From what I understand, a majority of the seat warmer failures are caused by faulty thermostats causing the heating elements to burn out.

I've been soldering the grid back together in my truck because that repair seems to work for about a year before it breaks again.

I would like to attempt a more permanent repair.

The elements are all over eBay for cheap, but I was wondering if the thermostats were integrated into the heating element? It would be really simple to just swap out the seat bottom heating element.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321619502524?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Well, it turns out that the part I ordered was wrong. I figured as much, but it really wasn't anything I couldn't work around. I couldn't really find the original part number for my model year while digging through these forums, so i just took a shot and missed... but only a little.

Here's the pics, if anyone's interested. I also have some install ramblings, if anyone's interested.

The new element came with a square 4 pin, whereas the original is a flat 4 pin. I just chopped and resoldered the connectors to switch them. 2 wires run through the element, and 2 wires connect to what I assume is the thermostat.


There was a huge difference in the 2 elements, but I already had the truck apart, and I didn't feel like waiting. The pigtails come out of opposite sides, and the new element is too long.

Here's the original part sticker, for future reference...


And, the new one...


I'm not sure what the power ratings of the 2 elements were, but when I tested the new one, it warmed to a nice temperature, and then shut off after several minutes. So far as I can tell, the truck didn't catch on fire.