Demon possessed heated seats!

[Daturbosix]

so my 05 escalade drivers side heated seat turns on and cycle off then on randomly. some days it does it, some days it doesnt. doesnt seem to be related to a bump in the road or anything like that.

anyone experience anything like this?
and it id ONLY the drivers seat.

 

[Daturbosix]

maybe someone can tell me how to just disable them?

 

[Tonyrodz]

Just unplug the switch.

 

[Daturbosix]

does that panel pop off or gotta yank the whole door panel off?

does it share a circuit, thus not being able to just yank a fuse?

 

[NotJLB]

I have this problem, too, in our 2003 Escalade . . . the driver seat heater has a mind of it's own . . . comes on by itself . . . goes off . . . cycles.

So, here's what I found googling:

1. It's common, and GM knows about it.

2. Here's the TSBs for the 2003 Escalade, and you can search for others for your vehicle:

2003 Cadillac Escalade Seats Service Bulletin 157155

• Action Number: 10006580
  Service Bulletin Number: 157155
  Report Date: Jan 01, 2004
  Component: Seats
• Summary: Drivers or passengers heated seats turn on by themselves. *mr

2003 Cadillac Escalade Esv Seats Service Bulletin 157150

• Action Number: 10006580
  Service Bulletin Number: 157150
  Report Date: Jan 01, 2004
  Component: Seats
• Summary: Drivers or passengers heated seats turn on by themselves. *mr

2003 Cadillac Escalade Ext Seats Service Bulletin 157149

• Action Number: 10006580
  Service Bulletin Number: 157149
  Report Date: Jan 01, 2004
  Component: Seats
• Summary: Drivers or passengers heated seats turn on by themselves. *mr

3. I contacted the local dealer when I found those TSB, to see if they would still honor them for a 2003. They said they'd get back to me. I'm still waiting.

4. If you are like me, you will just disconnect the heating element connectors under the seats. Mine's the driver's side, and there's a pad in the the seat cushion and a pad in the seat back. There's a big(er) gray-ish connector, then the seat cushion pigtails off of it with a smaller green connector. I assume disconnecting the gray -ish one would do, but I disconnected both of them. Here's a video showing where to find them:

(You don't have to lift the seat to get to the connectors.)

Now that I see how that posted, the gray-ish connector is the one you can see in the upper left. The green one is under the lower right rear, and mine was duct-taped to the seat frame.

By the way, in mine the heated seats share a fuse with Ignition.

Also, by the way, we have discovered that will disable the passenger seat warmer, too.

 

[NotJLB]

2. Here's the TSBs for the 2003 Escalade, and you can search for others for your vehicle:

2003 Cadillac Escalade Seats Service Bulletin 157155

• Action Number: 10006580
  Service Bulletin Number: 157155
  Report Date: Jan 01, 2004
  Component: Seats
• Summary: Drivers or passengers heated seats turn on by themselves. *mr

2003 Cadillac Escalade Esv Seats Service Bulletin 157150

• Action Number: 10006580
  Service Bulletin Number: 157150
  Report Date: Jan 01, 2004
  Component: Seats
• Summary: Drivers or passengers heated seats turn on by themselves. *mr

2003 Cadillac Escalade Ext Seats Service Bulletin 157149

• Action Number: 10006580
  Service Bulletin Number: 157149
  Report Date: Jan 01, 2004
  Component: Seats
• Summary: Drivers or passengers heated seats turn on by themselves. *mr

3. I contacted the local dealer when I found those TSB, to see if they would still honor them for a 2003. They said they'd get back to me. I'm still waiting.

To follow up on this, in case anyone happens to find it through a google-search, the dealer never contacted me. In their defense, which he really needs for failing to help a customer, that's a TSB, not a recall. So, essentially, it is GM admitting they know about the problem, and they are telling the tech what to do about it. But they are not telling customers to bring it in for a fix.

It is a common enough problem that there is plenty of talk about it on the Internet, thanks to Al Gore, of course.

 

[NotJLB]

Anyone figure out how to do this without also disabling the passenger seat heater?

I don't care if the driver's seat heats or not, but my passenger cares about hers.

 

[ivin74]

so my 05 escalade drivers side heated seat turns on and cycle off then on randomly. some days it does it, some days it doesnt. doesnt seem to be related to a bump in the road or anything like that.

anyone experience anything like this?
and it id ONLY the drivers seat.

My SUV started doing the same shit yesterday, has anyone found a fix? Today I'm going to disconnect the switch as a temp solution.

Can replacing the heat switch fix the problem?

 

[LEDFoot]

I deal with this periodically, Sometimes it will just cycle forever, sometime the switches work fine.

However, even when the switches work, only one side of my seat gets hot, and painfully so so I am suspecting it is all due to a bad heating element in my seat.
Incidentally, pulling the door switch makes no difference, the heat still cycles, I just can't see it or attempt to control it.
The seat heaters are controlled by the BCM, the switches control the BCM so disconnecting the switch may not be even a temporary solution unless you feel better not seeing the indicator lights flash.

Since my seat cover is cracking pretty bad too I am considering pulling the seat and replacing the covers and heating elements while I am at it. But that's not that high on my todo list unfortunately.

Backstory, my vehicle has had a lot of electrical issues due to it being a theft recovery and whoever rebuilt it frankensteined parts of wiring harnesses from multiple vehicles and just connected them with electrical tape in giant tape-balls. I have fixed most that I was able to find, Soldered and shrink-tubed more than I can count but I still have some lingering issues.

 

[NotJLB]

My SUV started doing the same shit yesterday, has anyone found a fix? Today I'm going to disconnect the switch as a temp solution.

Can replacing the heat switch fix the problem?

Did you read Post#5?

 

[NotJLB]

I think it's all related, but our seat memory has a mind of it's own, too. If we set it on Driver 1, when you turn off the ignition, the seat goes to a mysterious, crumpled-up setting, definitely not what we set Driver 1 to.

So, we set Driver 2 to a mutually agreeable position, and when we shut off the ignition, it stays at that setting, and stays there when we start the engine again.

If I accidentally bump the setting button on the door panel, which is easy to do, I'm screwed when I shut the engine off.

I say I think it's related because I think it's a computer issue, and that's what the TSB fixes. I think.

 

[rgosart]

The issue is most likely in the DDM or driver window switch. Unplugging the switch will do nothing but keep you from shutting the seat heater off.

My guess would be that it would also fix the issue with your memory seat.

 

[ivin74]

Did you read Post#5?

Yes I did, I have not had time to work on my rig. Hopefully I can get to it soon, until then I'll be driving my 335i

 

[NotJLB]

The issue is most likely in the DDM or driver window switch. Unplugging the switch will do nothing but keep you from shutting the seat heater off.

My guess would be that it would also fix the issue with your memory seat.

You talking to me?

You think that's what the TSB shown in Post 5 told the techs to do?

 

[LEDFoot]

The issue is most likely in the DDM or driver window switch. Unplugging the switch will do nothing but keep you from shutting the seat heater off.

My guess would be that it would also fix the issue with your memory seat.

Do you know exactly what functionalities are contd by the DDM? I am having issues with a few things:
Seat memory (can be set but does not operate)
Remote Door Lock (remotes can be programmed but will not operate).
Power pedals will not move.

Windows and power mirrors with fold works fine though.

As far as I can tell there are multiple p/n for the module with various functionality but I cannot seem to find a comprehensive list.

 

[rgosart]

I know for a fact that the DDM does not control remote door lock. Mirrors, heated seats, and I believe memory all run through the ddm. Sounds like your issue might be something more than that.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[rgosart]

You talking to me?

You think that's what the TSB shown in Post 5 told the techs to do?

Not sure. I didnt read it. Maybe it's a ddm program/calibration change.

Reason I said what I said is my friend and his dad have nbs trucks with this issue. He bought a couple good used ddms and it seems to have fixed the issue

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[rgosart]

This is the only bulletin I can find on heated seats coming on by themselves. The bulletin numbers in post 5 return no results on GM Service Information...

#PI01850: Driver or Passenger Heated Seats Turn On By Themselves - kw GMT800 GMT805 GMT820 GMT830 seat unwanted heat right left front switch operation - (Mar 8, 2004)
Subject: Drivers or Passengers Heated Seats Turn on By Themselves

Models: .

When servicing the vehicle with the VIN you entered, the following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the described symptoms.

Condition/Concern:
A customer may comment that the front passenger or drivers heated seats turn on by themselves. Dealer technicians my not be able to duplicate the concern and no DTCs will be set. This concern maybe caused by the customer inadvertently contacting the heated seat switch.

Recommendation/Instructions:
To correct this concern, a new low profile switch has been released. The new part number switches are as follows:

15116861 passenger

15116862 drivers w/ memory, heated, and adjusted pedals

15116863 drivers w/ memory and heated only

.

Please follow this diagnosis process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed. If these steps do not resolve the condition, please contact GM TAC for further diagnostic assistance. This diagnostic approach was developed for the vehicle with the VIN you entered and should not be automatically be used for other vehicles with similar symptoms.

Models:
(03 and 04 Chevrolet Silverado) and (03 and 04 Chevrolet Avalanche) and (03 and 04 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban) and (03 and 04 GMC Sierra, Sierra Denali) and (03 and 04 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Denali, Denali XL) and (03 and 04 Cadillac Escalade, EXT, ESV)

 

[LEDFoot]

I know for a fact that the DDM does not control remote door lock. Mirrors, heated seats, and I believe memory all run through the ddm. Sounds like your issue might be something more than that.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Are you sure, you program the remotes through the DDM?

I can follow these instructions and everything happens as described, except the remote doesn't actually operate the door locks.
https://northcoastkeyless.com/2004-chevrolet-suburban-keyless-entry-remote-programming-instructions/


Very possible I have more issues though, my truck was thrown together from multiple other used vehicles from what I understand.

 

[rgosart]

Are you sure, you program the remotes through the DDM?

I can follow these instructions and everything happens as described, except the remote doesn't actually operate the door locks.
https://northcoastkeyless.com/2004-chevrolet-suburban-keyless-entry-remote-programming-instructions/


Very possible I have more issues though, my truck was thrown together from multiple other used vehicles from what I understand.

The sequence to enter the programming mode does not mean that the DDM is what controls your remote door locks. TPMS learn is initiated through the headlight switch...

It may be a different story if your unlock button does not work properly