GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Diagnostic Aids

In order to perform valid tests when diagnosing the climate control seat system, the ignition must be cycled OFF then ON between each test in order to reset the climate control seat module.

A short to ground in the heated/cool ventilation module HEAT control circuit will open the fuse when the heat mode is selected, and the heat mode will be inoperative. However, when the COOL mode is selected, the system will operate normally.

A short to ground in the heated/cool ventilation module COOL control circuit will open the fuse when the cool mode is selected and the system will be inoperative. However, when the HEAT mode is selected, the system operate normally.

Test Description

The number below refer to the step numbers on the diagnostic table.

  1. This step determines if the climate control seat module turns ON by using the current state of the blower motor. While performing this test, pay close attention to the blower motor because it may operate at a low RPM and for a short period of time. Listen for a low audible noise or feel for light air from the exhaust duct.

Step

Action

Value(s)

Yes

No

Schematic Reference: Driver Seat Schematics or Passenger Seat Schematics

Connector End View Reference: Power Seat Connector End Views or HVAC Connector End Views in HVAC Systems - Automatic

DEFINITION: This diagnostic table is used to diagnosis the heat and cool seat modes.

1

Did you review the heated/cooled seat operation and perform the necessary inspections?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Symptoms - Seats

2

Verify that the Heated/Cooled Seat Inoperative complaint is present.

Does the heated/cool seat system operate as described in the system description and operation?

--

Go to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections in Wiring Systems

Go to Step 3

3

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Access the heated/cool seat blower motor in order to verify operation.
  3. Press the heated/cool seat switch for the HEAT mode.

Does the blower motor operate for approximately 4-60 seconds then shut down?

--

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 4

4

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the climate control seat module connector C1.
  3. Measure the voltage from the battery positive voltage circuit of the climate control seat module to a good ground.

Does the voltage measure within the specified range?

9-16 V

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 39

5

Measure the voltage from the battery positive voltage circuit of the climate control seat module to the ground circuit of the climate control seat module.

Does the voltage measure within the specified range?

9-16 V

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 40

6

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Measure the voltage from the ignition 1 voltage circuit of the climate control seat module to a good ground.

Does the voltage measure within the specified range?

9-16 V

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 41

7

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Connect the climate control seat module connector C1.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  4. With the climate control seat system OFF, measure the voltage from the HVAC heated/cool seat mode signal circuit of the climate control seat module.

Does the voltage measure near the specified value?

12 V

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 17

8

While measuring the voltage from the HVAC heated/cool seat mode signal circuit of the climate control seat module, press the heated/cool seat switch.

Does the measured voltage change state?

--

Go to Step 9

Go to Step 18

9

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the heated/cool seat blower motor connector.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  4. Measure the voltage from the voltage reference circuit of the blower motor to a good ground.

Does the voltage measure within the specified range?

6-12 V

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 22

10

  1. Turn the ignition OFF.
  2. Turn the ignition ON, with the engine OFF.
  3. Measure the voltage from the speed control circuit of the blower motor to a good ground.
  4. Press the heated/cool seat switch.

Does the voltage measure within the specified range?

1.5-12.0 V

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 20

11

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  3. Measure the voltage from the speed control circuit of the blower motor to the low reference circuit of the blower motor.
  4. Press the heated/cool seat switch.

Does the voltage measure within the specified range?

1.5-12.0 V

Go to Step 31

Go to Step 21

12

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.

Measure the voltage from the tach signal circuit of the blower motor to a good ground.

Does the voltage measure within the specified range?

4-16 V

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 23

13

  1. Disconnect the climate control seat module connector C2.
  2. Measure the resistance between the temperature sensor signal circuit and the low reference circuit of the seat cushion temperature sensor.

Does the resistance measure within the specified range?

63-18,000 Ω

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 25

14

Measure the resistance between the ventilation module heat control circuit and the ventilation module cool control circuit of the seat cushion ventilation module.

Does the resistance measure less than the specified value?

7.5 Ω

Go to Step 15

Go to Step 27

15

Measure the resistance between the temperature sensor signal circuit and the low reference circuit of the seat back temperature sensor.

Does the resistance measure within the specified range?

63-18,000 Ω

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 26

16

Measure the resistance between the ventilation module heat control circuit and the ventilation module cool control circuit of the seat back ventilation module.

Does the resistance measure less than the specified value?

7.5 Ω

Go to Step 24

Go to Step 28

17

Test the HVAC heated/cooled seat mode signal circuit between the HVAC control module and the climate control seat module for a short to ground. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 36

18

Test the HVAC heated/cool seat mode signal circuit between the HVAC control module and the climate control seat module for an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 19

19

Test the HVAC heated/cooled seat mode signal circuit between the HVAC control module and the climate control seat module for a short to battery voltage. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 38

20

Test the speed control circuit of the blower motor for a short to ground or an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 36

21

Test the low reference circuit of the blower motor for an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 36

22

Test the voltage reference circuit of the blower motor for a short to ground or an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 36

23

Test the tach signal circuit of the blower motor for a short to ground or an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 36

24

Test the tach signal circuit of the blower motor for a short to voltage. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 29

25

Test the temperature sensor signal circuit and the low reference circuit of the seat cushion temperature sensor for an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 32

26

Test the temperature sensor signal circuit and the low reference circuit of the seat back temperature sensor for an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 33

27

Test the ventilation module heat control circuit and the ventilation module cool control circuit of the seat cushion ventilation module for an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 34

28

Test the ventilation module heat control circuit and the ventilation module cool control circuit of the seat back ventilation module for an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 35

29

Test the temperature sensor signal circuit of the seat cushion temperature sensor for a short to ground. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 30

30

Test the temperature sensor signal circuit of the seat back temperature sensor for a short to ground. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 36

31

Test the speed control circuit of the blower motor for a short to battery voltage. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 37

32

Test the temperature sensor signal circuit of the seat cushion temperature sensor for a short to battery voltage. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 34

33

Test the temperature sensor signal circuit of the seat back temperature sensor for a short to battery voltage. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 35

34

Inspect for poor connections at the harness connector of the seat cushion heated/cool ventilation module. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 42

35

Inspect for poor connections at the harness connector of the seat back heated/cool ventilation module. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 43

36

Inspect for poor connections at the harness connector of the climate control seat module. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 44

37

Inspect for poor connections at the harness connector of the heated/cool seat blower motor. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 45

38

Inspect for poor connections at the harness connector of the HVAC control module. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 47

Go to Step 46

39

Repair the short to ground or open in the battery positive voltage circuit of the climate control seat module. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

--

Go to Step 47

--

40

Repair the open in the ground circuit of the climate control seat module. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

--

Go to Step 47

--

41

Repair the open in the ignition 1 voltage circuit of the climate control seat module. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

--

Go to Step 47

--

42

Replace the heated/cool seat cushion ventilation module. Refer to Driver Seat Cushion Ventilation Heating and Cooling Module Replacement or Passenger Seat Cushion Ventilation Heating and Cooling Module Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 47

--

43

Replace the heated/cool seat back ventilation module. Refer to Driver Seat Back Ventilation Heating and Cooling Module Replacement or Passenger Seat Back Ventilation Heating and Cooling Module Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 47

--

44

Replace the climate control seat module. Refer to Control Module References in Computer/Integrating Systems for replacement, setup, and programming.

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 47

--

45

Replace the heated/cooled seat blower motor. Refer to Driver Seat Ventilation Heating and Cooling Blower Replacement or Passenger Seat Ventilation Heating and Cooling Blower Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 47

--

46

Replace the HVAC control module. Refer to Control Module References in Computer/Integrating Systems for replacement, setup, and programming.

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 47

--

47

Operate the system in order to verify the repair.

Did you correct the condition?

--

System OK

Go to Step 2