Ok so I have searched and read a great deal but seems everyone is having problems with intermittent heat or shutting off after a few minutes. I cannot for the life of me figure this one out. I tested the switches which seem to be fine but even if I remove the switches entirely the driver seat heats up as soon as car is started. There is no fuse to pull that doesn't effect both seat adjustability and seat heaters. Since car is no longer under warranty, I am at a loss.

Hope someone has some ideas

Thanks!

 

The real question is where is the voltage on the seat coming from and why, if you remove the switch that doesn't mean the harness under isn't damaged somehow.

In theory the switch should break the connection unless its getting voltage on a completely different line. ie cigarete lighter, etc.

Are you the first owner?

 

We are not the first owners and it does appear the console has been replaced/worked on/removed in the past. However, I have taken it out and the wiring appears stock and clean. I'm not an engineer but I know a thing or two. Wiring isn't my cup of tea but it seems odd that with the switch and even the complete switch harness removed, the driver seat heater still comes on. With the under seat harness removed I can kill the seat heater but then I lose the power seat

 

Just remember to disconnect your battery when running the trace. There are airbags in the seats!

Maybe take some snap shots and It'll refresh my mind for what I think you should diagnose.

 

You did not say if you had the climate controlled seat or just the heated seat. I assume just the heated seat. The wiring diagrams show fuse#1 (15amp) is for the heated seats only. I believe this fuse is in the under dash fuse box.

Here is a link to the FSM. seats are under SE section.

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/nis...e-manuals.html

 

Ok so here is something interesting. Tried the fuse removal again and yep still heated seat. All the harnesses and wiring appear original and untampered with but I cannot follow under the carpet.

Even with the console and harness removed the seat heater is on.

Now here is where I think there could be an issue. I cannot tell for sure but I think the seat may have been swapped from a non climate controlled seat car (no cooled option) The car is a premium and should have had a cooled seat from all I've read. However, the switch is for a standard heated seat (no dial). The switch cannot be the issue since seat is heated unless under seat harness is disconnected.

I've taken some pictures of the connectors under console and seat but not sure that helps much. Can try to post if anyone thinks they are useful

 

Also the FSM found here http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Maxima/2012%20Maxima/

Seems to be missing anything from section J or at least the SE section for seats. I opened every link in the directory before looking at the parent index

 

Look at any year 2009-2014. They are all basically the same the 2009 and 2014 contains SE section.

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Maxima/2009/SE.pdf
http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Maxima/2014%20Maxima/SE.pdf