Ventilated Seat
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 808
Likes: 9
From: Fl
This issue has now been revealed in a review:
Long-term review: RC 350 F Sport - Week 5
By Amit Benjamin, Editor | August 17, 2015
Quote:
"In other news, I have uncovered a problem with the RC’s seats. First, the cooling function on them doesn’t seem to have the desired effect"
Lexus? Are you listening?
Long-term review: RC 350 F Sport - Week 5
By Amit Benjamin, Editor | August 17, 2015
Quote:
"In other news, I have uncovered a problem with the RC’s seats. First, the cooling function on them doesn’t seem to have the desired effect"
Lexus? Are you listening?
Last edited by Radical350; Aug 18, 2015 at 07:57 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 81
From: IN
This issue has now been revealed in a review:
Long-term review: RC 350 F Sport - Week 5
By Amit Benjamin, Editor | August 17, 2015
Quote:
"In other news, I have uncovered a problem with the RC’s seats. First, the cooling function on them doesn’t seem to have the desired effect"
Lexus? Are you listening?
Long-term review: RC 350 F Sport - Week 5
By Amit Benjamin, Editor | August 17, 2015
Quote:
"In other news, I have uncovered a problem with the RC’s seats. First, the cooling function on them doesn’t seem to have the desired effect"
Lexus? Are you listening?
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 5
From: New Hampshire
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Just a heads up, I brought my car in for the 5000 mile service over the weekend and told Lexus of Orlando of the problem. My service advisor at first said it was something new and he hasn't heard of it. Then after about a half hour he came back and asked if they could keep my car over the weekend until they can run some diagnostics on it as one of the Lexus diagnostic specialists has heard of this problem but they weren't able to replicate it. They gave me a loaner so I didn't mind too much. I got a call yesterday around 6pm and they were able to replicate it after letting my car sit out in the sun all day and then trying the seat cooling. The diagnostics guy is coming into Orlando on Wednesday morning and will be looking in depth into the problem. I don't feel like there's an actual fix to this but we shall see. At least now they'll be able to get some real data about the issue from my car. I'll update the thread as I get more info.
Driver
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 142
Likes: 6
From: ca
I just contacted my dealer and waiting for their reply, but I will end up bringing my car in to have it checked out. I also sent him a link to the forum so he could take a look at how many people are having this problem. I'm hoping it will be resolved recall or not.
Sad thing is I haven't even had my car for a month now, and 1/2 that time I didn't even drive it.
Sad thing is I haven't even had my car for a month now, and 1/2 that time I didn't even drive it.
So this is just purely based on speculation and crazy thought since I have been experiencing this issue also.
My speculation is that, when the seat has been sitting in the sunlight "for that day" and turn on the air for your seat it will, only the back portion, blow out hot air or feel warmer. If you had left your car in the shade, it will blow out cooler air.
My reasoning: My car has been sitting in the sunlight for 2 days straight, for both days... my back was hot, even after the sun had gone done. This morning, my car was parked in the shade and I turned on the ventilation and it was cold. My thoughts is that if a certain part itself has been exposed to sunlight for a duration of time, it will blow out warmer air. My solution/thought = tints
again purely just a shot in the dark. Other drivers with this issue. When you have this issue with your car, has your car been exposed to the sunlight for a couple/few hours?
My speculation is that, when the seat has been sitting in the sunlight "for that day" and turn on the air for your seat it will, only the back portion, blow out hot air or feel warmer. If you had left your car in the shade, it will blow out cooler air.
My reasoning: My car has been sitting in the sunlight for 2 days straight, for both days... my back was hot, even after the sun had gone done. This morning, my car was parked in the shade and I turned on the ventilation and it was cold. My thoughts is that if a certain part itself has been exposed to sunlight for a duration of time, it will blow out warmer air. My solution/thought = tints
again purely just a shot in the dark. Other drivers with this issue. When you have this issue with your car, has your car been exposed to the sunlight for a couple/few hours?
Just a heads up, I brought my car in for the 5000 mile service over the weekend and told Lexus of Orlando of the problem. My service advisor at first said it was something new and he hasn't heard of it. Then after about a half hour he came back and asked if they could keep my car over the weekend until they can run some diagnostics on it as one of the Lexus diagnostic specialists has heard of this problem but they weren't able to replicate it. They gave me a loaner so I didn't mind too much. I got a call yesterday around 6pm and they were able to replicate it after letting my car sit out in the sun all day and then trying the seat cooling. The diagnostics guy is coming into Orlando on Wednesday morning and will be looking in depth into the problem. I don't feel like there's an actual fix to this but we shall see. At least now they'll be able to get some real data about the issue from my car. I'll update the thread as I get more info.
Driver
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 142
Likes: 6
From: ca
So I texted the GM of the dealership I bought my cars yesterday about the issue we are all having. I asked him to check if there were service bulletins or recalls made on the ventilation on the seats. I also linked him to this extact thread to show him how many of us this was affecting.
He checked with service and spoke to the techs in there. So far no service recalls yet. But he told me if the problem persist to bring it in and they will check it out. But this is what one of the master techs said to try to do. I didn't drive my RC today so I wasn't about to test it out but I dont think it will work out because its a constant heating / warming affect on the mid back and my cars are rarely in the sun. Plus if they are I have a sunshade and 20% tint all around.
He checked with service and spoke to the techs in there. So far no service recalls yet. But he told me if the problem persist to bring it in and they will check it out. But this is what one of the master techs said to try to do. I didn't drive my RC today so I wasn't about to test it out but I dont think it will work out because its a constant heating / warming affect on the mid back and my cars are rarely in the sun. Plus if they are I have a sunshade and 20% tint all around.
Last edited by walkedu; Aug 19, 2015 at 08:29 AM.
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: ID
I have considered that the seat, if hot, would need some time to push the hot air out. I thought this may be the issue and considering where the heat is being felt by most, it makes sense that it would be the last place to cool. I have tried what was suggested by the GM and it does not seem to make a difference. Takes me about 30 min to drive home and in that time with the A/C on full and plenty cold in the car the seat is still hot and does not seem to cool off as quickly as you would expect if it was just hot air trapped in the seat. If this is the issue then they need to up the power on that blower to move all that hot air out.
Rookie
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 73
Likes: 7
From: NC
I bought my car a few weeks ago and had the tech person call me today to see if I had any questions about the technology in the RC. I told her no but then went on to talk about the cooling ventilation. She put me on hold for a moment and talked to a service advisor and he advised her to advise me to get the air to blow on both the floor and face and that should help it. I tried it today and it seemed to work pretty well with that setting. Before I only had the air to blow in my face and not the floor. This could have simply been coincidental and I just had tint put on my car yesterday...will someone else try this as well to see if it works?
I am going to try again this afternoon when I leave work while my car is sitting out here in the hot sun.
I am going to try again this afternoon when I leave work while my car is sitting out here in the hot sun.
Driver
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 142
Likes: 6
From: ca
I have considered that the seat, if hot, would need some time to push the hot air out. I thought this may be the issue and considering where the heat is being felt by most, it makes sense that it would be the last place to cool. I have tried what was suggested by the GM and it does not seem to make a difference. Takes me about 30 min to drive home and in that time with the A/C on full and plenty cold in the car the seat is still hot and does not seem to cool off as quickly as you would expect if it was just hot air trapped in the seat. If this is the issue then they need to up the power on that blower to move all that hot air out.
Yup my thoughts exactly. I always have my ac on and my ventilation on my seats at full blast in the morning and I feel like the lumbar area gets warm. Now I dont know if this is just an affect on how the ventilation is set up because the butt area is cooled and the upper back part is cooled but since there's no vents on the lumbar area it just stays warm due to body heat ect.
But I have noticed it takes a long time for the seats to cool down esp if the sun is beating down on your seats on a hot day.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 765
Likes: 19
From: AZ
Just to give everyone a bit of info on the cooled seats. There is a fan in the bottom and back of the seats, and it is not hooked up to any AC duct work. The air that it is blowing out of the seat cushions is the ambient air that is in the car. As one of the dealers suggested putting the AC on bi-level will help get cooler air to the fans, but it does have to get rid of the hot air first. Has anyone tried remote starting the car with the Enform App and also having the AC on before getting into the car to see if that helps?
I live in Phoenix, where it is either hot or hotter. Even in a parking garage the inside of the car gets very hot. I always remote start the car with the AC on to cool it off before I get in and the back of the seat is always cool.
Now if for some reason the seat heaters are coming on, but not showing they are on that could cause the seat backs to get real hot even with the AC on. It's just a theory.
Give it a try and let us know if that helped.
I live in Phoenix, where it is either hot or hotter. Even in a parking garage the inside of the car gets very hot. I always remote start the car with the AC on to cool it off before I get in and the back of the seat is always cool.
Now if for some reason the seat heaters are coming on, but not showing they are on that could cause the seat backs to get real hot even with the AC on. It's just a theory.
Give it a try and let us know if that helped.
So I texted the GM of the dealership I bought my cars yesterday about the issue we are all having. I asked him to check if there were service bulletins or recalls made on the ventilation on the seats. I also linked him to this extact thread to show him how many of us this was affecting.
He checked with service and spoke to the techs in there. So far no service recalls yet. But he told me if the problem persist to bring it in and they will check it out. But this is what one of the master techs said to try to do. I didn't drive my RC today so I wasn't about to test it out but I dont think it will work out because its a constant heating / warming affect on the mid back and my cars are rarely in the sun. Plus if they are I have a sunshade and 20% tint all around.
He checked with service and spoke to the techs in there. So far no service recalls yet. But he told me if the problem persist to bring it in and they will check it out. But this is what one of the master techs said to try to do. I didn't drive my RC today so I wasn't about to test it out but I dont think it will work out because its a constant heating / warming affect on the mid back and my cars are rarely in the sun. Plus if they are I have a sunshade and 20% tint all around.
To me this is just a way of problem shooting. They don't have an upper hand on the issue and no idea how to fix it.
As for my vehicle (usually garage kept in Cali), it sometime occurs right out of the garage. No sun beating down on it. As for leaning forward to let the hot air vent out; I also found this to be the problem in the vacant passenger seat.
As far as my experiences go, Mecedez seat vent , non such problem. Lexus RX350, no such problem, Lexus IS 250, no such problem, BMW, no such problem.
RC definitely HAS problems with these ventilated seat.
We have to be diligent about notifying Lexus about the issue and get it documented. Because once the warranty runs out, we can be SOL. Only hope we may have is documentation of the issues from early days of the purchase.
Good luck to us all
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 639
Likes: 9
From: the desert SW
driver's seat issue
Noticed my back is sweaty even with a/c on and the car is cooling efficiently. It feels like my seat heater is on, but it isn't.
Thought I read about this before but can't seem to find it. This problem started in my car since I read about it.
Anyone else have this issue? If so, did you bring it in, and are there any answers?
Thought I read about this before but can't seem to find it. This problem started in my car since I read about it.
Anyone else have this issue? If so, did you bring it in, and are there any answers?