Heated Seat issues PLEASE HELP!!!!

[slsonvogues]

2001 seville SLS...one evening the passenger seat quit operating but i've noticed that every 15 seconds exactly there is a clicking noise coming from under the seat. The clicking noise is the same one that the drivers seat makes whenever you turn it on. When the seat switch is not activated the clicking noise does not occur, only when i leave the switch on hi or low. Is this a bad element? or possibly a bad relay or fuse? any help is greatly appreciated

[SwampeastMike]

LOTS of related posts here if you spend a bit of time searching.

That said, a defective (open) heating element in the cushion is the most likely culprit and will produce the exact symptoms you observe. The cushion and seatback elements are connected in series, so when you loose one you loose both and the repeated clicking [seems] to come from the control module, when not detecting heat via the temp sensor attempts to "recycle".

I believe that a Cadillac dealer is the best place to find a suitable replacement element.

While I've never replaced a cushion element (guess I'm lucky that all in my '99 are still working), I have for cleaning/lubrication purposes removed the seats and stripped off the cushions. Not particularly difficult and as long as you have access to a factory manual it would be hard to hurt anything in the process.

The most exasperating and time wasting thing I've done myself is replacement of the cabin air filter. NEVER AGAIN unless I turn into a petite Japanese woman who makes her living by pearl diving in natural oyster beds!!! If I give such a "10" on a difficulty scale, a front seat cushion element might get a "6".

[slsonvogues]

Well thank you.. now i know i have some "diy" work ahead of me lol and with summer coming ill just wait and hopefully come across a cheap heating element. I was hoping to hear it was a super easy fix like a relay, but sometimes the truth hurts...thanks again

maybe you can check out my thread "01 sls air ride problems" because thats really got me confused and its top priority on my caddy problems right now

[SwampeastMike]

Originally Posted by slsonvogues

Well thank you.. now i know i have some "diy" work ahead of me lol and with summer coming ill just wait and hopefully come across a cheap heating element. I was hoping to hear it was a super easy fix like a relay, but sometimes the truth hurts...thanks again

maybe you can check out my thread "01 sls air ride problems" because thats really got me confused and its top priority on my caddy problems right now

You seem to have received good advice at that thread. Personally, I'd suspect a misaligned ride height sensor. The compressor works, the shocks hold air and you have no DTCs related to a defective exhaust solenoid or anything else in the system.

These are extemely complicated cars and while they don't seem any less reliable than others of similar age, there are simply lots more things to go wrong. I've always done basic repairs to my vehicles needing nothing more than a Chilton's manual for guidance. This one is different--I felt almost completely ignorant until I bought a factory service manual.

When I found no radiator cap with a pressurized coolant reservoir, an air intake/filter assembly that I could not manage to open and the battery and a fuse box under the back seat, I knew it was time for study and a real manual.

[Renew82]

There are several folks here, (myself included) who have repaired their defective heating elements. Many posts can be found on the subject. A few have pictures. If you want, send a PM with a phone number and I'll call and give you some pointers on the repair. It is not hard.

[chubbyranger]

TurboJimmy has a nice tutorial on his website with pics.

www.turbojimmy.com