How long should the seats take to heat up?
03-31-2005, 12:50 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 80
How long should the seats take to heat up?
Seems like mine take a good 10 or 15mins to feel any heat coming from em, and it isnt much. Is it possible for the element to be half bad? I've only sat in the driver seat so I cant compare to the others, although other people riding in the car have commented on how warm they get. I get the feeling something is up with the driver seat, although I would guess that it would be an all or nothing type deal. It just seems really weak to me compared to other cars, and almost pointless since it would be at a comfortable level from body heat after the 10 or 15mins it takes to feel the heater working.
03-31-2005, 02:05 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 108
C17....It depends on what your wearing...I mean...If I wear my baggy jeans, I experience what you're talking about. But if I'm wearing my dress suit or thinner pants then I experience what Aqusta said! 
I guess...if you want a controlled experiment, switch on both driver and passenger seats at the same time...and then try ur backside on both of them!
If that doesn't help, eat plenty of Jalapenos....
Sparq
I guess...if you want a controlled experiment, switch on both driver and passenger seats at the same time...and then try ur backside on both of them!
If that doesn't help, eat plenty of Jalapenos....
Sparq
03-31-2005, 07:04 AM
#4
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 403
I have same problem with my seat heaters, they heat up the seat so slow.
and it doesn't heat up all the way occationally. I don't use seat heater very
much, so I don't think i'm gonna take it to the dealer for this matter unless
it stops working at all.
steering wheel heaters works very good. it heats up the wheel very good
and real quick.
and it doesn't heat up all the way occationally. I don't use seat heater very
much, so I don't think i'm gonna take it to the dealer for this matter unless
it stops working at all.
steering wheel heaters works very good. it heats up the wheel very good
and real quick.
03-31-2005, 07:58 AM
#5
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 595
I LOVE the steering wheel heater!! 
Dont get a whole lot of times to use it in Houston, but when I do, its awesome!
Seats, they do take a while. Worst thing is forgetting you left them on....UGH!! I wish they had a switch-off mode when you turn off the car....
Dont get a whole lot of times to use it in Houston, but when I do, its awesome!
Seats, they do take a while. Worst thing is forgetting you left them on....UGH!! I wish they had a switch-off mode when you turn off the car....
03-31-2005, 07:06 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Staten Island, New York
Posts: 479
I know that the remote start takes 15 minutes to turn off. When I get in the car the car it is less then 15 minutes and the seats are hot. So I am not sure how long but for sure under 15. Never turn on the car with the keys anymore hehe.
04-01-2005, 12:06 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: a meadow south of Atlanta
Posts: 8,143
My wife turns on the passenger seat heater the moment she gets in the car. She says she can feel it starting to get warm in a minute or two, and it is toasty within four to five minutes.
She says that on the lower heat setting, it is sort of like the heated steering wheel, in that it cycles on and off. The only problem is that it never turns itself off, so if she leaves it on, then until someone turns it off, it will be on forever when the ignition is on, whether someone is in the seat or not.
Speaking of the heated steering wheel, when I turn it on, I begin to feel a change in the temp of the wheel within ten to fifteen seconds. The wheel is fully warm within forty to fifty seconds, and actually becomes quite hot within two minutes. Soon after that, the 68 degree cutoff turns off the power until the temp drops back below 68 degrees, at which time it heats up again. I would have set this up differently, but . . .
I have used the steering wheel heater all but a few mornings since Christmas. At my age, I have much trouble keeping my hands warm, and the heated wheel is one of the great enjoyments in my life.
I am actually a safer driver because of this wonderful device; I no longer have to drive while always having at least one of my frozen hands either in front of the heater vent or under my fanny.
She says that on the lower heat setting, it is sort of like the heated steering wheel, in that it cycles on and off. The only problem is that it never turns itself off, so if she leaves it on, then until someone turns it off, it will be on forever when the ignition is on, whether someone is in the seat or not.
Speaking of the heated steering wheel, when I turn it on, I begin to feel a change in the temp of the wheel within ten to fifteen seconds. The wheel is fully warm within forty to fifty seconds, and actually becomes quite hot within two minutes. Soon after that, the 68 degree cutoff turns off the power until the temp drops back below 68 degrees, at which time it heats up again. I would have set this up differently, but . . .
I have used the steering wheel heater all but a few mornings since Christmas. At my age, I have much trouble keeping my hands warm, and the heated wheel is one of the great enjoyments in my life.
I am actually a safer driver because of this wonderful device; I no longer have to drive while always having at least one of my frozen hands either in front of the heater vent or under my fanny.
04-02-2005, 10:17 AM
#13
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 116
The 04's have a known problem with the heated seats that was corrected in 05 models. You cannot retrofit the 04 seats without taking the body harness out and adding circuits to the junction box. (i.e. can't be done)
The steering wheel heater works great. I would have liked to have seen a heated shifter.
The steering wheel heater works great. I would have liked to have seen a heated shifter.
04-02-2005, 12:18 PM
#15
I also remote start the car and my seats seem to be heated once I'm in the car. I occassionally time the remote starter out, which is about 12 minutes and it's always warm by then.
The remote start also cures my grinding-when-cold situation with the tranny! Gotta love a remote start!
The remote start also cures my grinding-when-cold situation with the tranny!
Gotta love a remote start!
04-03-2005, 05:07 AM
#16
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 80
Originally Posted by missjane
What was the known problem with the '04 heated seats? And, what is/was done to correct it?
I'm interested in it also.
I turned on the seat heater while I was out and about yesterday when it wasnt even cold out (50's outside) with the same result. took a solid 10 or 15 mins to feel ANY warmth and it never did get hot. Just to enough to know it was there. This was on high too.
04-03-2005, 06:21 AM
#17
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,269
Maybe the car knows its 50 out and wont get hotter...We had a freak snowstorm today in buffalo with 6-12 inches expected. Not fun to drive F1 tires on..but it is possible with patience. The seat begins to get fully hot after 10 mins when its 30 out.
on the seat when you get in, it takes less time to warm up.
04-03-2005, 08:55 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: a meadow south of Atlanta
Posts: 8,143
missjane and c117chief -
I was hoping an electronics expert would answer your query, but they didn't. I will try to explain it in very general terms.
The seat warmers in the '04 Maxima were improperly engineered in that the wiring design is such that it is not possible to carry and use enough current to quickly warm the seats. The problem is not just the cable carrying the current, but also the lack of further current capacity at the source and also the inadequate wiring throughout the seat that uses the current.
This problem has no fix on the '04, as doing so would not only require expanding the power source and replacing the wiring harness, it would also require either replacing the seats or replacing the wiring grid within the seats. Would probably be cheaper to trade the '04 in on an '05 (in which re-engineering has fixed the problem).
My suggestion: those with '04s should move down south.
I was hoping an electronics expert would answer your query, but they didn't. I will try to explain it in very general terms.
The seat warmers in the '04 Maxima were improperly engineered in that the wiring design is such that it is not possible to carry and use enough current to quickly warm the seats. The problem is not just the cable carrying the current, but also the lack of further current capacity at the source and also the inadequate wiring throughout the seat that uses the current.
This problem has no fix on the '04, as doing so would not only require expanding the power source and replacing the wiring harness, it would also require either replacing the seats or replacing the wiring grid within the seats. Would probably be cheaper to trade the '04 in on an '05 (in which re-engineering has fixed the problem).
My suggestion: those with '04s should move down south.
04-04-2005, 03:36 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: a meadow south of Atlanta
Posts: 8,143
NismoMax80 - Like you, I am satisfied with my heated seats.
I think the problem is more prevalent in the far north where the seat heater has more 'cold' to overcome, and where folks are usually wearing more clothing which the heat must penetrate.
These less-than-happy folks feel the Maxima seats should heat as quickly as the (few) American cars with seat heaters. Evidently the word reached Nissan, as I have heard they did 'enhance' the heating power of the '05 seat heaters.
I think the problem is more prevalent in the far north where the seat heater has more 'cold' to overcome, and where folks are usually wearing more clothing which the heat must penetrate.
These less-than-happy folks feel the Maxima seats should heat as quickly as the (few) American cars with seat heaters. Evidently the word reached Nissan, as I have heard they did 'enhance' the heating power of the '05 seat heaters.
04-06-2005, 03:30 AM
#25
Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 31
Mine is not nearly as good as the Dodge Dirango I had. I would think that the main problem would be the heating elements in the seat being to low wattage. I believe that if the wiring (supplying the current) to the seat was to small then it would heat up(the wiring). And like you said, the only cure would be seat heater replacement.
John
John
04-06-2005, 05:48 AM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 888
Originally Posted by lightonthehill
missjane and c117chief -
I was hoping an electronics expert would answer your query, but they didn't. I will try to explain it in very general terms.
The seat warmers in the '04 Maxima were improperly engineered in that the wiring design is such that it is not possible to carry and use enough current to quickly warm the seats. The problem is not just the cable carrying the current, but also the lack of further current capacity at the source and also the inadequate wiring throughout the seat that uses the current.
This problem has no fix on the '04, as doing so would not only require expanding the power source and replacing the wiring harness, it would also require either replacing the seats or replacing the wiring grid within the seats. Would probably be cheaper to trade the '04 in on an '05 (in which re-engineering has fixed the problem).
My suggestion: those with '04s should move down south.
I was hoping an electronics expert would answer your query, but they didn't. I will try to explain it in very general terms.
The seat warmers in the '04 Maxima were improperly engineered in that the wiring design is such that it is not possible to carry and use enough current to quickly warm the seats. The problem is not just the cable carrying the current, but also the lack of further current capacity at the source and also the inadequate wiring throughout the seat that uses the current.
This problem has no fix on the '04, as doing so would not only require expanding the power source and replacing the wiring harness, it would also require either replacing the seats or replacing the wiring grid within the seats. Would probably be cheaper to trade the '04 in on an '05 (in which re-engineering has fixed the problem).
My suggestion: those with '04s should move down south.
Where did you find this out?
04-07-2005, 01:13 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 888
Originally Posted by 2k4MaximaSE
......mine takes about 5-7 minutes to fully heat up. I've noticed that the sterring heater only lasts for about a good 10 minutes before it starts to cool down, anyone notice that?
04-10-2005, 07:28 PM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: toronto
Posts: 371
Originally Posted by lightonthehill
missjane and c117chief -
I was hoping an electronics expert would answer your query, but they didn't. I will try to explain it in very general terms.
.
I was hoping an electronics expert would answer your query, but they didn't. I will try to explain it in very general terms.
.
04-29-2005, 10:40 PM
#36
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26
I agree that the Max's seats are much slower and never get as warm as in my '98 Regal or '04 Sierra Truck. I do find that in warmer weather with out a trench coat on the seats do feel like they warm up more.
BTW - I have an '05 Max produced in Sept '04 - so the theory that the electrical was upgraded in the '05's to solve this problem evidently didn't happen till after Sept. '04..... if fixed at all.
BTW - I have an '05 Max produced in Sept '04 - so the theory that the electrical was upgraded in the '05's to solve this problem evidently didn't happen till after Sept. '04..... if fixed at all.
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