Passenger side seat heat not working

[CanadianALH]

Where should I start with troubleshooting this? Where could I find specs for the voltage and resistance I should find at the switch? Or should I just swap the switch with the drivers one and see if it works? I also saw that there may be a relay under the seat as well that I could check. If anyone else has had this problem how did you solve it?

 

[mjydrafter]

Mine was the switch. I had a few extras from my wife's Passat (same connector, and can be used to test, but won't fit right in the dash. The Passat has more vertical switches).

The Passat however, was not the switch...

 

[CanadianALH]

Mine was the switch. I had a few extras from my wife's Passat (same connector, and can be used to test, but won't fit right in the dash. The Passat has more vertical switches).

The Passat however, was not the switch...

Just read there may be a recall for 2002 Jetta’s which would be nice.

 

[P2B]

Where should I start with troubleshooting this?

Swap the switches side to side - they are electrically but not physically identical. If it's not the switch, and the harness under the seat is undamaged, the problem is almost certainly the heating elements in the seat.

The recall was for elements shorting out and burning holes in the seat cover.

 

[CanadianALH]

Swap the switches side to side - they are electrically but not physically identical. If it's not the switch, and the harness under the seat is undamaged, the problem is almost certainly the heating elements in the seat.

The recall was for elements shorting out and burning holes in the seat cover.

Just did that. It is the switch. I have it apart right now and trying to see if I can fix it. If not off to pnp

 

[P2B]

Just did that. It is the switch. I have it apart right now and trying to see if I can fix it. If not off to pnp

It's usually the variable resistor that fails, in theory you could replace it but probably not worth the effort.

 

[CanadianALH]

It's usually the variable resistor that fails, in theory you could replace it but probably not worth the effort.

Tested the potentiometer and changes resistance. I assume it’s the micro controllers. Not worth it to replace. The scrap yard has a bunch. I’ll just go grab one.

 

[P2B]

BTW if you add a yellow LED the switch backlight changes from red to orange when the heating elements are on

 

[CanadianALH]

BTW if you add a yellow LED the switch backlight changes from red to orange when the heating elements are on

That’s awesome. Maybe a project for over Christmas lol.

 

[jokila]

What size resistor is that?

 

[P2B]

What size resistor is that?

680 ohms, which results in LED current of approximately 15mA.

 

[CanadianALH]

Alright we solved it. A new switch for $9 and it is running awesome. Plus when I was there I got a great deal on a 1.8t rear bumper trim piece with the exhaust cutout. Exited to see how much it helps the ole Jetta.

 

[pkhoury]

Tested the potentiometer and changes resistance. I assume it’s the micro controllers. Not worth it to replace. The scrap yard has a bunch. I’ll just go grab one.

That's what I've done, but my current lot of Golfs didn't have heated seats, so I had to retrofit them all in. Junkyards are the best for that stuff!