Just an update for anyone changing fabric seat base only. The TPS part number is 7LA963555C
[Guide] Heating Seat Failure And Repair
- Thread starter Robert
- Start date
SICAdler89
New Member
Hello,
My heated seats are not working. I checked a fuse but everything is fine.
I took it apart and now I see it is not burned out.
A quick check with an ohmmeter shows 20 ohms resistance in the driver's cushion element and 24 ohms in the backrest element.
Can anyone tell me if these are normal values or if they are faulty?
My heated seats are not working. I checked a fuse but everything is fine.
I took it apart and now I see it is not burned out.
A quick check with an ohmmeter shows 20 ohms resistance in the driver's cushion element and 24 ohms in the backrest element.
Can anyone tell me if these are normal values or if they are faulty?
Yes, you are correct. I checked and the back rest heat pad is faulty but I can't find the correct replacement.
To add to the list of my T6 woes, I now have a failed heated driver's seat. Thanks though to @Robert, I have a fighting chance of fixing this problem.
Only curiosity I have is that my seat has not totally failed. You do get a wee bit of heat after a while but much reduced from normal.
Measuring the resistance of each pad I get 1.2Ohms for the back rest and 13.8 Ohms for the base (confirmed measured 15Ohms at the main plug since elemenrs are connected in series). Given that heated seats typically use about 50 Watts of power, I'd have expected to see a total resistance of ~3Ohms (V^2/R, 12^2/3 = 144/3 ~48W). At 15 Ohms, I'm only getting ~10W which explains why I have a cold bottom.
So, I'm guessing I need a new seat base element (7LA963555C thanks @LambethBoy). Just wondered if anyone could confirm my thoughts on resitance and let me know what the base resistance shoud be? I know I could remove my own passenger seat to measure that one but I've run out of time this week for driveway wrenching.
Plus, holy cr*p, these parts have got expensive. Seems they used to be ~£50. Now they are more like £150!
Cheers, Cuiken.
Only curiosity I have is that my seat has not totally failed. You do get a wee bit of heat after a while but much reduced from normal.
Measuring the resistance of each pad I get 1.2Ohms for the back rest and 13.8 Ohms for the base (confirmed measured 15Ohms at the main plug since elemenrs are connected in series). Given that heated seats typically use about 50 Watts of power, I'd have expected to see a total resistance of ~3Ohms (V^2/R, 12^2/3 = 144/3 ~48W). At 15 Ohms, I'm only getting ~10W which explains why I have a cold bottom.
So, I'm guessing I need a new seat base element (7LA963555C thanks @LambethBoy). Just wondered if anyone could confirm my thoughts on resitance and let me know what the base resistance shoud be? I know I could remove my own passenger seat to measure that one but I've run out of time this week for driveway wrenching.
Plus, holy cr*p, these parts have got expensive. Seems they used to be ~£50. Now they are more like £150!
Cheers, Cuiken.
Last edited:
TPS should be able to give you the part number!?
Tried that but they won't give me the part number.
Some are fitted / stiched directly to the seat cover and some are glued to the foam base. I’m guessing yours will be the same as @Robert at the beginning of this thread.
See here for backrest.
Post in thread '[Guide] Heating Seat Failure And Repair'
[Guide] Heating Seat Failure And Repair
AhrnNilsson
New Member
Hi Good thread Could anyone measure ohms of both pads when functioning corectly?? I wonder if a generic heat pad could be modded with resistors to match the VW. or if a budget fix is to solder on the ends to a new copper wire and sew it in a similar pattern? Is it just the thin copper wire that's causing the resistance, or is it a special wire??
Martin Powell
New Member
Hello, did you have any luck getting a repair? I have the same issue on a 2016 Caravelle.
Our '18 T6 Caravelle with Alcantara has both defective heated seats too. Even the seat pads for fabric seats look to be expensive now.
I believe the heating element is made with Nichrome wire. Resistance wire. Resistance may be relative to wire diameter.
Rapidonline list various sizes.
Rapidonline list various sizes.
Hi all,
Both my heated seats weren't working. I identified the passenger was just not connected after having swivel bases installed some time ago. So this is now working. However, the drivers side was connected, and still not working, although switch illuminates. Looking at the fuse map, one fuse serves both, so assuming that's the case it's not that. I'll try a multimeter, bit another option I devised was to run wires from the drivers side supply to the passenger seat (and vice versa). To do that it would be beneficial to connect male and female connectors to each end. Does anyone know where these can be purchased.
Many thanks in advance.
Both my heated seats weren't working. I identified the passenger was just not connected after having swivel bases installed some time ago. So this is now working. However, the drivers side was connected, and still not working, although switch illuminates. Looking at the fuse map, one fuse serves both, so assuming that's the case it's not that. I'll try a multimeter, bit another option I devised was to run wires from the drivers side supply to the passenger seat (and vice versa). To do that it would be beneficial to connect male and female connectors to each end. Does anyone know where these can be purchased.
Many thanks in advance.
I suspect the element has a break in it on the drivers seat, it's very common. Do a continuity test on that before trying anything else.
That's what my problem was and bought a genuine replacement from ebay.
I was dreading it but was surprisingly easy.
I think the connections will be different.
