My 95 Max has the factory heated seats. The passenger seat works, but the driver seat does not. I'm pretty sure the switches are working. How can I fix the driver's seat? Do I need to take the seat apart and replace the flat heating element?

I want to fix it since winter will be here before we know it. Any ideas?

 

check your fuses, then the switch make sure its getting power and is properly plugged in. And last check you wires. Have not heard of the heat element failing in the seats. But you never know.

 

You can try swapping the switches to see if the problem is the switch. Try both high and low settings. Could also be a problem with the wiring running from the switch to the seats. Although it is possible coils/wires in the seats themselves may be least likely cause of problem. It's not a fuse because only one fuse is used for both seats.

 

yeah, I just checked the fuse and one fuse controls both seats and the passenger seat works.

 

you can't swap the switches, they are sided.

 

You need a multimeter or at least a test light to find out what is going on. There are two wires that supply power to the seat depending if the switch is set to high or low. With the switch set to high you should have 12VDC at both the Grey with black stripe wire and the Grey with blue stripe wire. If is is set to low you should only get 12VDC at the Grey/Blue wire. Check at the switch if possible, if you are not getting voltage at these wires then you may have a bad switch. You can also perform a resistance reading on your heating elements to see if there is a break there, you can compare the working seat with the non working one.


You may also try jumping or applying 12VDC to these wires at the seats and see if the seats heat-up if they do you know the heater element is OK. Probably does not matter but leave the switch in the off position when you do this.

 

Hello, first of all I would like to thank the web master(s) and to thank all the people that have provided good info and lost of joy in this site.

My car is also a nissan Maxima 1995 95 and the heated seats won't work any more, so while I was taking the seat's covers off to wash them in the laundry, I discovered the problem; it happened the same to left and right front seats.



one image shows a little burned spot, I circled the spot, the HEATER UNIT-FRONT SEAT BACK broke. I do not know how to repair it yet, I will keep you posted if I ever solve the problem before I sell my car. However if you have the means and you wish to spend the money, I found this part for sale at courtesy parts.com

http://www.courtesyparts.com/maxima-a32b-1995-1999/genuine-nissan-parts/seat-seat-belt/870-front-seat/-c-1783_1784_1941_1944.html

The part number seams to be 87625 ($165.10 us) (Very expensive if you need both, so I will probably visit the junk-yard instead) lol. I was also thinking about getting one of the new seat toppers that get cold or hot, however nothing like the original, right?

The other image shows a good Idea of how to hold your seat covers back in place using 8 inch Cable Ties in a timely manner; I got mine from Wal-Mart and I paid about 12 dollars for 650. You will need to remove the metal rings that hold your seat covers in place and the back panel in the back of the front seats that snaps in from the bottom. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!CAREFUL!!!!!!!! I said bottom, the upper part has hooks that you do not want to bend.

Ps. something funny happens in my car, when I have both switches on, the passenger side works; I guess that this is because one side closes the circuit.
If any one has any Ideas, or figures out how to solve the problem, register and leave a message so we all learn how to do it. thank you.

 

If your voltmeter is also a multimeter, set it to ohms and read the resistance of the heating elements in the seats. See if there is a plug for the element and disconnect it. Connect the ohmmeter to the two wires going to the seat. I don't know what it will be for sure, but the good one will have a reading, something. The bad one will read like nothing is hooked up to the meter. If that's the case, then you definetely have a bad element.

 

Ok, I just took a test light to both switches and they appear to be good. The pic of the burn spot might be why might is not working. I might take the seat cover off and look for a burnt spot.

Is it hard to take the cloth seat cover off?

 

It will take time to do so for first timers (all of us, lol) but it is fun and with the right tools it will be easier.

You need.

(1) Good metal cutters, because the metal rings holding the seats are tough and there are 37 to 40 rings per seat. –Or good pliers and a flat screw driver (this technique takes more time though, so it is better to do it with the metal cutters-

(2) Long cable raps to hold the seats back on. (The longer the easier it would be, because you would not have to struggle to hold one part while pulling in to the other one.)

(3) a wrench, to take the big 4 screws holding the seat.


unplug the cables connected at the bottom of the seat, and I recommend that if you do all of this work at least wash your cloth in the laundry machine but take the metal bars off (very easy) and put them back on after you are done. The inside of my car looks new now because of this. PS. Do not put the covers in the drier; this will make it very hard for you to put them back on. PS2. add softener, your car will smell nice and clean. I am so happy with mine.

However if you only want to check for the burned spot, in the recliner part, then you do not need to take the seats off.

If I fix my car seats I will take more pictures to help others.
I already order a cheap car seat heater toper, I will try to take this apart and see if I can use the parts from it.