Heated Seats On but Not…

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GTyankee

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here is some info about Ram heated seats



a lot more about the heated seats & steering wheel

 
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BossHogg

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Just a thought since the cooled seats are based on the AC temp set on the dash, is the technology specific enough on the seat warmers to heat based on the temp setting on the dash too or is it still just an on/off state of operation?
The seats aren't really cooled; they are vented. The seat fan pulls cabin air through the seat. Whatever the cabin air temperature is, that is what is being pulled through the seat.

The heated seats have two or three (later MYs) heating levels. You can configure automatic seat venting or heating based on outside temperature, as sensed by the driver's outside mirror. Be aware that the mirror is easily sun-soaked. I park my truck so the morning winter sun can't warm the mirror, stopping the heated seats from turning on with a remote start.
 

Captain Bart

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I had a 2013 Laramie, and I have a 2015 Longhorn, and I can tell you the heated seats don't work very well. Sometimes, they will warm up, but not every time. This has been a topic discussed since the new electrical architecture came out with the 2013 trucks. Some have different results, but both of my trucks sucked.

Now the 2022 is a different story; seats warm up quickly and every time.
All of this is common to these trucks. I simply stopped trying to re-invent the wheel, and ordered a new heater element.
Pulled the seat out, peeled the cover, replaced the element, and re-assembled. Works flawlessly and, anytime the lite is on, the seat is toasty.
 

wrench78

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If I remote start the truck, the lights will stay illuminated until I hit the button to start the truck. At that point, the lights disengage shortly thereafter. No heat produced.

If I engage them manually after they’ve turned themselves off, the lights will stay on for the couple of seconds then turn off.

I didn’t try using them until temps dipped into the 30s. It’s currently forecasted to have 10” in the next 24 hours.

I’ve verified that fuse is intact and seated. Thought about swapping it for different 25 in the box and see if anything changes.
I had the same issue in my Jeep Wrangler. Come to find out, the passenger seat had a short in the wire. Seconds after I hit the button on, they turned off. Seat never headed up. So you may have a short in the wiring or in the heat tape itself.
 

Marshall

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When I start my truck with the fob when its cold, the driver seat will come on Hi and the steering wheel heats, The passenger seat does not come on auto, but that could be the way I have it set
If its warm out , they do not come on, but the AC will if hot, same thing with cooling fan for your butt.
It is the same as when I start the truck while in it , they will automatically come on if cold.

I could be wrong, but I think Hi is seat and back both heated, and low is just the seat, not the back??? I would have to did the book out again.

I don't have rear seat heat in my 2014, the SIL does in his 2012 crew cab, as well as factory TV back there.
I don't care that much about the seats, but I do love the heated steering wheel, it will almost get too hot at times.

I have never had any problems with this on any of my trucks, I would really check out the wiring and connectors under the seats
If you have the light for heat , then if you have a volt meter check for 12 volt, also as some one said check with ohm meter for résistance across the plug to the heaters ( with no power on.).
A 12 volt test light will also show voltage or not, a small 12 volt light bulb and couple wires will make a cheap test light. Problem is finding the correct plug/ wires to test when there is a bunch together.
 
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wrench78

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When I start my truck with the fob when its cold, the driver seat will come on Hi and the steering wheel heats, The passenger seat does not come on auto, but that could be the way I have it set
If its warm out , they do not come on, but the AC will if hot, same thing with cooling fan for your butt.
It is the same as when I start the truck while in it , they will automatically come on if cold.

I could be wrong, but I think Hi is seat and back both heated, and low is just the seat, not the back??? I would have to did the book out again.

I don't have rear seat heat in my 2014, the SIL does in his 2012 crew cab, as well as factory TV back there.
I don't care that much about the seats, but I do love the heated steering wheel, it will almost get too hot at times.

I have never had any problems with this on any of my trucks, I would really check out the wiring and connectors under the seats
If you have the light for heat , then if you have a volt meter check for 12 volt, also as some one said check with ohm meter for résistance across the plug to the heaters ( with no power on.).
A 12 volt test light will also show voltage or not, a small 12 volt light bulb and couple wires will make a cheap test light. Problem is finding the correct plug/ wires to test when there is a bunch together.
From the online owners manual:

When the HI-level setting is selected, the heater will
provide a boosted heat level during the first four minutes
of operation. Then, the heat output will drop to the normal
HI-level. If the HI-level setting is selected, the system will
automatically switch to LO-level after approximately 60
minutes of continuous operation. At that time, the display
will change from HI to LO, indicating the change. The
LO-level setting will turn off automatically after approximately
45 minutes.
NOTE: The engine must be running for the heated seats to
operate.
 

wrench78

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from the owners manual:

Vehicles Equipped With Remote Start
On models that are equipped with remote start, the driver’s
seat can be programmed to come on during a remote
start.
If your vehicle is equipped with a touchscreen, this feature
can be programmed through the Uconnect system. Refer to
“Uconnect Settings” in “Understanding Your Instrument
Panel” for further information.
 

Marshall

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I could be thinking about the Honda, I do know I can change the settings on the screen.
I have not looked at the book for a while, last time was getting the garage door programing set ,again.
 
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OP
DeputyChef22

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Strange thing… my seat warmers worked today! My butt and lower back loved it. Then tonight after dinner, it went back to turning itself off after I hit the button to turn them on. I do hear the electric switch engage in the dash where my knees are but it just turns itself off.
 

Marshall

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You have 1 or 2 red lights come on in the switch depending how many times you push the button? I don't hear any relay click, but My ears are bad.
On my truck I don't have to turn it on , it is always on , but that depends on temperature.
I have to turn the other side on, if wife is going , but that is rare these days.
 

Dusty

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I think some folks are making misleading statements. The AUTO seat heater function will turn the heated seat and steering wheel on if the temp is below 40F. The heated seat and steering wheel will come on anytime you turn them on manually. Your issue sounds like a malfunction in the seat heater circuit. Probe between the power to the seat heater and the return and check for resistance.
Some clarity.

The heated seats and steering wheel feature is switched on in vehicle UConnect Settings:

Settings > Auto On Comfort> Auto On Driver/Vented/Steering Wheel

(Selections)

OFF/Remote Start/All Starts

When selected, heated seats and steering wheel will be on in temps under 40F.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 125115 miles.
 

PaleFlyer

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Heated Seats will not work unless it is cold enough
same with steering wheel heat
I've had them on when it was over 80F out, and I could tell my butt was being heated.
They only come on automatically if it's under 40F, which I've found the setting for, but is apparently handled by a DIFFERENT security gateway than the body computer.
 

Marshall

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I know the cooling fan will come on when its cold out side when I hit the wrong button under the radio
( blue light), don't I have ever played with heaters when it warm out
 

BossHogg

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I know the cooling fan will come on when its cold out side when I hit the wrong button under the radio
( blue light), don't I have ever played with heaters when it warm out
I've done that while wearing gloves, and the gloves cause the vented button to get selected. It was an unexpected, uncomfortable feeling when it was single-digit temperatures. But that was a mistake I only made once, I now have auto comfort on.
 

DripJust

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I'm having a heated seat issue also in my 4th gen 2010. When I call for heat with the analog control it lights up for a few seconds and turns off on both driver and passenger. Can anyone give me advice if it's the control modules or the pads where the problem is ?
 

Marshall

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I would think a meter would tell you if the heater is working, is there 12 volt to them, or check for open cck in the heater coil,
Would have to figure out where to check, under the seat, maybe connection under the door sill pad??? I have no idea what the résistance would be on a good seat heater coil, if one side worked, then you could compare one seat to the other.

If both don't work at the same time , that would sound like a control cck problem as both heaters would not go out at the same time. My 2014 has separate controls for each side.
Had 2010, and I think it was the same.
 

Joe_Ram73

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I have a 2011 Laramie 3500. The heated seat and cooled heat function turn on with the auto-climate control depending on the outside temperature and you can enable or disable that function on your settings. Now, to maybe answer the question of those with seat's heating issues, I had the same problem a while back. In my case I had the light on but no heat. Sometimes, the light of the heated seats would flash a couple of times and then turned off. I bought the control unit, thinking that was the problem but turned out to be the heating elements of the seats. I'm pretty sure there has to be a troubleshooting matrix that provides the specific resistance of those heating elements. Unfortunately, I don't have it. What I do know is that those heating elements are SUPER expensive. If I am not mistaken, I believe I paid $450 per seat.
 
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