Intermittent heated seat

[garddog32]

My heated seat problem is resolved!!! The dealer installed 3 coil springs around the breather tubes. Apparently the breather tubes were getting crushed when sitting in the seat. The seats work great now. It gets as hot as you would ever want it to get. Great work by Arrow Hyundai in Milwaukee tracking down the issue!!

 

[QCTLG]

I'm not buying the air tubes theory. Try turning the heated seat on high while standing outside the car and I'll bet it shuts itself off after a few minutes.

The heat of the seats are weight activated.
If you don't sit down on the seat...it will NEVER come on.

 

[Wana]

Congrats Garddog, do you know where these breather tubes are located? Are they inside the seat cushion? Did they have to take your seat apart to put these springs in? I wonder why they wouldn't put the springs around the tubes in the first place at the factory? What does your service invoice say on it regarding the springs and installation? This information would be helpful if I could provide it to my dealer. I'm still waiting on the replacement switch which I don't believe is going to help... Thanks!

 

[garddog32]

I cannot tell you for sure where the breather tubes are, but I know they did have to take the seat apart to do the procedure. The invoice does not have any further info other than it appears the dealer got the install documentation from the field engineers. So, if you ask your dealer to ask their FE, they should be able to find what they need.

 

[xabanero]

I'm not buying the air tubes theory. Try turning the heated seat on high while standing outside the car and I'll bet it shuts itself off after a few minutes.

I don't know man, I think I could buy it. It is fairly random when it happens. It may also explain why it seems like the cooling seats don't cool sometimes too. I was thinking electrical but this could be the issue.

 

[xabanero]

The heat of the seats are weight activated.
If you don't sit down on the seat...it will NEVER come on.

Actually, you should try it. Since the cold weather has come back I have been starting my car and letting it run. One time I thought about warming the seat so it would be warm by the time I got in. If I remember correctly, I do believe it was heated when I got in. I know my wife's Toyota Highlander will heat the seats w/o being in the car but it also has a remote start (wish the Genesis did). I'll try it tomorrow.

@garddog32
Incidentally, I have an appointment tomorrow morning with my dealer to have a look at my seat again. I appreciate the idea about the air tubes. I'll be sure to give them the idea and it will be one more thing they can test/look at.

 

[jeff@echo2plus.com]

I received good info from Jeff in Lynnwood, WA on this problem. His dealer fixed the issue, with help from "Rolf" the service advisor from Hyundai. I spoke to the service advisor in Lynnwood and he told me that the problem is that the tunnels that move the air (heated and cooled) through the seat need to be reinforced.

They evidently get crushed when you sit on the seat and constrict air flow, thereby causing the system to shut itself off for safety. The fix is to reinforce the tunnels, I think with springs.

My local dealer's service manager acted all ignorent about it but did admit that Rolf is there every month and that his guys will contact him if necessary to get the service bullatin to fix the problem.

So it's a known issue and has a fix. I'm going to wait until January and then get it in for the fix.

They must have used little Korean guys to test this thing, not big American boys!

Thanks Jeff in WA!

 

[Diemutta]

Great to hear that the "Tunnel" theory is working for some of you.

One question: Why does it not effect the passenger seat heater?

 

[Wana]

Dealer replaced the console switch and it has been working fine for almost a week. I'll keep my fingers crossed...

 

[GypsyDRB]

do dealerships audit the cars that come in their lot to see if all the TSB's have been applied?

I have a 2011 v6...and have had this intermittent heat issue - I'm kind of a big guy 6'2' 227...and every now and then the thing will just shut off...if i re-position and shut the car on and off it "fixes it".

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[0529308]

This is happening to me in my one week old 2011 V8. Does anyone know if there is a service bulletin?

I am concerned since unlike my previous BMW there is no loaner vehicle and it will take forever to get my Genesis back.

 

[Matt Z]

obviously have the wrong dealer! You need to check out others! 90% of the time my dealer has a Genesis for me. On the other occasions, when nothing is available , they call enterprise and always have a loaner for me!

 

[mluk]

Re: Intermittent heated seat = 2010 3.8 Genesis sedan

I have exact same problem with intermittent heat in drivers seat. Still unresolved after one year of trying to fix with dealer and asking Hyundai corporate head office for help. As a result of another similar posting on this site with same problem, I tried what another Genesis owner had success with. I had the dealer install a couple of spring coils in the seat to prevent the driver from crushing the heat lines (not using correct mechanic description). This fix did not work and problem still exists a year later.
When I speak with Hyundai corporate, they say they don't have any record of others having this problem. Based on what I see posted on this website by other owners, it is a fairly common problem without a fix yet. I believe for every person who posts this problem on this message board there is at least another 20-30 who don't.
I will continue to search for a fix and if successful will post it here, as I hope others will do same.
Regards,
ML

 

[rottyman]

I have had the same issue happen a couple of times. During my last oil change, I mentioned it to the dealer and said "it seems to be a common problem". I asked them to be proactive and keep an eye out for a TSB. I know if I bring it in, I will be wasting my time to convince them there is a problem unless I can recreate, which I can't do.

So, I just put it on hot..when it gets toasty, lower to 1 light. Annoying? Yes, but less annoying than driving my car back and forth to the dealer for nothing.

 

[mluk]

RE intermittent heated (and cooling) driver seat problem in Genesis sedan.
Most postings have a continual heating problem, vs occasional.
I have had this problem with my 2010 Genesis since new in Jan, 2010 and despite being able to reproduce the problem for dealer they cannot solve it.
Hyundai consumer affairs says they have never heard of such a problem (unlikely). I have had the car in to the dealer 2X for this problem, each time having to leave it 1-2 days without any fix to problem.
Hyundai has not issued any service bulletins or recalls on this problem to date.

Problem continues to be heated seat will work for only 2-5 minutes after starting car and then will turn itself off and will not go on until car is re-started.
Annoying? Yes, having paid 40k for this car with heated seats that have not worked since taking delivery of the car. End result is after 14 months still no fix to this problem. Regards, ML

 

[CapoCriminali]

obviously have the wrong dealer! You need to check out others! 90% of the time my dealer has a Genesis for me. On the other occasions, when nothing is available , they call enterprise and always have a loaner for me!

ROFL. I wish. Try the greater NYC area. JM Hyundai will give you a loaner, but they want 3-4 weeks advance time. No other dealer in the area offers one. Who has 3-4 weeks to wait for a problem w/their car? Haha.

 

[Matt Z]

I hear about numerous issues with dealers throughout the US and I guess I'm spoiled. Burns Hyundai in Marlton, NJ is the epitomy of what a dealer should be ( I didn't even buy it there) This week I dropped off my baby (appointment set up 3 days prior) for an oil change, minor shimmy in front brakes and a steering wheel swap for the KAI almost all wood steering wheel. I was in and out in 5 minutes with a 2011 Genesis 3.8 with 3K miles. I returned at 4pm and picked up my car, hand washed, tank and all fluids topped off (they also cut all rotors) $200 bill..............I don't think I can do any better!!!

 

[CapoCriminali]

I hear about numerous issues with dealers throughout the US and I guess I'm spoiled. Burns Hyundai in Marlton, NJ is the epitomy of what a dealer should be ( I didn't even buy it there) This week I dropped off my baby (appointment set up 3 days prior) for an oil change, minor shimmy in front brakes and a steering wheel swap for the KAI almost all wood steering wheel. I was in and out in 5 minutes with a 2011 Genesis 3.8 with 3K miles. I returned at 4pm and picked up my car, hand washed, tank and all fluids topped off (they also cut all rotors) $200 bill..............I don't think I can do any better!!!

I wish Burns was closer. They have a customer care coordinator who actively monitors these forums. I've actually written a letter to HMA about how awesome it is to see service like that. I really wish some of the local NYC area dealers were as great at Burns Oh well. Them's the breaks.

 

[MaherRX]

RE intermittent heated (and cooling) driver seat problem in Genesis sedan.
Most postings have a continual heating problem, vs occasional.
I have had this problem with my 2010 Genesis since new in Jan, 2010 and despite being able to reproduce the problem for dealer they cannot solve it.
Hyundai consumer affairs says they have never heard of such a problem (unlikely). I have had the car in to the dealer 2X for this problem, each time having to leave it 1-2 days without any fix to problem.
Hyundai has not issued any service bulletins or recalls on this problem to date.

Problem continues to be heated seat will work for only 2-5 minutes after starting car and then will turn itself off and will not go on until car is re-started.
Annoying? Yes, having paid 40k for this car with heated seats that have not worked since taking delivery of the car. End result is after 14 months still no fix to this problem. Regards, ML

I spent the whole winter with this problem (occured almost every day) and they recently installed the spring / protective tubing fix mentionned in this forum since then the problem has not re-occured (there is a tech bulletin for this)

 

[mluk]

May 11, 2011; just spoke with Hyundai Consumer Affairs, they checked re heated seat problem, no Technical Service Bulletin or recall for Genesis for this problem. I have checked with them re this problem every few months, and get same answer, never heard of such a problem.
Problem still exists, both heating and cooling button turn off on own within 5 minutes (no, not a thermostat problem, seat should stay on as passenger seat does). Dealer did install spring coils to prevent crushing of hose, (a described fix in these postings), but this had no effect at all on heating or cooling of seat. This fix seems to work for some owners though, per this message board.

Any relevant, helpful info for fixes to this problem appreciated (information of where you live, or how you manage to live with this problem isn't really helpful on this message board). Thanks!