SHOCKING Seat Heater Experience!

[Driver8]

Anyone ever been shocked by their heated seats? (And no, I don't mean shocked by how nice they feel on a cold day or how hot they get... )

Riding home yesterday with the seat heater on I began to notice what felt like a slight, regular twitching sensation on my right leg. I then noticed the hair on my leg hair standing on end. As it increased in intensity and became more noticable, I turned off the seat heater and it all stopped. (Background - Yesterday was humid and rainy and I had gotten wet running to the car in the rain. Not soaked, nothing unreasonable, but a little wet.)

A little later, I flipped it back on and once again, it shocked me! This time it was a faster bandwidth (maybe because the seat was now cold?) More like a regular shock that I felt in my leg and my lower back. I immediately turned it back off.

I would have never expected that the slight amount of rain on me would cause a conductivity issue with my seat heater circuitry. Nor have I have never experienced anything like this with any other heated seat. I tried it again this morning on the way to and from church and it didn't repeat. However, I'm now a little concerned about getting into the car and using the seat heaters anytime it's raining or snowing. Anyone ever experience this? How could a tech even safely diagnose an issue like this? (My wagon's still under warranty, BTW.)

Any advice/comments/experience GREATLY appreciated!

Mike

[HamannE53]

def. something to take seriously....there have been cases of people dying (more like blowing up) while pumping gas at a gas station due to ESD (electro static discharge) i would take it to the dealer, and demand it changed! ck for recalls, that is def a safety hazard....i remember there was a case with a friend of mine who had an ML350, and his seat caught fire and burned a mark onto his mothers leg =x. they have a law suit right now

[X5Andrew]

My friend had a RX-300 and his heated seat used to do this to him. I always used to say "ya, whatever" and laugh at him. He then told me to get into it and try it. I almost pissed my pants. I told him to take it to the dealer and he did. They changed the seat for him right away, no questions asked. But, there must have been something else wrong because about 2 weeks later that seat caught fire and wrote off his RX.

Don't take any chances, get them to replace right away. Ask them to check the circuitry behind it as well. Might be worth the extra hour to get it looked at.


Good luck.

[Driver8]

Thx guys...good advice.

Mike

[Fr0zty]

some peoples have caught fire be aware

[rayxi]

Very odd. I wouldn't think 12V was high enough potential to cause arcing through the leather seats. Also, DC current shouldn't cause arcing unless you were touching something grounded to the body of the car.