Passenger Heated Seats Need Help!

[Lexus for life!]

Hey, I was wondering if anyone knows how to fix or know whats wrong that would make the passenger heated seats not work...I have a 97 ES300. The light on the switch turns on and the driver sides heated seats work. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Jeff

[gbhrps]

Jeff,

Since you have power to the switch, obviously there is no burned out fuse. Your problem then has to be in one of two other areas. The wired grid of the seat heater elements is defective and needs replacing (read expensive: the seat has to be removed from the car and its seat cover removed, etc., etc.), or more simply the wiring harness for the seat heater from under the carpet to the seat bottom has come undone, or is corroded and needs cleaning. Get under the seat with a flashlight and see if you're lucky enough to go the simple route. Be aware that if your passenger seat is power adjustable as well as heated, there well may be two wiring harnesses under there. Good Luck!

[1990LS400]

There is a fairly straightforward but fairly lengthy diagnostic procedure for the heated seats in the various Lexus cars -- mainly involves checking continuity on the switch and the connectors to the heater elements. The diagnostic procedure for my 00 LS is in the two volume repair manual set which I happened to buy from a Lexus dealer in Victoria BC. Can you get hold of a repair manual for your ES?

If the problem does turn out to be a heater grid in the seat, plenty of people seem to be able to replace the elements themselves. Like gbhrps said, the heater elements are very expensive -- discounted prices for both the seat bottom and seat back elements on http://www.parts.com are nearly US$800.