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Seat heater switch

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by KCWhitney, May 3, 2017.

  1. KCWhitney

    KCWhitney Member

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    My biggest gripe with my new Advanced, is with the seat heater switch. First, it's location is kind of hidden and out of the way. It's setting can easily get ignored.
    Which is important because the switch type is a hard 3 position rocker. It stays where it as last set, period. It does not reset when the car is powered down.
    In my Cadillac, the heat setting switch is a soft one, and gradually, reduces its setting, as the car gets warmer, obviously saving energy. It also does not automatically re-activate after powering down.
    It seems odd that Toyota being so energy conscious in so many other areas of design, would over look this.
     
    #1 KCWhitney, May 3, 2017
  2. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Both complaints are legitimate. Bad design.
     
    #2 Lee Jay, May 3, 2017
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  3. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    An interesting comment on engineering; my guess is the people who came up with the seat heater setup live in a warm climate, where heated seats are an afterthought. In my 2012 PIP, I had the same setup, but it never bothered me; I never used it, never needed it. It's the same with my Prime; never use heated seats; for us temperate zone turkeys, it doesn't matter. The engineers just have to be more empathetic to all their clients. Unfortunately nobody's perfect. I'm sure comments like these will eventually move a great company like Toyota in the right direction.

    .
     
    #3 HPrimeAdvanced, May 3, 2017
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the worst part is, this was a huge complaint on the pip, and with all their so called 'focus groups', they didn't fix it.
     
    #4 bisco, May 3, 2017
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  5. Bob Comer

    Bob Comer Active Member

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    Yep, my Gen 3 Toyota has the odd placing of the heated seat control. I have *never* understood that. I never need it here, but it's in such a place that I can't turn it on while sitting in the seat...
     
    #5 Bob Comer, May 3, 2017
  6. davidtm

    davidtm Member

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    I have the same complaint about this switch in my Subaru Forester . . .
     
    #6 davidtm, May 3, 2017
  7. MNdriver

    MNdriver Senior Member

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    Not such a problem in Minnesota. You just switch it on in October and off again in April. No big deal.
     
    #7 MNdriver, May 3, 2017
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't use mine, at 62, it makes me feel like i had an 'accident'.
     
    #8 bisco, May 3, 2017
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  9. davidtm

    davidtm Member

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    Same age here, helps me with aches

    0PJA2 ?
     
    #9 davidtm, May 3, 2017
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  10. Prius from Dad

    Prius from Dad Senior Member

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    Same age here, also. I never use it, my butt warms up the seat quickly. :whistle:
     
    #10 Prius from Dad, May 3, 2017
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  11. Brian Otto

    Brian Otto New Member

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    Just bought a 2018 Prime, loving it. Managed to find the front seat heater switches, but there's another switch on far right, above the hidden location of the individual seat switches. Pushing this switch toggles between "driver's seat" and "all seats", with a graphic in Multi screen showing all four seats. Driver's seat shows ON, all seats shows OFF. I can find nothing in the manual showing this, and nothing I've found anywhere online, including this forum, mentions this. Can anyone tell me more? How do I toggle the "all seats" to ON?
     
    #11 Brian Otto, Mar 11, 2022
  12. BChoAss

    BChoAss Junior Member

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    Toyota definitely could've placed the seat heater switch somewhere more assessable, but after awhile the location started to grow on me. IMO I do not like where the 2020 seat heater switch are located, definitely at risk for spills, dirt, grime build up.
     
    #12 BChoAss, Mar 11, 2022
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Better than before - down low near the floor
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, Mar 11, 2022
  14. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    And unintended on and off when something heavy is placed on top of the switches.
     
    #14 Salamander_King, Mar 11, 2022
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