Heated seats

[BAJASVT]

Most seats that are only heated are a simple heating element like the electric blanket example. If the seats are heated and cooled and they have a fan, it's a totally different technology; google "peltier."

If there are any computer overclockers out there, they may be familiar with peltiers as they are sometimes used in processor cooling.

 

[Sparky]

2012+ models with heated/cooled seats use a blower for both heating and cooling of the seats. There was a post back when the 12's first started coming out about the ducts for the blower not fitting snugly which caused a lot of leakage and someone snugged and sealed them up which made then a lot more effective. My guess is the cab temp really affects the output of the seats as well since they're probably only capable of raising the temp so many degrees and when the cab is cold it may only raise it to a lukewarm temp.

Ok so this is what I heard but opinions are like belly buttons, is this what the 12's that have heated and cooled seats are using...see some people get on here and say it's the elements and then some people get on here and say its a blower system...no wonder people get so confused on what the correct answer is...is there an actual ford mechanic on here that can answer this???

 

[BAJASVT]

Peltiers efficiency is directly related to the ambient air temperature in the cab.

When you use your seats in cooling mode, the opposite side of the peltier actually gets hot and the heat must be removed with the use of a heat sink and fan. If the ambient air in the cab is 70 degrees, the airflow across the heat sink will not remove as much heat as it would if it was 30 degrees. This allows the heated seats to get hotter if the air is colder when you really want some heat on your ass. Next time you turn on your cooled seats, reach under the back side of the seat and you will feel the duct system exhausting hot air.

Polarity to the peltiers is reversible, so when you use them in heating mode, everything I typed above is reversed.

 

[Spider-One]

Ok so this is what I heard but opinions are like belly buttons, is this what the 12's that have heated and cooled seats are using...see some people get on here and say it's the elements and then some people get on here and say its a blower system...no wonder people get so confused on what the correct answer is...is there an actual ford mechanic on here that can answer this???

I think guys are thinking the cooled seats didn't come out until MY13 but I own a 2012 and have the AC seats and with the AC seats it also uses the blower to heat the seats. The other post above explains how exactly it does this, there are no elements in those with heated and cooled seats. Since they're ambient temperature dependent in a way if the cab is cold they aren't going to work as well as when it's warm in the cab.

Here's the post that details checking the duct fitment

http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f39/cooled-seats-not-working-14382/index2.html#post217364

 

[Huck]

My dad's got heated and cooled seats in his 2010. They've been out for a while


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ARH1956]

My '12 has heated/cooled seats. The blower does not operate on my '12 while heating, it uses a resistance heating coil in the seat and it does take a few minutes to warm up. The blower comes on only when the cooled seat button is selected and they work very well.

 

[Nitefighter]

Sounds like a problem with the T.E.D. I would take it back to the dealer and give them more info than just that they don't work. Give them all the info like when it's happening, if it's on a cold start or happens every time you enter the vehicle. It really helps the techs out in figuring out the solution. I used to be a ford tech so just because the tech cannot find it the first time don't just give up and throw up your hands in frustration.

BTW most techs are working flat rate and not hourly so they're not going to spend hours on a vehicle that's not producing a problem to fix.

 

[Danactive]

my 2010 has the driver side coil go out... it actually bruned the whole pad up and charred it pretty good... dealership replaced under warranty no questions asked!