Issues with driver's seat warmer

[JeffE]

Hi,

Long time lurker, first time poster. I drive an '09 Genesis 3.8 sedan w/ tech package, leased through HMFC in Feb 09.

Long story short: I have a problem with my driver's seat warmer that is driving me nuts. If I select either the high (3 bars) or medium (2 bars) setting, the seat warmer will operate for 2 - 3 minutes and then trip off. The lights in the seat warmer switch extinguish and seat heat cannot be selected back on. The only way to recover seat warmer operation is to turn the vehicle off and then restart. Once I've restarted, I can reselect seat heat, and sometimes it will stay on, sometimes not. Usually after the second time I've stopped and restarted the Genesis, the seat warmer will stay on. Needless to say, that's not very convenient!

If I select the Low (1 bar) temperature setting, the seat warmer will consistently stay on; however, that's not quite enough heat for me!

This behavior is almost always exhibited when the car is cold; if I turn on the seat warmer after the car has been running for a while and is warm, it will usually stay on.

Also, once the seat warmer has tripped, I cannot select seat cooling either.

The passenger's seat warmer does not suffer from this issue.

I've taken the car in twice to Doug's Hyundai in Lynnwood, WA for service, and to fix the seat warmer. The first time, they told me they were unable to duplicate the problem, as the car was warm and the seat heater didn't trip off. The second time, they contacted Hyundai and were told to unplug and then replug in the seat heater controller; after that, the seat warmer worked (at the dealership) for 15 minutes. I assumed the issue was addressed and drove away, and within 5 minutes the warmer tripped off.

I've contacted the dealer again, and they've put out a feeler to Hyundai, but so far they've told me there is no fix available. I realize a seat warmer isn't the most important thing, but now that's it's cold I would really like it to work. Also, if Hyundai wants to play in the near-luxury car segment they've got to get problems like this addressed quickly. I rarely had issues like this with Acuras, and when I did they bent over backwards to get them addressed.

Anyway, I'd like to know if anyone else has experienced this problem, and if there are any suggestions I can pass along to the dealer.

Thanks!

Jeff

 

[Waki]

Of course there is a fix. REPLACE THE SEAT !! That is NOT the norm. Demand it.

 

[JeffE]

Yeah, I will do that. One possibility is there's a short somewhere in the seat.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[mcginnpm]

Probably a bad thermocouple sensor located in the back or seat cushion is tripping off at too low of a temperature (see the electrical schematic for the "Climate Seat Control" item in the "ETM" section at www.hmaservice.com).

 

[Sayantsi]

Yes - have the dealership replace the seat!

 

[Diemutta]

Jeff,

I have a 3 week old 2011 V8 Genesis (My second, had an 2009 V6 Genesis, loved the car to death, was in a bad wreck where it was totaled, saved my life)

Anyway, I'm having the EXACT same problem as well. I'm working on it with my dealer. My dealer has at least 1 other genesis with the problem. I will post what I find out.

 

[garddog32]

Please see this thread...

http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showthread.php?t=5463


The resolution is to install three springs around the seat's breather tubes. The tubes are getting crushed, causing overheating and early shut-down.

 

[Wana]

I had the same issue. Dealer replaced the console switch and (I hesitate to put this in writing for fear of jinxing myself) the seat heater has been working as it should since the fix (only 2 days ago). Man, that seat really gets HOT if left on high for 15-20 minutes!

So, it appears that there could actually be several different causes/fixes for this condition? I'll be sure to post if the problem returns and I'll have the dealer try the tube springs fix next.

 

[rottyman]

Just had this happen to me for the first time this morning. I will keep an eye on it, but it sounds like I will need to get this addressed.

Car is about a month old

 

[ttsig]

Just had this happen to me for the first time this morning. I will keep an eye on it, but it sounds like I will need to get this addressed.

Car is about a month old

I had this happen for the first time ever last week. We had some of our coldest temperatures for the winter, in the low teens in the mornings. Certainly not very cold compared to many climates, but likely as cold as we'll see around here, and perhaps the coldest temperatures my Genny's ever been subjected to in the 2+ years of ownership. The seat switched off twice on my 55 minutes commute to work, although I was able to turn it back on after a few minutes.

I've never had it happen with our more typical 30-40 degree temperatures, and it hasn't happened again since the temperatures returned to normal late last week. Still, I'm only a few hundred miles short of my 60,000 mile warranty so I'm thinking of taking it in just to have them look at it and to have the issued logged in case it returns shortly after warranty.

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[Diemutta]

All,

Geardog32 is absolutely correct. The fix is to install springs in the driver's seat because the design of the seat is faulty. Replacing the seat will not help.

I purchased a 2011 V8 Genesis two months ago and the seat warmers shut off in 2-3 minutes within the first 3 days. I got the runaround from my dealer as well, Paramus Hyundai in New Jersey. It was through this forum (Geardog32's posts specfically) that I was able to find the fix. The WISCONSIN dealer who fixed his was nice enough to send the instructions for what they did to my dealer in NJ. After that, the ball started rolling. You will have to get your Hyundai dealer to get ther repair "okayed" by the field rep, which is the regional hyundai representative with the authority to greenlight out of the norm stuff.

The repair took 2 hours, and I it's working like a charm since. The issue is based on weight. Anyone who isn't 160lbs or less will "Test" the springs on the factory installed seat.

The spring approach is the fix and you'll have to stay on your dealer because Hyundai has not released an official bulletin about this.

However, make no mistake, that is what has to be done. Replacing the switch won't work, replacing the seat won't work.

 

[homeofstone]

So we have three choices. 1. Do nothing. 2. Get the springs installed. or 3. Lose weight.

 

[Stoofpilot]

Unfortunately, I weight 190 and my seats work great. As we say down South- Like to burn up!! Have not had a problem with early turn off.

 

[Wana]

Replacing the switch seems to have worked for mine. Been using the heated seat without it shutting itself off for over a month now.

 

[MaherRX]

Same problem. Dealer change the switch, the electronic control, the WHOLE seat. No improvement. In Canada when it is -20deg C a heated seat is not a luxury option...I should have purchased a real luxury car

 

[scottdk]

Same problem. Dealer change the switch, the electronic control, the WHOLE seat. No improvement. In Canada when it is -20deg C a heated seat is not a luxury option...I should have purchased a real luxury car

Sounds like you should change your attitude instead. I've never heard of such a small issue ruining a car. Maybe you should seek Flyboy's advice on this issue.

 

[MaherRX]

Sounds like you should change your attitude instead. I've never heard of such a small issue ruining a car. Maybe you should seek Flyboy's advice on this issue.

Well Ok there was some frustration in my reply. I can live with some minor problems if there are workarounds for them (tilt loosing motion... I learn in this forum how to restore the total stroke...fine I can live with that) Yes beside this heated seat problem the car is great. My frustration comes from the fact that the problem has been going on for 4 months and I read in this forum that not only it is a known problem but there is a fix for it. It seems that unfortunately the local Huyndai supports over here does not read this forum. A working heated seat can be obtained on an Elantra so please don't tell me it it is an attitude problem...By the way I'm new to this forum Who is Flyboy?