I love my cooling seats. they do use the perforated leather....

 

When I first got my Max, I had problems with the passenger side heated seats. The driver's side heating and cooling worked fine. When it heats, you are a hot potato. When it cools, you can get the chills.

But the seat no longer chills. Off I go to Nissan to get it fixed. Ugggh.


BTW: I thought the seats were peltier effect (semiconductor) and had nothing to do with the freon based A/C system.

 

I don't think the driver's seat is cooled by the A/C. I think it's a thermionic device. Its a solid state device that when powered is hot on one side and cool on the other, and they just switch which side blows air on the seat. This way its working long before the A/C is cooling. You can buy little six-pack heater/coolers that work the same way. What I don't understand is the warning not to leave it on. I'd rather leave the switch on and have it limit itself to a short start up period. Just like the defrost heaters.

 

When I 1st looked at the Max I had my eyes set on the sport package. My dealer only had premiums with nav. After a test drive I was sold on the premium package. I didn't care too much for the cooled seats just from hearing about it, but after using it a few times, I'm happy I got it.

 

Love the cooled seat. Its one of those things that you think is a gimmick until it gets hot and humid outside and you have your AC running but your back is all sweaty when you first get in the car (sorry for the visual). Turn this on and in a few you are chillin (literally).

 

A REAL blessing for someone like me who needs extra cool air on their hot posterior, but is sitting one foot from my wife who sometimes doesn't want much A/C.

 

Not to add confusion to the mix - but has anyone figured out why the switch for the cooled / heated seats has 3 detents on the cooled side? I have tried all 3 settings (cool side) and don't see much difference - haven't tried the heated side yet (although it also has 3 detents) as it hasn't been cold enough to test. I suspect that it is a "low-medium-high" setting for both cool and hot. Just not sure which is setting is "hi-medium-low"??

 

I am with the majority here and love the cooled seats. Something I always wanted. Not only does it work great but adds that extra "lux" feel to car. I have not tried the heat yet but hope it reaches as far up my back as my Passat did.

My only complaint, and it is minor, is big hands have trouble with the little **** since it is slightly recessed under the console trim. Ever try changing it while the car is in park? Would have much preferred a rocker style with lights for each level.

Slightly off topic but would love to know who decided on the location for the heated steering wheel switch?

 

The far left setting is maximum cool, the far right setting is maximum heat, and the settings in between are logical gadiations of cool and heat.

On a particularly hot day, I begin with the far left setting (cool setting #3), then, as I feel my fanny frosting over, I step down to setting #2, and eventually to #1, which is a gentle cool. Mine has worked perfectly for almost 20 months.

 

The cool/heat does indeed run a decent way up the back, which is wonderful for those of us with lower back problems.

Yes, the **** is a little smaller than I would have expected. No problem for a safecracker or a surgeon, but not overly convenient for a bricklayer or a middle linebacker.

I think the intent here is that this function would not normally be in use, but would be there for extreme situations, or initial cooldown or warmup. In fact, I seem to remember somewhere in the owner's manual something that said the heating side of this should not be used for extended periods.

As to the heated steering wheel switch, there is NO WAY I can see this switch from my driving position, so I simply memorized its position by becoming familiar with the FEEL of both this switch and everything around it. Took several weeks to get comfortable with this. It doesn't bother me now, but a more visible position might have been preferable.

 

Thought so on the switch - thanks "Light" - you are a Beacon for sure!

 

The cooled seats are awesome, but I needed to have those 19 inch sport wheels and the sport suspension components. It was a feature that I wasn't crazy about, if my seats are hot I just open all the windows and the moonroof for a little bit and air out the interior. Not saying its not worth the extra $$$$ but I didn't need it.

 

[QUOTE=sgirgiss1214;7697909] if my seats are hot I just open all the windows and the moonroof for a little bit and air out the interior. QUOTE]

Yes, that is one way.

Of course at my home in central Georgia, we have had 16 days of 100 degrees or hotter, 53 days of 95 or hotter and 73 days of 90 or hotter this summer, with more humidity than normal and little cooling at night. In a word, the most miserable summer of my long life.

I am very very grateful for any and all devices that reduce my misery. This driver seat cooling system is such a device.

 

[quote=lightonthehill;7698225]Yea I understand ya light. I live in New York so our summers are not as crazy as it would be in Atlanta.

 

[QUOTE=sgirgiss1214;7698290]And your summers don't arrive in April and leave just in time for Thanksgiving, either.

Many southerners think northern climes are bad. A few more years of global warming may change their feelings. I think I would like living in New England, snow and all. Or maybe upstate New York.

Of course my Maxima most likely prefers the south, as it seems to handle very hot weather with no problem, and probably prefers little or no snow.

 

My Max went to the dealer today. The tech said there was no problem with the cooled seats. Ugggh!

So off I go to pick up the car. The tech wanted me to be sure that indeed the seat cooled. So we both sat in the car with the cooling on. He pointed out the sound of the fan that cooled the seat. Yes, the fan was on. But the seat was still not chilled. I sat for 2 minutes.....5 minutes...7 minutes. Still no chilling. The tech sat in the seat and observed the same defect.

He said there is a filter in the seat to protect the device. It may be blinded. The only way to fix it is to get a new seat.

I suspect that the tech only listened for the fan and reported that the chilling worked.

I contend that me and Maxima seats are incompatible. Bad karma. In a previous life, I must have crossed swords with a seat.

 

I've been quite a few times for my favorite feature to Nissan. About the longest I've been able to keep it working has been 6 months (after they replaced the seat back where there are some overtemp sensors.) As my baby is sadly out of warranty, I haven't been back to my service center yet (it quit about a month ago and I must be honest and say I haven't MADE the time to take her in to get it resolved.) CT Maxima..are you a big guy like me (6'4" 240lbs?) I'm wondering if my backside is covering too much of the "flow" and causing the sensors to die????

 

i ****ing love my cooled seats.... i dont think i've turned it off since I bought my car which was about 5 months ago

 

Lt. Leary,

I am more average size than you. Sorry to hear that your issues are chronic. Does your cooling system fail in the "off season", meaning winter? I know Florida does not get real cold, but do you use the heating function?

 

Yes I do use the heating function and yes, even that has issues. The indicator light (either cooling or heating) comes on for no more than 30 seconds and then goes out leaving me either too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter (when it is "acting up" that is.) The precipitating factor every time, is how you are describing your issue...fan blows but not cooling and then, within a few weeks...just another standard run of the mill seat with no heat or cooling capabilities.

 

[quote=lightonthehill;7699156]
I honestly wish I could live in a place with no snow, just because I can keep summer tires on my car all year round, instead of these ghey RS-A's.

 

One of my favorite features is the cooled seat. I have been using it all summer and the cold air helps me sweat less on my back. Also with black leather it can get really hot to the touch, this definetly takes some of that away after a few minutes.

 

CT Maxima here. You know, the one who is cursed by all things relating to 7th Gen seats.

My driver's seat is not cooling correctly. I know this because it worked like a charm last year. Now, it gets slightly cooled but not enough to satisfy a hot posterior.

The Nissan Tech said there was nothing wrong with the seat. In fact, its performance is no worse than the Maximas he has on the lot. I "test sat" two new Maximas to compare their cooling capability to my 2009 version. All three Maximas cooled about the same (poorly). The Nissan Tech made his point.

I am mystified by this.

 

Is this poor performance noticable at all three levels of cooling? If I left my seat cooler on high for ten minutes, I would have frostbite of the fanny. This system seems to work best in my car when the regular AC is running and the interior temperature of the car is in the low seventies.

 

What you describe as frostbite of the fanny, I call giving my tush the *******. This was the situation last year. Today, the seat barely cools, regardless of the setting.

Do I have an argument? Two new 2010 Maximas also exhibited poor cooling. It seems that the cooling capability of the seats runs from the willlies to almost none. In the eyes of Nissan, this range describes the expected performance. Very frustrating.

 

Unless you have switched to thick or insulated pants since last year, you and I know your seat cooler is not operating properly.

Did the dealer's man choose the two new Maximas for you to run the comparison, or did YOU get to select them? He may have known two that have the same problem your seat has. Other than approaching another dealer, or going back to the same dealer and YOU choosing which new Maxima to test, I'm not sure what your options are. Not a happy situation.

 

The dealer only had two premium Maximas on the lot so they comprised the sample set. There was no rigging of the experiment. What are the odds that two brand new Maximas, having similar seat cooling capability, are defective in this regard? Very low.

To those who are buying a new Max and desire the cooled seats, check it out before you buy. However, be aware that the seat's performance may degrade over time and not be covered under warranty.

 

I agree with light-the seats cool better at certain temps and also I noticed a difference if I run the climate on "auto" vs manual control. That being said, when its 98 degrees outside and I get in my car, it takes almost my whole trip home from work (1 hour) to get the seats to be very cool. I do notice a difference in 15 mins of it running though. Keep in mind I am usually wearing dress pants not jeans or some other thick material. I would expect to not even notice the difference if I were wearing that.
I am happy with the cooled seats and having grown up in CT, I would think they would work great there.

 

It's my hope that for the MMC refresh on the 2012 model year, Nissan adds cooled seats to the front passenger seat as well on the premium package. Seems a bit odd to only be able to get that on the front driver seat. Of all the other cars that offer heated and cooled seats, the Maxima is the only one I can think of that only offers it on just one of the front seats and not both!

This is not a big issue of course but just like to see some consistency between both front seats in features, especially for the Max's price point.

 

The Genesis is 43k fully equipped and doesn't have cooled passenger seat either. See no lights at the bottom of the button

 

^ that is so odd looking! I can't figure out for the life of me, if your going to spend the money to put a cooled driver seat in and a power/heated front passenger, why not just add the cooled feature to the passenger front seat at well? Doesn't make logical sense to me, but most things don't, lol!

 

Yup. Not very impressive when you're having your butt cooled and your passenger asks, "how do I turn mine on?"

 

I understand Nissan has to cut every dime at every turn to be as price-competetive as possible,

BUT

Over 90% of the time, both my wife and I are in the Maxima (being retired, we always travel together, and we take turns driving). On long trips in hot weather, my sweaty fanny usually misses the seat cooler when it is wifey's turn to drive. Wifey was unsure at first, but has decided she likes the seat cooler also. Would really be nice for us to have both seats cooled.

This might be one thing Nissan adds with the half-generation 2012?

 

The vented seat in my Max does not work as well as in my previous ES350. The blowers were much stronger and the seat got much cooler, particularly when air was directed to the floor. The Max's does work, but not nearly as effective. Also, they should've installed one for the passenger.

 

This brings a real question to mind. Several here are NOT getting the expected cooling from this individual seat cooler, but others (such as me) can freeze their fanny to a block of ice with this thing. I don't understand why Nissan couldn't have this thing working right in ALL Maximas.