Does anyone know if the seat heating buttons from the 2015 (which added the auto feature) use the same wiring harness and diagram as the seat heating buttons from 2013? I can change to auto in 2013 using the Carista software, but it seems they have added that in the button directly. I would like to see if I can swap my 2013 buttons with 2015 and gain the auto feature via the buttons.

 

If my memory serves me well, the auto function in the 2013 gradually decreases the heaters until it shuts off. It is different than the newer models, which control the heated/ventilated seats depending on the ambient temp.

 

My 2014 has an auto feature that controls the seats based on ambient temp. I've experienced it starting out at 2 when I start the car, then decreasing to 1, then going back up to 2 when it got colder again in the car.

 

Yup! That's how the 2014 and newer work. With the 2013, the ventilated function will remain on whichever level you set it to. The heat will gradually decrease, unless you turn off the auto decrease setting using Carista.

 

Mine has the luxury package and the seats decrease based on ambient temperate as well, but the only way to switch them between manual and auto is with the Carista app. I wanted to know if the buttons above that have the auto, would work and would give the ability to activate it from the buttons directly.

 

Wait... You're telling me theres a fix for the auto-off heated seats?! Literally the worst part of the GS350 imo lol. Anyone know if the auto-off is a safety feature, or just a "convenience" that they put in?

 

Yup! When on the manual setting, the seat heaters will stay at the level chosen.

 

Mine has never shut off from the selected level. Hell it even comes back on when I restart the car, although 99% of the time I usually shut all that stuff off before shutting the car down.

Never tried auto so not sure what that does.... seems like overkill unless auto can somehow heat the seats less than a 1...

-Mike

 

When I first got my car, I was really confused about this. Here's what I have learned. Luxury package has a DIFFERENT Heating system, than the regular car. The luxury package monitors ambient temperature, has sensors for the sun shining on the car, humidity sensors, is connected to your memory seats, and will remember your temperature settings, etc. For the seat heaters, here's what I have noticed:

Regular Package
- They are on auto by default - can be turned to manual through the CARISTA app
- They are on a timer when in auto
- They will RESUME when you turn the car back ON.

Luxury Package (which is what I have)
- They are on auto by default - can be turned to manual through the CARISTA app
- They are driven by the computer, not a timer, controlled by ambient temperature
- They will NOT RESUME when you turn the car back ON - REALLY ANNOYING
- If the outside temperature is < 37 degrees, and the car in in ECO mode, when they turn on when you remote start the car

The fundamental question is if the buttons from the 2014+ will work in the 2013, allowing us to switch from auto to manual without the CARISTA App.

 

I would assume that since the computer in the 2013s already supports turning on/off the auto feature (albeit through the CARISTA app), that the 2015 hardware simply sends an additional parameter to the function that enables toggling the auto on/off setting via the seat heater buttons. Thats just my guess though.

 

Mine is an F Sport and has the auto setting tied to the climate settings, so that feature is not tied only to the Luxury Package. However, mine do not act the same as yours.

- I do not need CARISTA to set them to manual. I just use the switch to do that by selecting it out of AUTO.
- Mine are also controlled via temperature setting and not a timer, just like yours.
- Mine always resume wherever I left them when I turn the car on. I usually just leave them on AUTO and they'll still be on AUTO when I restart.
- Since I leave mine on AUTO all the time, they will come on (with either heating or venting) based on interior temp and the temp setting when I remote start it.

Mine is a 2015.

 

I've wondered about this as well. I have a 2013 and I hated the auto functionality, so I got Carista and set it to manual. I didn't want my seat heater level to go down by itself... when I have it on I usually want it hot, and the highest setting isn't really that hot.

However, I see that on the newer models you can leave your seat heater or ventilator on and it will automatically turn on at that level the next time you start the car. That's some functionality I would appreciate. On my car it switches to off every time I turn the car off.

 

Since I got the car I've had a issue with my driver seats where the heater would always stay on and never turn off even when the switch was off. I eventually had to pull the fuse for the drivers side. Any ideas if it could be a bad switch that causes this behavior like shown in the first pic? Considered replacing it to try that theory, I can't use the cooling function either with the fuse out.

 

I only ever use my seat heaters on the coldest days, and don't run it more than 2 minutes because I was never fond of frying my eggs on the seat.

Heated steering I use every day.

 

2013 Lux package. I used Carista to set mine to manual and prevent the auto "turn down". Mine also stay on whatever they were last set to when the car is cut off and then on again. They maintain the settings on each side, heat or vent at whatever level I left them. I agree it would be annoying to have to set them each time the car is turned on.