LS400 seat heater repair

[Howplum]

I came across the following on another forum. Has anyone been brave enough to remove their seats and have a go?

"I repaired my seat heater the other day. In my 96 LS400 the element is two wire and a ground, three pin connector. The two wires converge at the ground so you should have continuity between all three pins. I found that the wires work hardened and burned in the folded flap between pads in my seats. A little flux, solder, and wire and it was back together."

[cruisermark]

Hi Howard

I am pretty sure no-one in the UK has tried it. When i had my mark 3 I even bought a replacement seat from a mark 3 which had only done 50k miles and that did not work either.

 

[Howplum]

Perhaps I will give it a try when the weather improves, but by then it will be too late! Also, how does one test it in the warmer weather?

[hockeyedwards]

Probably from the same forum or a similar one, but I saw that someone had taken out the old seat heating bits and wired in an amazon 'modern' seat heating pad. Seemed chuffed with it in the thread and I'd imagine it would warm up quicker. I am still rectifying other interior problems first, then I am getting onto testing my seat heater. Agreed on waiting for better weather!

[plexus914]

Here is how to test the seat cushion heater continuity (1997 model):

 

 

 

[steve2006]

Plus here’s how to strip a seat down, everyone needs a pair of hog ring pliers 😀

[Howplum]

Thank you @plexus914 and @steve2006. No doubt the sensible option is to check continuity first, which presumbly is done with the seat in situ.