Bundus Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Just wondering as I never really did understand it. Ive noticed that if no one is sat in the passenger seat and I turn the heater on it doesnt get hot at all - I put my hand on it and its cold. So I just want to understand how they work - what provides the heat etc?? Also as I was planning a re-trim at some point do I need to make sure the new leather is perforated like my originals to allow the heater to work? Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 It has an element in the seat that heats up. One covers the seat pan and another smaller one does the lower back. Check out the seat section in the Service Manual (download around here somewhere) and it shows how to dismantle the seats and where the elements are. I dont know if there is a weight sensor in the seat to tell it if someone is on it? My guessing is that by sitting on it you flatten the foam and the heat comes through quicker. With no weight on it, it might not come through enough before the thermostat turns it off as the element is too hot I wouldnt expect it to need to be perforated, but it will help get the heat through a bit quicker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bundus Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Thanks a lot Chris - that helps a lot. Ive got my manual around somewhere - I'll dig it out and take a look see if they mention anything about the need to be perforated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 It has an element in the seat that heats up. One covers the seat pan and another smaller one does the lower back. Check out the seat section in the Service Manual (download around here somewhere) and it shows how to dismantle the seats and where the elements are. I dont know if there is a weight sensor in the seat to tell it if someone is on it? My guessing is that by sitting on it you flatten the foam and the heat comes through quicker. With no weight on it, it might not come through enough before the thermostat turns it off as the element is too hot I wouldnt expect it to need to be perforated, but it will help get the heat through a bit quicker Wouldn't surprise if it did have a sensor as I guess it needs one for the Airbags etc anyway. I haven't looked at the diagrams but perhaps all the seat electrickery is linked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunset350z Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 It may only work when the seatbelt is clicked in. I presume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 It may only work when the seatbelt is clicked in. I presume seat sensors do exist, no idea if zed uses it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vik54 Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Am assuming there are no sensors............unless they get triggered by something as light as a handbag...........didn't realise my passenger seat heater was on the other day until I picked up my bag and it was toasty warm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexZ Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 The seat airbags are normally run from a air pressure sensor in the door. When the door takes a large impact it increase the air pressure in the door shell and tells the airbag swtich to release the airbag. This give the airbag time to explaned befor the door hits the person. Well thats how most Merc's work anyway lol The seat pretensioners are nornally triggered from sensor around the external perimitter of the car i.e bumpers etc.. Alexz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3FIDDYZ Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Am assuming there are no sensors............unless they get triggered by something as light as a handbag...........didn't realise my passenger seat heater was on the other day until I picked up my bag and it was toasty warm Confused..... Light and handbag ???! in the same sentence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronzee Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Ive noticed that if no one is sat in the passenger seat and I turn the heater on it doesnt get hot at all - I put my hand on it and its cold. So I just want to understand how they work - what provides the heat etc?? Also as I was planning a re-trim at some point do I need to make sure the new leather is perforated like my originals to allow the heater to work? Am assuming there are no sensors............unless they get triggered by something as light as a handbag...........didn't realise my passenger seat heater was on the other day until I picked up my bag and it was toasty warm I'm presuming the UK owners manual is the same, as the NZ ones. On one of the pages it says don't put the heated seat button on if the seat is empty. An empty seat will heat up, if empty. Maybe your Z's seat is malfunctioning Bundus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goatboy Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 This may just be the way the heat is conducted. I've noticed before if you have an electric blanket on a bed with no duvet or person on it it simple doesn't get warm. i can only assume that because the level of heat is actually very low and near the surface the heat simple soaks (radiates?) away into the air rather than warming up the bed (or in this case seat). So my guess would be it comes on but doesn't actually have much effect unless there is something on it (person, shopping, handbag etc!) Just a guess though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 There are weight sensors in some of the newer models, but I forget which and why they are there. If you search around on my350z.com for the "seat resistor mod" used to trick the car into thinking the airbag is there when it isnt when replacing seats, some of the newer cars have a bladder which is pressure sensative which has to be wrapped up and squeezed also to make the car think everything is ok when bucket seats are fitted. Dont think that applies to Andy's car as its a bit older. From the wiring diagram, it certainly doent look like they are pressure sensative in the model we are talking about, and as with Vik, I have had things on an empty passenger seat that have heated up before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bundus Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 This may just be the way the heat is conducted.I've noticed before if you have an electric blanket on a bed with no duvet or person on it it simple doesn't get warm. i can only assume that because the level of heat is actually very low and near the surface the heat simple soaks (radiates?) away into the air rather than warming up the bed (or in this case seat). So my guess would be it comes on but doesn't actually have much effect unless there is something on it (person, shopping, handbag etc!) Just a guess though.... I think this may be the answer. Im not certain but Id tend to agree that if there was nothing on the seat then there is nothing to get warm and the heat in the seat is probably minimal enough that you wouldnt feel it just by putting your hand there?? I could be wrong though. Perhaps someone else couild test for me. Next time your out for a drive whack your passenger seat heater on and then give it some time and feel the seat with your hand. Can you physically feel any heat? Thanks a lot guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goatboy Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 This may just be the way the heat is conducted.I've noticed before if you have an electric blanket on a bed with no duvet or person on it it simple doesn't get warm. i can only assume that because the level of heat is actually very low and near the surface the heat simple soaks (radiates?) away into the air rather than warming up the bed (or in this case seat). So my guess would be it comes on but doesn't actually have much effect unless there is something on it (person, shopping, handbag etc!) Just a guess though.... I think this may be the answer. Im not certain but Id tend to agree that if there was nothing on the seat then there is nothing to get warm and the heat in the seat is probably minimal enough that you wouldnt feel it just by putting your hand there?? I could be wrong though. Perhaps someone else couild test for me. Next time your out for a drive whack your passenger seat heater on and then give it some time and feel the seat with your hand. Can you physically feel any heat? Thanks a lot guys. I tried this the other night and although the passenger seat got a little warm it certainly wasn't hot like the drivers seat, if it hadn't been a cold night I don't think I would have noticed the it warming at all to be honest. So I don't think there is any sort of switch it just doesn't have anything to keep the warmth in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bundus Posted December 4, 2009 Author Share Posted December 4, 2009 This may just be the way the heat is conducted.I've noticed before if you have an electric blanket on a bed with no duvet or person on it it simple doesn't get warm. i can only assume that because the level of heat is actually very low and near the surface the heat simple soaks (radiates?) away into the air rather than warming up the bed (or in this case seat). So my guess would be it comes on but doesn't actually have much effect unless there is something on it (person, shopping, handbag etc!) Just a guess though.... I think this may be the answer. Im not certain but Id tend to agree that if there was nothing on the seat then there is nothing to get warm and the heat in the seat is probably minimal enough that you wouldnt feel it just by putting your hand there?? I could be wrong though. Perhaps someone else couild test for me. Next time your out for a drive whack your passenger seat heater on and then give it some time and feel the seat with your hand. Can you physically feel any heat? Thanks a lot guys. I tried this the other night and although the passenger seat got a little warm it certainly wasn't hot like the drivers seat, if it hadn't been a cold night I don't think I would have noticed the it warming at all to be honest. So I don't think there is any sort of switch it just doesn't have anything to keep the warmth in... I think that answers that then - at least I know my seats not faulty. Cheers mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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