Heated Seats

[MarkDenise1978]

Hi all,
The new (to us) van is still having a couple of bits done at the dealers before we pick it up.

On the test drive we noticed the heated seats weren’t heating (button lights worked though). The garage called today and said the electrician thinks it must be the element as the fuses are all good.

Means a 2 week delay getting the van which is fine but does it seem weird that BOTH have gone at the same time?

Offered us £1k off the van or wait but I’d rather wait and have the repair done.

 

[Alster]

I agree seems strange all the elements going at once and also quite sceptical of the diagnosis- surely the electrician would test the elements for continuity and check for a feed and therefore Know not think the elements need changing.

 

[MarkDenise1978]

Yeah I thought the same. The garage is a good one though with a good reputation for Caravelle so I trust them - maybe they just used a less than great electrician this time?!

 

[Dellmassive]

Something sounds fishy there.

The first thing I would do is look under the seats and make sure that the seats are actually wired with heaters?

They will be two plug connectors one for the heated seats and one for the seat belt.


Is extremely unlikely for a brand new SEAT element to be faulty, and even more safe for both to be defective.

 

[Sasquatch]

It's your call of course, but I'd personally be steering well clear of a van that's displaying expensive faults.

Partly because it has the potential to be the tip of the iceberg (particularly with electrics), and party because you can be damn sure the seller knew about this but decided to try and punt it out with the fault anyway with a view to saving themselves a few shekels - what else might they be keeping quiet in the hope you don't notice?

There are no shortage of nice vans out there so in your shoes I'd walk on to the next one.

If you really must have that particular one then in light of what you've already discovered its worth paying a couple of hundred quid for a professional AA or RAC pre purchase inspection. In my experience they're thorough to the point of being anal, and it also gives you an additional layer of comeback in the event they miss something. It also let's the seller know they aren't getting away with anything and it can be remarkable what they suddenly "remember" about the vehicle, to the point I had one garage remove a car from sale entirely when I reached for my phone to book such an inspection.

Either way, best of luck, let us know how it goes.

 

[JOG]

It's your call of course, but I'd personally be steering well clear of a van that's displaying expensive faults.

Partly because it has the potential to be the tip of the iceberg (particularly with electrics), and party because you can be damn sure the seller knew about this but decided to try and punt it out with the fault anyway with a view to saving themselves a few shekels - what else might they be keeping quiet in the hope you don't notice?

There are no shortage of nice vans out there so in your shoes I'd walk on to the next one.

If you really must have that particular one then in light of what you've already discovered its worth paying a couple of hundred quid for a professional AA or RAC pre purchase inspection. In my experience they're thorough to the point of being anal, and it also gives you an additional layer of comeback in the event they miss something. It also let's the seller know they aren't getting away with anything and it can be remarkable what they suddenly "remember" about the vehicle, to the point I had one garage remove a car from sale entirely when I reached for my phone to book such an inspection.

Either way, best of luck, let us know how it goes.

^^ wot ee said!

 

[WillowMan]

Very unlikely that both elements have failed at the same time.
It sounds like a wiring issue which should be fairly easy to trace.
Only question I would have if the elements have failed together would be why?

 

[MarkDenise1978]

To be fair to the garage the van had only come in that morning so they'd not had a chance to check it over etc. I asked him the same about the wider wiring issue and he said he will get an other opinion which i thought was fair.

It's an ex-mobility van so extremely well maintained and the report on 'modifications' had nothing on except a note for removal of one of the rear seats (and they've already sourced a new one so now back to a 2 + 2 + 2 set up)

 

[Sasquatch]

It's an ex-mobility van so extremely well maintained...

That shouldn't be assumed. They scrimp, try and get away with budget tyres, and substitute an oil change for a major service (particularly as a vehicle nears the end of its lease), etc, just like any large fleet operator will. DAMHIK.

 

[SAJO]

Motability can be very light on servicing often going for the very basics, so I'd make sure you see a print out of the work they have carried out.

 

[MarkDenise1978]

Motability can be very light on servicing often going for the very basics, so I'd make sure you see a print out of the work they have carried out.

Didn't realise that but thankfully we have all the printouts so looks in good shape.

The garage is Hoyles in Denholme and i did lots of digging around and they seem to have a good rep

 

[Bav]

Didn't realise that but thankfully we have all the printouts so looks in good shape.

The garage is Hoyles in Denholme and i did lots of digging around and they seem to have a good rep

Yeh, they've got a reasonably good rep and converting ex-Motability vans is their speciality.