I would guess that most of you on Car Chat have vehicles with heated front seats, so I'd like to pose a question.





As my body has gotten older, its metabolism reduces, and (if you'll excuse the crude term LOL) my rather large buns don't produce as much internal body heat as they once did to heat the seat up naturally on cooler days, I find that I have been using the built-in heated seats on my Encore GX more and more, even when the inside/outside temperature is as high as maybe 55-60 degrees. Up until recently, I only used the heat on the seats when it was down near freezing.

Anyhow, I notice one thing on the driver's seat as it heats up. I typically use the heated-seat-button on its highest setting, which is three red lights on the control...there are also Low and Medium settings with one or two red lights. (the red lights on the controls are not shown in the image above). When the heated seat button is pressed to the high setting, the seat-cushion (less-so than the seatback) generally warms up fairly quickly (within a couple of blocks or so)...but then seems to maybe cool down a little for a few minutes, then noticeably heat up a little again. I didn't notice that up/down cycle until this year...although it may (?) have been there before and I just didn't notice it before.

Anyhow, to make a long story even longer (which I often have a tendency to do LOL) ....do any of you with heated seats notice this warmer/cooler pattern in your own vehicles? The Owners' Manual for the Encore GX does not specifically mention that the seat will automatically vary in temperature, but I suspect that it may(?) be a safety-feature with a built-in thermostat for the sensors to keep the seat-grids from overheating and maybe catching fire. Every once in a while, you will see a vehicle recall for exactly that...seats overheating and sometimes catching fire, particularly cloth upholstery, which is easier to burn than leather/vinyl.

 

Heat on mine on all vehicles seems to stay constant and never have noticed it cycle.

 

That's normal. Very very few cars maintain full power heating, most step down to level 2 but others like yours display 3 while bouncing back and forth to avoid burns/too much heat.

Germans stuff steps down from full power after 10-30 min depending on exterior temps and requested HVAC temp and can be set to automatically integrate. Same with new Lexus high end models, some cars let you set a target heat temp as well.

 

Thanks, Striker. I suspected that....but was not sure.

 

I really don’t. All three of our cars have heated seats. In the Tundra and Highlander, you start with them on high and as they heat, you quickly need to turn them down. No noticeable variation, just warmer and warmer until you relent.

The GS has the auto seat heat/ventilation so they adjust as you go. Perfection.

 

The three vehicles I have with heated seats stay on full force the whole time.

 

In the past, there have been recalls for malfunctioning heated seats from a number of automakers. I suspect that is why, as Striker223 points out, strict measures are taken in the newer ones to prevent overheating.

https://carbuzz.com/seat-heater-recalls/

 

My Civic has heated front and rear seats. I didn’t use heated seats much until recently. It’s been a bit chilly here. I ran the driver’s seat on 3 and after a bit, it was more than I needed but I also could smell what was probably warm vinyl. If I use it, I generally use it on the lowest setting.

 

I thought for sure someone would have inserted a Sir Mix-a-lot quote in here by now....I'm kind of disappointed

 

Except for the magical ones in the M3--which turn themselves on automatically when I'm cold, and turn off automatically once I've comfortable--all the heated seats I've had have seemed to stay at whatever I set them for. This typically leads to starting with them on high, then turning down after a few minutes, and eventually turning them off entirely.

 

I've noticed with heated steering wheels on my cars that the heat seems to reduce (but not go back up), but I usually need to turn down the heated seats before it would get to that point you are describing.

 

Those models that have "Auto" heated seats link the seat heat to the HVAC temp setting.
It is quite nice to see (and feel!) the various degrees (pun intended) that the seats and steering
wheel go through as the car warms up and the ambient temperature changes. If the seat/wheel
temps get too hot; I just lower the main HVAC setting one degree. That is usually enough to
change the others. A bit spooky when driving a long journey into sunset/dusk and have the seat
come on by itself.

 

in the LS it's just an on-off button (stays more or less consistent), but in the benz it'll start at level 3 then gradually lower to 1 over time

 

Honestly, the heated seats in my 3GS are so weak I sometimes forget they’re on, even on the highest setting. The ventilation feature is pretty weak too but it’s better than nothing and it keeps me from sweating, I use it a lot even on mild winter days.

 

I question the value of the seat heater turning itself on in the middle of a long journey given that the seat would be sufficiently warm from a human sitting on it for hours!