Help, o MINI experts!
My winter top-down motoring is seriously threatened,,,
The driver's side heated seat switch seems to be malfunctioning.

It turns on, but then turns off after anywhere from 3 seconds to 30 seconds.
Can't be a fuse, since the lights do come on each time I press the switch. The passenger side works fine.

It almost seems if I'm on a smooth road, it's fine, but when I hit a bump, it shuts off.
I can't be sure of that, since I really prefer to look out the windshield while driving...

So - anyone have experience with replacing that switch?
I figured swapping it with passenger side would be a troublshooting start... Does it just pop off?

Help!! This is serious! I can't face a winter with the top up...

Thanks in advance. ('06 MCSc R52 - the switches are in the center console - not on the dash)

 

Here's a how-to on removing the interior trim bits:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?faq=faq_interior

Once you get the plate with the switches out, you could actually switch the passenger connector with the driver connector to see if that fixes it. If it does, you know that driver's side switch has failed.

 

Where has that thread been all my life!!
Thanks for pointing me there.

It is too late, and my bleary eyes are not scanning well.

I will look more carefully tomorrow to find where they describe that bit. I don't see the center console other than the gearshift, but I will peruse in the am.

Thx.

 

The switch assembly pops off. You can pry it up with a screwdriver along the side towards the rear of the car.

MINI wiring typically have keyed connectors to prevent accidentally plugging a connector into the wrong socket, so you might not be able to swap the two connectors.

You said you think that it shuts off when you hit a bump. It could mean a loose connection somewhere along the path. With the car stationary and seat heater on, tap around the switch area and jiggle wires underneath the seat and see if anything happens. Try unplug/replug connectors under the seat and at the switch, on the chance that a connector wasn't making a solid contact.

 

I'm Keeping an eye on this thread. Mine is doing the exact same thing, but I haven't taken anything apart to see where the loose connection is. I checked under the seat & everything was tight & snug under there.

Let us know if you figure out why it keeps turning off.

 

This might be the case with the connectors, but I think I remember the only difference being one side has a black connector and one side has a white connector.

 

Well, nothing conclusive yet.
I did not try removing the switch, but have determined the following:
If I sit with the car idling, and don't move, all is fine - gets nice and toasty.
If I move a certain way, it switches off.
If I stand next to the seat, I can press down on a specific spot - the left-hand half where the seam is (about 2/3's of the way from the front of the seat.) (I have cloth seats.) It does not require heavy pressure to make teh switch shut off - jsut a firm nudge in that spot.

So, I think this is bad news.
It rules out the switch, and points towards something wrong with the wiring in hte seat itself. Ugh - how does THAT get fixed??

I need to do more troubleshooting I suppose, but that's as far as I got today.

 

Sounds like a short in the Heat element in the seat. The seat will need disassembled to change to element.

 

Mine does this when the motor is NOT running. Sometimes I sit in my car on lunch and like to have the heat on. When the motor is running, it never turns itself off.

 

Really? It heats the seats when the engine is off, but will turn off if you nudge it?
This gets stranger and stranger.
I will try your scenario too...

 

My '09 Clubman seems to have lost its heat...heated seat switches appear to work, but the seats get luke warm at best...No more super heat, both seats do it. I'll check and clean all seat heater connections, anything else I should check? Help? Sorry, I'll move this to 2nd gen forum...

 

Sounds like a problem with the switch circuitry to me...but that's just a guess.