HEATED SEATS BECOME INOP (REPL. HEAT ELEMENT)
SUBJECT: HEATED SEATS BECOME INOPERATIVE (REPLACE HEAT ELEMENT)
MODELS: 1994-96 CADILLAC CONCOURS, DEVILLE WITH KA1 (HEATED SEAT OPTION)
CONDITION:
SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEATED SEATS HAVE BECOME INOPERATIVE.
CAUSE:
HEAT ELEMENT MAY HAVE BECOME NON-FUNCTIONAL.
CORRECTION:
IMPORTANT:
IF THE DEALER/RETAILER USES A SUBLET TRIM REPAIR FACILITY, THE SERVICE MANAGER SHOULD PROVIDE A COPY OF THIS BULLETIN TO THAT REPAIR SHOP.
IMPORTANT:
THE FRONT OF THE BOTTOM COVER AND THE TOP OF THE BACK COVER HEATED SEAT ELEMENTS ARE NOT SERVICEABLE. REPLACE THE LEATHER COVER.
PROCEDURE -
REPLACE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT BY PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE.
1. DETERMINE WHICH ELEMENT IS NON-FUNCTIONAL THROUGH DIAGNOSIS LISTED IN SECTION 8A OF THE SERVICE MANUAL.
2. REMOVE EITHER LEATHER SEATBACK OR CUSHION COVER FROM SEAT FOR ACCESS TO THE NON-FUNCTIONAL HEATER ELEMENT. SEE SECTION 10-10 OF THE SERVICE MANUAL FOR COVER REMOVAL.
IMPORTANT:
CERTAIN 1996 MODELS HAVE THE LEATHER COVERS BONDED (GLUED) TO THE FOAM ON THE OUTSIDE EDGES. REFER TO "WINDSOR BONDED SEATS" IN SECTION 10-10 OF THE SERVICE MANUAL.
A. SOME SEPARATION OF THE FOAM IS TO BE EXPECTED DURING THE COVER REMOVAL PROCEDURE.
B. USE A KNIFE OR PAIR OF SCISSORS TO REMOVE EXCESS GLUE AND FOAM ATTACHED TO THE TRIM COVER WITHOUT CUTTING THE TRIM MATERIAL.
3. USING A KNIFE, CUT THE STITCHING SECURING THE BACKING MATERIAL AND FOAM PAD TO THE HEATED ELEMENT POCKET ON THE SEAT COVER. IT IS ONLY NECESSARY TO UNSTITCH THE TWO INNER STITCH LINES (IN THE TRENCHES OF THE FOAM PAD) AND THE TWO OPPOSITE STITCH LINES AT THE END OF THE TRENCHES. REFER TO FIGURE 1.
4. DISCONNECT THE OLD ELEMENT HARNESS FROM THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT (FIGURE 1). CHECK FOR CONTINUITY OF THE FRONT HEATED SEAT ELEMENT. IF THERE IS CONTINUITY, PROCEED TO THE NEXT STEP. IF NOT, REPLACE THE LEATHER COVER.
5. CUT THE HARNESS OFF OF THE OLD HEATER ELEMENT WHERE IT ENTERS THE FOAM. REFER TO FIGURE 1.
6. CUT AN APPROXIMATE 25 MM (1 IN.) SLIT THROUGH THE FOAM PAD CLOSE TO THE AREA WHERE THE OLD HARNESS FED THROUGH THE FOAM. THE NEW HEATER ELEMENT HARNESS WILL BE FED THROUGH THE SLIT.
7. PLACE APPROPRIATE SERVICE ELEMENT BETWEEN THE LEATHER AND THE OLD HEATER ELEMENT (SEE BELOW FOR P/N). REFER TO FIGURE 2. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE OLD HEATED SEAT ELEMENT. FEED THE HARNESS THROUGH THE SLIT AND INSURE THAT THE HARNESS LAYS IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION.
8. ENSURE THAT THE ELEMENT LAYS FLAT ON THE FOAM PAD WITH NO WRINKLES BY TUCKING THE ELEMENT INTO ALL TRENCHES IN THE FOAM.
9. SEW HEATER ELEMENT TO THE FOAM. START SEWING THROUGH ALONG THE TRENCHES, THEN SEW AROUND THE EDGE OF THE FOAM PAD. THIS WILL STOP MOVEMENT AND WRINKLING OF THE NEW ELEMENT.
10. SEW THE FOAM TO THE LEATHER. FIRST STITCH THE TRENCHES TO THE LEATHER, NEXT STITCH THE TWO OPEN ENDS OF THE FOAM PAD TO THE LEATHER.
IMPORTANT:
AVOID STITCHING THROUGH ANY PART OF THE HEATER ELEMENT.
11. ONCE SEWING IS COMPLETE, CHECK RESISTANCE OF ELEMENT. IT SHOULD READ APPROXIMATELY 10 OHMS OR LESS.
12. FINISH ASSEMBLING THE SEAT. MAKE SURE ALL ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS ARE INTACT.
13. ONCE SEAT IS INSTALLED INTO VEHICLE, RECHECK HEATED SEAT OPERATION.
PARTS INFORMATION:
P/N DESCRIPTION === ===========
25676237 BUTTOM CUSHION SERVICE ELEMENT 25676238 BACK CUSHION SERVICE ELEMENT
PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.
WARRANTY INFORMATION:
FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:
LABOR LABOR OPERATION NUMBER DESCRIPTION OPERATION TIME ================ =========== ==============
C7171 FOR DRIVER'S SEAT USE PUBLISHED LABOR OPERATION TIME
C7170 FOR PASSENGER'S SEAT USE PUBLISHED LABOR OPERATION TIME
FIGURES: 02 ATTACHMENTS: 00
FIGURE 1 1. FRONT HEATED SEAT ELEMENT (SERVICED W/LEATHER) 2. SEAMS TO BE OPENED 3. SEAMS TO BE OPENED
GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.
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