How effective are the cooled seats?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 70
From: CA
Funny thing, just for fun I looked up the current LS500 brochure. They're being honest now and calling it ventilated.
Last edited by aypues; Jul 1, 2018 at 05:26 PM.
Pit Crew
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 152
Likes: 21
From: North Carolina
It's purely not ventilated, it actually is active cooling. Besides the fan itself that moves the air, there's a device that chills the air and extracts heat. It is weak, but technically cooled + ventilated.
Also for whatever it's worth, I tried doing a janky experiment by buying some duct tape and a 1 inch flexible plastic pipe. I taped up one end to the rear passenger footwell ducts and sealed it off and piped that into the filter of the cooled seat filter. It did make a difference but really wasn't worth the effort.
I might try it again and seal off both ends against the cabin to see if maybe that would make anymore difference.
Anyway I don't feel like the cooled seats for my example have been too worth it unless I wear gym shorts with mesh-like material. Barely notice it's effects otherwise.
Also for whatever it's worth, I tried doing a janky experiment by buying some duct tape and a 1 inch flexible plastic pipe. I taped up one end to the rear passenger footwell ducts and sealed it off and piped that into the filter of the cooled seat filter. It did make a difference but really wasn't worth the effort.
I might try it again and seal off both ends against the cabin to see if maybe that would make anymore difference.
Anyway I don't feel like the cooled seats for my example have been too worth it unless I wear gym shorts with mesh-like material. Barely notice it's effects otherwise.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 33
Likes: 26
From: IL
There are lots of subjective opinions in here - and that's great - but it's hard to refute empirical data. I ran a simple test tonight.
I put a thermocouple probe in the perforated leather , reaching into the air channel. I used an infrared thermometer to measure the surface temperature of the leather seat. Ambient air temp was 77.
After 5 minutes with the A/c set on 72 and the seat switch full left (max cooling), the air blowing through the channel had dropped 12 degrees and the surface temp of the seat had dropped 10 degrees.
If I have time this weekend I'll try to put the thermocouple in the air duct for the seats and measure the before/after temps of the air passing over the peltier unit.
I put a thermocouple probe in the perforated leather , reaching into the air channel. I used an infrared thermometer to measure the surface temperature of the leather seat. Ambient air temp was 77.
After 5 minutes with the A/c set on 72 and the seat switch full left (max cooling), the air blowing through the channel had dropped 12 degrees and the surface temp of the seat had dropped 10 degrees.
If I have time this weekend I'll try to put the thermocouple in the air duct for the seats and measure the before/after temps of the air passing over the peltier unit.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 107
From: AZ
As Trump would say, FAKE NEWS! If you look at the Lexus site you will find that they describe the current LS seats as being "heated and cooled".
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 31
From: wi
Tariffs set to go into effect friday is not fake news. I was looking at a new Touareg TDi with ventilated seats standard in 015 when done right it is a real nice feature! Anyone have a 460 any improvement? Thanks
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 70
From: CA
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 107
From: AZ
Read the web site. While all models are ventilated, not all models are cooled, that comes with specific models. You really have to read the whole thing, and not just picking what you want to hear. End of subject as far as I am concerned.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation
Joe Kucinski
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?
Brett Foote
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler
Michael S. Palmer
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!
Brett Foote
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Lexus TX 550h+ (& 3 Reasons to AVOID!)
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyota Models of the 1990s RANKED!
Joe Kucinski
10 Great Toyotas That Could Have Been Lexus Models
Joe Kucinski
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 854
Likes: 70
From: State
I have a theory about the seats working for some and not for others. Could it be the product used on the seats is clogging the ventilation holes? I use a product made by Armour all called Leather Care Gel that I apply about 2 times a year. Smells nice and my seats show almost no wear at 136,000 miles but is it possible that it has caused my seat ventilation to be impaired. The seat heaters seem to work fine, but the cooling is almost gone. What do people that still have effective cooling use? anything? nothing? just an idea.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 107
From: AZ
I have a theory about the seats working for some and not for others. Could it be the product used on the seats is clogging the ventilation holes? I use a product made by Armour all called Leather Care Gel that I apply about 2 times a year. Smells nice and my seats show almost no wear at 136,000 miles but is it possible that it has caused my seat ventilation to be impaired. The seat heaters seem to work fine, but the cooling is almost gone. What do people that still have effective cooling use? anything? nothing? just an idea.
Perhaps someone who has had their foam padding replaced and have seen the old padding could provide some insight into this possibility.
Regarding the seat heaters performance, I'm not sure, but I think the heat does not come from hot air flowing thru the seat, but rather from heating elements.
In conclusion, I think your theory has merit.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 594
Likes: 37
From: Kentucky
I feel that mine works fine, but again I never own a car with cooled seat, so I do not know what is working great vs no so great. I am not sure how much air need to get pushed out of these holes for one to consider the cooling works great.
Having said that, I think it is a combination of these that cause a reduced in performance:
- Clogged/dirty holes in the leather. Mine looks fine from the outside
- Foam padding is not retaining its original shape, and restrict air being pushed from the fan. I can feel that the foam padding in my driver side is not as supportive as in passenger side. I may consider replacing the padding in the future and see if that change the cooling performance.
- Dirty filter - mine was dirty on both sides.
- Fan is not operating at its full capacity due to dirt/dust or just being old.
Having said that, I think it is a combination of these that cause a reduced in performance:
- Clogged/dirty holes in the leather. Mine looks fine from the outside
- Foam padding is not retaining its original shape, and restrict air being pushed from the fan. I can feel that the foam padding in my driver side is not as supportive as in passenger side. I may consider replacing the padding in the future and see if that change the cooling performance.
- Dirty filter - mine was dirty on both sides.
- Fan is not operating at its full capacity due to dirt/dust or just being old.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,564
Likes: 389
From: PA
We might be overthinking....isn't it really obvious, that the heated seats work? Meaning, given enough time (again I think more than the other 3 cars we have), the seats will become uncomfortably warm? But, at least for some of us, the seats when the **** is turned the other way, there is no noticeable effect? I guess we have to be very careful and stay politically correct, nowadays. lol I learned that from the cabin air filter discussion
Pit Crew
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 158
Likes: 37
From: WI
Based on what I am reading, something is wrong with my cooled seats. I haven't really checked the back but in front, they don't feel very effective. I've been having 70-95F days here for the last couple of weeks so they and the air have been on constantly. The air is ice cold even when the weather is approaching 100 but not my driver seat. When I first sit down, I can feel a slight chill but after ten or so minutes, if I put my hand on the back and bottom, I feel my body heat. If I hover my hand slightly over the tiny holes, I can feel a little cool air coming out but not much. The air coming out on the passenger side seems cooler but still not impressive by any means. The heated seats work excellent though.
So it looks like a smorgasbord of things could be wrong. I'll try checking the filters and the fans first, alone with cleaning everything out the best I can. Those seem to be the first places to start.
So it looks like a smorgasbord of things could be wrong. I'll try checking the filters and the fans first, alone with cleaning everything out the best I can. Those seem to be the first places to start.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Based on what I am reading, something is wrong with my cooled seats. I haven't really checked the back but in front, they don't feel very effective. I've been having 70-95F days here for the last couple of weeks so they and the air have been on constantly. The air is ice cold even when the weather is approaching 100 but not my driver seat. When I first sit down, I can feel a slight chill but after ten or so minutes, if I put my hand on the back and bottom, I feel my body heat. If I hover my hand slightly over the tiny holes, I can feel a little cool air coming out but not much. The air coming out on the passenger side seems cooler but still not impressive by any means. The heated seats work excellent though.
So it looks like a smorgasbord of things could be wrong. I'll try checking the filters and the fans first, alone with cleaning everything out the best I can. Those seem to be the first places to start.
So it looks like a smorgasbord of things could be wrong. I'll try checking the filters and the fans first, alone with cleaning everything out the best I can. Those seem to be the first places to start.
I have checked and vacuum the seat filters already.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 444
Likes: 74
From: OR
I'll add to this that with my driver seat cooling on full cool setting, there is an audible sound that sort of sounds like a faint gurgle...I'd like to check the fan myself. Is there a way to inspection the fan that cools the seats without extensive seat disassembly?
I have checked and vacuum the seat filters already.
I have checked and vacuum the seat filters already.