Heated seats clicking noise....

[Bazzer]

So, last year the passenger seat made a fairly alarming noise, like a 'sizzling' kinda thing. As winter turned into summer I forgot about it, but when I switched them on low heat today I found that both now make the noise.

I'm fairly sure it's the seats making the noise, not the dash, and I'm reasonably sure it's a relay clicking on and off lots. I have fiddled with the heater switch, and it seems to be when the seats have reached the temperature they're set to, they fizz a bit. So, when you have them set to '2', after about 5 mins the noise will occur. If you turn them up to '3', the noise goes, but returns a short while later. If you turn them down a bit, again, it goes but comes back.

So I wonder if the relay that controls the heating elements might be a bit iffy? I should imagine there would be a level of hysteresis built in to stop the control system doing it's 'on-off-on-off' thing a lot? Anyone know more about this than me? Anyone solved it? Cheers 

[VR6-Joe]

Think you'll find this is normal, think the relays click to inform you that the heated seats are in fact working lol.

My VR6 Highline does the same and the seats heat up fine so I'm hoping that this is the case

[Bazzer]

No no Joe, they're not just clicking, they're buzzing. Like a relay being contacted "on off on off" really quickly, but only as they reach temp.

They never used to do it, they always just warmed up and were pretty much silent.

[VR6-Joe]

Ooh I see what you mean now, maybe the relays need replacing?

[adamrob69]

i get the same noise. Only happens when the seat is up to temperature. All i do is get the seat warm then turn them off again lol.

To me it sounds like an electrical noise, and i though it was coming from the actual wiring in the seat, but it is doing it on both my seats. its sounds like a loose electrical connection, where theres a spark trying to cover the gap.

When i bought the topic up couple of months ago i got no replys :/

[Bazzer]

Got the haynes manual out and looked through for the control unit or anything about the seats. Was probably as much use AS A F**IN seat that thing. Worst £20 I have spent. In fact, next time I'm over there (they are close by) I'm going to tell them what a useless piece of crap that manual is.

Anyway.... Does anyone know where the control unit is? I'm going to guess it's not behind the switch.

[adamrob69]

There wont be a control unit, it will be a control circuit.

Im guessing here, but i would say there is some sort of potentiometer in the dial switch on your dash. That will vary the voltage going to the heated pads in the seat. The higher the voltage, the hotter they get etc. I wouldnt of thought there would be a relay in the circuit, but i may be wrong. Also im not sure if there would be a temperature switch, again i dont think so but may be wrong.

[justalex81]

looked on elsawin and all i could find was this. hope it helps

[adamrob69]

thats perfect, dont supose you could do a print screen and send it, i carnt quite read a few parts.

[justalex81]

email sent buddy