Silly Me - hidden heated seats???
11-17-14, 08:49 AM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Silly Me - hidden heated seats???
This might be a silly question but only been an owner of a '98 GS300 for just about a year. This morning here in Denver, temp was in the teens and I started the car, turned on both front and rear defroster an about 30 secs later, felt my butt getting warm. I have two other cars that have heated seats and so I know what it feels like, especially when it gets really cold. Now the car doesn't have the heat seat buttons on the console so the only explanation I can think of that it's somehow tied to the defroster and/or temp sensors. Am I going crazy?
Also, I looked a few other posts about hidden features but didn't find anything that specifically stated this as a hidden feature (but it all honesty, i used the search function as I didn't read every post on that really long thread).
Also, I looked a few other posts about hidden features but didn't find anything that specifically stated this as a hidden feature (but it all honesty, i used the search function as I didn't read every post on that really long thread).
11-17-14, 09:57 AM
#2
Could you have maybe passed gas? 
Never heard of that happening though, wouldnt make sense. I know I've felt my seats warm up a bit after sitting a while in the cold, but just figured the seats were so cold that my butt heat just eventually got it warm since they couldnt get any colder.
Never heard of that happening though, wouldnt make sense. I know I've felt my seats warm up a bit after sitting a while in the cold, but just figured the seats were so cold that my butt heat just eventually got it warm since they couldnt get any colder.
11-17-14, 10:09 AM
#3
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
My wife complains about my gas issues but this is definitely not it 
As mentioned, I have two other cards that have heated seats and having lived in Denver for 14 years, I'm familiar with sitting on seats that have and not have heaters on cold days. That's not to say I may have been imagining it but it's definitely not normal. I also posted because this was probably the first that I have parked outside with cold temps like this AND turning on both defrosters on full auto.
I"m going to try and go through the same process again tomorrow morning but thought I'd check with you all to see if anyone has any similar experiences.
As mentioned, I have two other cards that have heated seats and having lived in Denver for 14 years, I'm familiar with sitting on seats that have and not have heaters on cold days. That's not to say I may have been imagining it but it's definitely not normal. I also posted because this was probably the first that I have parked outside with cold temps like this AND turning on both defrosters on full auto. I"m going to try and go through the same process again tomorrow morning but thought I'd check with you all to see if anyone has any similar experiences.
11-17-14, 10:47 AM
#5
Heated seats are a pretty common used car dealer-added thing. Could've also just been a previous owner who wanted heated seats in their car that didn't come with them. Normally they wire in a toggle switch on the side of the seat somewhere, but maybe they wanted to keep it looking factory?
I would verify by starting the car and parking it out of direct sunlight. Turn the heater off, hit the rear defrost button, and leave it running for a few minutes. If you come back to a warm seat, you've got a hidden, aftermarket seat heater.
I would verify by starting the car and parking it out of direct sunlight. Turn the heater off, hit the rear defrost button, and leave it running for a few minutes. If you come back to a warm seat, you've got a hidden, aftermarket seat heater.
11-17-14, 11:14 PM
#6
It's as factory looking with the seat heater buttons as it is without them.
But if they couldn't find a center console (they're all over ebay) with the heater buttons then they might have wired it on the rear/front defroster.
But if they couldn't find a center console (they're all over ebay) with the heater buttons then they might have wired it on the rear/front defroster.
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11-18-14, 10:37 PM
#10
11-19-14, 07:00 AM
#12
Mine works too well...
But OP, you have warm body temp, when you turn on your heater, your body warms up as well. Also take into account the kind of pants you are wearing as well....
Someone could've installed a heat pad and wired it to the defroster but I see that as being unlikely. I think it's your body temp.
But OP, you have warm body temp, when you turn on your heater, your body warms up as well. Also take into account the kind of pants you are wearing as well....
Someone could've installed a heat pad and wired it to the defroster but I see that as being unlikely. I think it's your body temp.
11-21-14, 05:42 AM
#13
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Could you have maybe passed gas? Never heard of that happening though, wouldnt make sense. I know I've felt my seats warm up a bit after sitting a while in the cold, but just figured the seats were so cold that my butt heat just eventually got it warm since they couldnt get any colder.
Never heard of that happening though, wouldnt make sense. I know I've felt my seats warm up a bit after sitting a while in the cold, but just figured the seats were so cold that my butt heat just eventually got it warm since they couldnt get any colder.
11-23-14, 06:37 PM
#15
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Finally got around to checking it out again and it looks like someone may have installed aftermarket heated seats. I can't seem to figure out the wiring, it's going under center console and headed somewhere but that'll have to wait for another time. I really didn't about aftermarket until of you mentioned it....something is intermittent about it as I can't seem to activate it with any consistency but it's definitely heated, I can feel it. There does not appear to be a on/off button, or at least I can't seem to find it for now....not a critical feature so it'll have to wait before I check things out again.