your indicator lights up on the switch and the fuse checks out then it's likely in the heater element itself. I haven't read up on to many problems with the heated seats hope you get it figured out.
also be sure the switch connection hasn't had anything spilt on it that could short out the system some how.
Bossman
Senior Member
My problem is like that described by cdbsmh ... driver's side seat heater does not get warm, but the light on the switch turns on; passenger side works fine.
I had my mechanic do some troubleshooting for me today while my T4R was in for some service. He traced my problem to the control sub-assembly seat heater (basically the ecu for the seat heater).
Part number is 87501-60010 or 87501-OEO2O. I'm trying to source this now, as my local Toyota dealership wants way too much money for this part.
Part is also used on some other Toyota vehicles and some Lexus models.
I had my mechanic do some troubleshooting for me today while my T4R was in for some service. He traced my problem to the control sub-assembly seat heater (basically the ecu for the seat heater).
Part number is 87501-60010 or 87501-OEO2O. I'm trying to source this now, as my local Toyota dealership wants way too much money for this part.
Part is also used on some other Toyota vehicles and some Lexus models.
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TORCH
New member
Did you ever figure out a solution to this? I am having the same issue and would like to get it fixed before Ski season. Thanks!
Bossman
Senior Member
I'm still working on sourcing a used control module from an auto recycler - no way I want to pay my local Toyota dealership's price of $130 CAN plus tax. Not many 4Runners in the auto wrecker lots up my way, though.
Bossman
Senior Member
Bossman
Senior Member
My (factory) 2003 Toyota 4Runner Repair Manual - Volume 2 (page 72-24) shows a front seat heater cushion assembly along with a front seatback heater assembly.
who done it
New member
Bossman and Torch, I purchased two OEM heated seats a while ago and never installed them. If you guys want the ECU's I don't mind parting out the seats and selling those, they are just sitting in my garage collecting dust.
Bossman
Senior Member
Ok keep me posted on the install. Its odd that both of my front seats only heats the bottom.
The only reason I can think of per the diagram you posted is that a connector is not coneccted to the back portion. But waht are the odds for both seats..:/
gshadow325
New member
Guys,
you know the seat ecu RARELY fails. the seat heater elements usually break before that.
Do yourself a favor. buy a digital volt meter, preferable not the $3 from harbor freight. sears sells a cheap one for $20.
find the connector that goes into the seat coushin. its usually only 2 wires on that connector.
unplug it, take your DVM turn it to ohm setting. press the button to change to beep when it senses conitunity.
basically, the seat heater element is one continous loop. if there is no continuity the seat heater element is broken. thus NOT working.
here is my thread on how to remove replace check etc...lots of pictures too.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/140714-diy-rocking-chair-seat-heated-seat-$0-00-repair-priceless.html
you know the seat ecu RARELY fails. the seat heater elements usually break before that.
Do yourself a favor. buy a digital volt meter, preferable not the $3 from harbor freight. sears sells a cheap one for $20.
find the connector that goes into the seat coushin. its usually only 2 wires on that connector.
unplug it, take your DVM turn it to ohm setting. press the button to change to beep when it senses conitunity.
basically, the seat heater element is one continous loop. if there is no continuity the seat heater element is broken. thus NOT working.
here is my thread on how to remove replace check etc...lots of pictures too.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/140714-diy-rocking-chair-seat-heated-seat-$0-00-repair-priceless.html
I do not believe if you check the heating element using the continuity test (beep) will give you the correct results as it checks the circuit for a low resistance. the heating element due to its nature is actually a large resistor and the resistance is what makes it heat up. so when checking with a multimeter use the ohm setting and not continuity(with the beep). you should have high resistance reading, if the meter reads OL or 0 then the heating element has an open and is bad.
gshadow325
New member
A good element has continuity. A bad doesn't. If you read my thread. You will see they break.
It's really that simple.
It's really that simple.
Bossman
Senior Member
My mechanic was right! Both the center console seat heater switch and the seat heater element were fine - it was the seat heater control module that was faulty.
I was finally able to source a reasonably priced used 87501-60010 module (from an auto recycler in California - module came from a Lexus IS250), had it installed today and the driver's seat now warms up
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gshadow325
New member
Real easy to find out if seat heaters are bad.
Go get a multi meter. Turn dial to the little horse shoe looking icon that's for ohms but your going to use it for continuity.
Go under the seat and look for a harness that will come out of the rear portion of the seat foam. Unplug it and stick both probes in the plug. If it shows continuity that seat pad is good, but you not done yet.
There are two seat pads and they are linked in a continuous loop. So it basically loops from back to bottom then to the connector. So you need to check both pads.
So you rested the seat pads and they are fine. Shows continuity on both pads. Well time to check if power is coming to the seat pad. Turn the dial to voltage on the multi meter. Plug both probes into the car side of the plug you found for the seat pads. You will get a number either positive or negative depending on what polarity you got it going into. This doesn't matter since the seats don't care and on this scenario we don't care either. We just want to see something. If you see something then it's working. Per is coming to the plug.
BTW is it both seat heaters not working. Chances are only drivers is bad because that's the one that gets the most usage.
Replacing them are cheap and easy. I don't frequent the forums much. This post just got me on a"kill some time on the toilet post at 523am" moment. Read the signature if you need more help.
Go get a multi meter. Turn dial to the little horse shoe looking icon that's for ohms but your going to use it for continuity.
Go under the seat and look for a harness that will come out of the rear portion of the seat foam. Unplug it and stick both probes in the plug. If it shows continuity that seat pad is good, but you not done yet.
There are two seat pads and they are linked in a continuous loop. So it basically loops from back to bottom then to the connector. So you need to check both pads.
So you rested the seat pads and they are fine. Shows continuity on both pads. Well time to check if power is coming to the seat pad. Turn the dial to voltage on the multi meter. Plug both probes into the car side of the plug you found for the seat pads. You will get a number either positive or negative depending on what polarity you got it going into. This doesn't matter since the seats don't care and on this scenario we don't care either. We just want to see something. If you see something then it's working. Per is coming to the plug.
BTW is it both seat heaters not working. Chances are only drivers is bad because that's the one that gets the most usage.
Replacing them are cheap and easy. I don't frequent the forums much. This post just got me on a"kill some time on the toilet post at 523am" moment. Read the signature if you need more help.
