Hi,

Noticed on the premium package on the Maxima that cooled seats are an option. I live in Las Vegas and it gets pretty hot out here so just wondering if that is a worthwhile option.

My current car has perforated leather and I've had a previous car that did not have perforated leather and it seems to make a difference with the heating too...

 

It takes maybe 5 minutes for the seats to get really cool, but they help out when you are wearing shorts and you don't want your legs sticking to the seat. They cool by pushing AC cooled air through the perforations of the leather.
So for me, it's worth it, even her in Virginia.

 

That was one of the options that I really wanted and got with the car. It gets hot here in Houston...heck, it hasn't rained in my area in over a month now!

I personally think it is worth the extra $$.

 

omg if i get a maxima soon that will be what i look for in florida lol...

 

YES it's worth it!!!

 

Depends on the person. Many folks would probably not use this option, and those in cooler climates might use it very sparingly.

BUT

There were only FOUR days in June that the high for the day at my home was below 90 degrees, and I think I used the driver seat AC every time I drove the car that month. I used it as early as my beach trip in April, and used it most days in May. I expect to use it almost every time I drive the car between now and late October. It enables me to be comfortable driving the car without frosting my wife by turning the main AC way down. It also enables my wife to do the same thing when she is driving and I am the passenger.

Those considering this option should test-drive a car with it before buying, as this feels differently to different people. My wife says it feels strange to her. I love that it not only cools the seat bottom, but also the lower back, where I tend to get very sweaty while driving. I have found that this thing is rather powerful, and have to use it mostly on the lowest of the three available settings. This thing does emit a very soft 'whooshing' sound that is only detectable when everything is quiet in the car. Had me flabbergasted for a week until I finally realized the barely detectable whoosh I was hearing was from the seat AC system.

 

how much more is it too add on?

 

I was hoping nobody would ask this question. There are enough worms in this bucket to open a marina.

Originally, the air conditioned driver seats were an option that could ONLY be added to '09 Maximas that had the Premium Package. That was the way the '09 Maxima phamplets printed in May 2008 showed things. The charge was somewhere between $300 and $700 (I think it was $400; this was a year ago, and my memory is weak). Window stickers last summer also reflected the AC equipped driver seat as an additional cost option. But then the Nissan site began showing the AC driver seat included as part of the Premium Package sometime late last summer, even as cars were still arriving at dealers lots with window stickers showing them as a separate additional expense option.

By sometime early last October (about the time Nissan raised the base price of all '09 Maximas around $800), window stickers began listing the air conditioned driver seat within the 'seating' section of the Premium Package on the window sticker, with no additional charge mentioned. As far as I know, that is still the situation, and I don't think the air conditioned driver seat is even available at this point except by opting for a Maxima with the Premium Package, in which it is now automatically included.

I left a few things out of this explanation, as some details are still confusing, and this blurb is too long already. I bet you are sorry you even asked about this.

 

We would definitely go for the cooled seat option, although we are bit disappointed the passenger seat is not included in the option. Every other car that has cooled seats has the feature for both the driver and passenger.

 

Sounds like an awesome option.

My fiance has an altima with black leather. Just curious, if she had the seats re-leathered so that the are perforated like the maxima's could she have seat coolers installed in that vehicle?

Here is an example I found online.

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/seatvenheats.html

 

omelet1978 - I don't know if having perforated leather matters with the aftermarket device you referenced. That device does not furnish air conditioned air - it simply blows cabin air across the bottom of the seat cushion. It removes moisture, which makes the seat more comfortable, but will not freeze your fanny like the OEM device Nissan puts in the '09 Maxima Premium package.

 

The cooled seats along with my panaramic roof are my fav features on my whole car.

 

Thanks for the info. Does it clash with the seat heaters?

The wife leaves the seat heaters on all year.

 

It works here where I live it get like about 115 so you know its really HOT.

 

It's a ****, so EITHER the heater OR the cooling is on.

 

BobXX is exactly right. And the **** for the driver seat is separate from the switch for the front passenger seat. The driver can be frosting his/her fanny while the front passenger can be toasting his/her buns. No conflict whatsoever.

 

Cool.

 

Yep it sure is....... Depending on your setting.

 

i wish i had this option, but they didnt offer it on the sport package

 

That is because a true sportsman/sportswoman is tough, and has no need for the soft and plush comforts we old wusses crave.

 

 

I went with the premium package because it had all the sports options minus the stiffer-harder suspension and bigger size tires. I liked/wanted the bigger size tires, but all the other gadgets in the car beat them out. Maybe one day I will get some custom rims and tires when these wear out.

 

And that is the exact opposite of why I got the sport package. I could do without all the gadgets to have the bigger wheels and tires and stiffer suspension. Wouldn't have minded adding the cooled seats onto the sport package though

 

I live in miami and its been in the 90's lately so trust my I keep them on at all times and i think its worth it for sure. I went with the premium because of all the cool extra gadgits, sure I wanted to bigger rims, but heck, in the long run I just bought them and I'm happy with everything i've done so far.

 

with out a doubt i wish my max had that option id be all over that

 

you guys are making me feel bad i didnt get the premium package now, but i loved the sport rims soooo much i ended up with the sport package lol

 

AC seats are amazing!
Love'em!

 

Cooled Seat is awesome when it works. I read on another post but couldnt find it that this feature can fail rather easily and it has for me. Turning the circular **** to either the cooling or heating, the light on the **** goes off almost immediately so no heating or cooling. Anyone have this problem repaired at the dealer and know what the fix is so I can go to the dealer with some info?

Thanks

 

I have the premium package, but my seats are not perforated. Living in Maryland, it actually gets pretty hot around here. I use the seats and they definitely relieve the amount of heat that you accumulate after a day of work. I use it all of the time and love the feature!!

Edit: My seats are perforated! I guess I haven't been paying attention.

 

I have not seen the post where the AC seats were prone to fail. Im not sure I have even seen anyone (before now) have a problem with this feature. I use mine almost every time I drive the car in hot weather (which is pretty much May through October around here). If I were you, I would push the dealer to fix this very quickly. You need it NOW, not this Thanksgiving.

 

Amen, Lightonthhill

 

Yes, will be going this week.

I thought i had seen something mentioned about this in one of the posts regarding the heated seat problems but read through all the threads and couldn't find anything. I will post the results of the dealer visit.

 

what part of vegas?

 

Dealer reports that the problem is the blower in the seat is drawing too much resistance?? They should have the part tomorrow and we'll see if that fixes it.

 

Just found out that in addition to the blower motor, the thermal sensor (probably the same thing that i read about in the heated seat thread) needs to be replaced as well and I wont get my max back until Friday, ugggghhhh.

 

This sounds like a great feature for those hot summer days, especially for a sweaty fellow like myself

 

 

without a doubt in my mind cooled seats are well worth it. its going to be a must when i upgrade from a 5th to 7th gen. i sweat like a yeti even in the winter its kinda weird cuz im only 5'8 and 170 lbs.

 

I too have had problems with this...same thing, the blower motor and thermal sensor. Every two or three months I've had to have this back in the shop for the sensor, or motor, or ....

It is a feature I love and hate at the same time. Granted, I use it every 3 hours a day so it gets more use than most. When it works...man I love it...and when it breaks....shoot!!!! I've seen a few other posts in the past where folks have had issues with the (primarily the heat part not AC) seat.

As this is the first year that Nissan has had these (although I believe Infiniti has had them for a few) it is taking the techs a bit to come up to speed on diagnosing problems with them but they seem to be getting better. I just don't know if Nissan has had enough "defect reports" to justify any R&D in seeing if there is a bad "batch" or more of a systemic problem.

My service team is getting quite adept at getting me in and out of the shop quickly (in by 9 out by noon) and have started stocking the parts (The first time it took two weeks to get the parts in) but so far, no TSBs have been issued.

Lt

 

that sucks