1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

heated seats

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Dominic, Aug 31, 2010.

  1. Dominic

    Dominic New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2010
    80
    1
    0
    Location:
    Halifax, Nova-Scotia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    i have noticed that the heated seats seem to turn themselves off after a while. (the light is still light saying they are on, however, they are not producing any heat)

    is there a way to leave them on continuous, or at least make the light go off when they stop producing heat so that i know i have to reset the switch? (turn off and back on)

    i really hate the fact that i get only about 5 minutes of heat out of them! :(
     
    #1 Dominic, Aug 31, 2010
  2. mgb4tim

    mgb4tim Noob

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2009
    1,153
    111
    9
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I've found that heated seats cycle, but I don't have them in my Prius, so I can answer forth Prius.
     
    #2 mgb4tim, Aug 31, 2010
  3. richsc

    richsc New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2009
    59
    7
    0
    Location:
    Washington DC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    That didn't happen at all for me or my wife last winter. Stayed on for the length of the commute - 30 minutes - and I had to turn them off. Prius 2010 that is.
     
    #3 richsc, Aug 31, 2010
  4. Dominic

    Dominic New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2010
    80
    1
    0
    Location:
    Halifax, Nova-Scotia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A

    hummm that is weird... i've read on another thread that it was doing that because once it reached a certain temp, it just stop heating. maybe it's too hot to have them yet and won't do that in the winter... but in the mean time, it's still annoying!
     
    #4 Dominic, Aug 31, 2010
  5. eglmainz

    eglmainz New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2009
    887
    141
    0
    Location:
    Chicagoland, IL
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    In fact, the heated seats in the 2010 do cycle on and off. While I have not yet tried to time the cycle, I can definately tell in the Chicago winters, that it cycles on and off throughout my commute, which is about 30-45 minutes long in the morning.
     
    #5 eglmainz, Aug 31, 2010
  6. DeanFL

    DeanFL 2010 owner - 1st Prius

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    1,015
    355
    0
    Location:
    Leesburg Florida USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    The heated seats cycle on/off. No other settings are available - they're either on (with a mind of their own) or off.

    When on - my experience in the cold winter (for FL) - they were just fine. They heated up quite quickly compared to past vehicles I had incl Lexus. I was satisfied. The lower back heat area felt very nice. As for the temp fluctuation, it would be perfect to have some control - vary heat controls (Low-Hi or such) or full-on.

    On long drives the 'off cycle' is very noticeable after the seat heats up, then cools a bit, then heats up. Butt and back test feels the on/off cycle.

    But for what it is, and the first year out - they do a very nice job.
     
    #6 DeanFL, Aug 31, 2010
  7. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,518
    1,790
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    From the NCF:
    (c) Thermostats that are enclosed in the cushion control the output temperature of the seat heater.

    I used them this past winter and were very comfortable, but what's comfortable for me may not be for you.
     
    #7 RRxing, Aug 31, 2010
  8. Dominic

    Dominic New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2010
    80
    1
    0
    Location:
    Halifax, Nova-Scotia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Oh! so you guys are saying that the seat actually will start heating again if i wait long enough?

    'cause what i have been doing so far, once it cycled off, i would press the button to disable, and then re-enable it. this was working, but it was a pain...

    i didn't know they would start again if i waited... how long (approximately, i doubt anyone timed it) does it stay off before it start heating again? any ideas?
     
    #8 Dominic, Aug 31, 2010
  9. samsprius1

    samsprius1 HEV Fanatic

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2008
    695
    163
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    Yeah, the heated seats I've had in other cars had a hi & lo button?
    I'm sure it has something to do with economy,they use a lot of juice!!

    We need to find out from one of the good folks at Toyota just how they work. :confused:
     
    #9 samsprius1, Aug 31, 2010
  10. Michaelvickdog123

    Michaelvickdog123 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2010
    332
    21
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I don't know about the heated seats in the Prius, but with other cars I've owned with heated seats, they turned off after some period of time. That time may have correlated with the temperature? Don't know? .

    Personally, I think that's a good thing that they turn off after some period of time.

    The Swedish cars (saab and volvo) were the first cars to come out with them back in the late 50's. The idea behind the heated seats (or so their literature claimed), was safety. The heated seats were only intended to keep the driver warmer and more confortable, until the engine temperature had risen high enough to warm the cabin.
     
    #10 Michaelvickdog123, Aug 31, 2010
  11. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,518
    1,790
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    As noted, the seat heaters are controlled by a thermostat located in the cushion. The only unknowns are the thermostat setpoints and deadband (I looked, but couldn't find any specific numbers.)
     
    #11 RRxing, Aug 31, 2010
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)