2009 Clubman S 72k miles

Seat Heaters worked fine on Friday morning, meaning that I couldn't stand number three, and number two was just about right.

On Monday, today, number three doesn't get as warm as number one did last week. Both seats barely heat up at all. Nothing happened to the car (or me) over the weekend.

Any suggestions?

 

What was the temperature on each day. My wife thinks the driver side gets hotter on mine. Then again like all woman she is always cold
Anyway, sometimes it seems different depending on the outside temp. Use a laser thermometer http://images.search.yahoo.com/searc...perature+gauge
Turn both seats on, wait a few minutes then hit with the laser. It will tell you how hot thet are from one side to the other. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

I've wanted one of those gauges anyway. The outside temperature was cold enough that the seats should have come on full. I've never experienced a reduction in temperature from day to day....

The Bentley reads
"Seat heating power reduction
Vehicle energy management system, pre-programmed in the engine control module, controls the power available for seat heating depending on vehicle energy requirements and battery condition. The junction box receives a seat heating power reduction request from ECM via PT-CAN and transmits this request directly to the seat heating modules."

Not sure what this means....running the original battery, so maybe it's weak.

 

What is means is that the car is supposedly smarter than we are and knows when the battery is going bad. And seat heaters are not the only items that get a reduce power consumption or shut down from the cars computers.

If your battery is an original to the car that could be the problem. They are notorious for going bad very quickly.

 

Thanks guys. Checked the battery on the way home. It read 14.3 to 14.5 volts on the ScanGauge all the way....I think that's within the normal range. Drove to work this morning with everyyhing off except the seat heaters. Both trips with very little heat coming from the seats. Checked the wires under the seats and nothing obviously loose. I guess it's a trip to the dealer for me.....

 

When driving the alternator is running so as long as it is good you WILL get 14.3-14.5 volts. But that DOES NOT tell you anything about the state of the battery. They must be checked with out the engine running. Go to your local auto parts store and have them run a battery test on it. That is the only real way to know.

And if the battery is bad it could be drawing to much current from alternator and at that point the car will see that and will start shutting down other items of less significance to conserve or reduce the current draw. I.E. reduce the draw of the heated seats.

 

You're right as usual Shatzy, the battery was done. I had it checked anand replaced it. However, the seat heaters are still not right. I wonder if something needs to be re-set?

 

I have read on this BBS that there is some sort of battery replacement procedure that gets run on the car's computer system which lets it know that the battery has been replaced. I'm not sure what gets done, or if that information is accurate, but... It does seem to make sense if the car doesn't "see" that it has a new healthy battery?

 

You're right. Here's what Bentley says-
"Not all MINI models are fitted with an intelligent battery sensor (IBS). An IBS-equipped car can be quickly identified by IBD electronics integrated in the terminal end of the negative battery cable.
When replacing the battery in an IBS-equipped car, register the new battery to the vehicle using MINI scan tool. The IBS measures the voltage, current and temperature of teh battery and calculates the battery state of charge (SoC) to optimize vehicle power usage.
In simple terms, battery registration reinitializes power management based on the characteristics of the new battery and clears charging system voltage adaptations. This ensures correct operations the vehicle electrical system." Bentley rules!

I called Advance Auto where I bought the battery and they don't have the right scan tool. They recommended checking with a body shop.

I have IBS - there is a black box on my negative battery cable. I have nav. From a previous post by Shatzy-

Also of note is that when the battery is replaced.

On replacing the battery, use the battery size (capacity) fitted as series standard. The battery size required for the vehicle is coded in the Car Access System and in the engine electronics (DME/DDE).

1. If a battery with a different capacity is fitted, recode the CAS. Run retrofit "Battery" with Program.

2. Delete fault decode memory entries with reference to the replacing the battery in the engine control module.

Not sure if I can do this myself.....doesn't sound like it....

 

Yeah you need INPA or DIS or ISTA/D to run the new battery registration(in the fuse box (SPEG) module).

Since you did replace the battery, my best guess for your seat heaters is there could be problem with the actual heat pads or the temperature sensor.

But it still could be related to the dead battery and the IBS. Give a few more days to adapt to the new battery. The heated seats are powered by the SPEG module and are temp controlled module underneath each seat.

 

The battery registration didn't fix the seat heater. The dealer invoice reads: "Micro cracks in the seat heater element confirmed. Intiragated fault memory and found fautls for the D/S front seat heater. Perofmed test plan and found the seat heater element. Removed the seat bottom and removed and reaplcd the seat heater element. Cleared faults and tested seat heater. Working in spec." sic

Heater element: 52-10-2-752-606 $102.20
Clamp: 52-10-1-945-543 $2.80
Labor: $437.50
Service History Admin: $.99
Mini Hazardous Waste: $3.00
Mini Shop Supply: $25.00
Tax: $9.31
Total: $580.80

Based on my habits, I estimate that I used the seat heater up to about 200 times since I took delivery in October, 2008. 72,447 miles. That's almost $3 per usage.

The service representative mentioned that on other cars with similar problems he has seen evidence that the owner carried dogs. He surmised that larger dogs can put so much weight in one spot of the heating element that the concentrated weight can crack the it. My dog has never been on the front seat, and I can't think of anything else that would have caused the element to crack.

 

My 2009 Clubman (65k miles) just started the same problem, seats are both hot hot hot! one day then the drivers seat is weak and anemic the next with limited heat in base and no heat on back. Checked all fuses; they all work, switches work right also. I am lightweight, so I know the seat heat coils are not cracked. I use the heated seats daily all winter, here in Utah, and we had a recent cold snap, could the battery is bad? The seat back on the drivers side does not heat at all now either. Passenger seat seems to get hot and warm and functions normally. The problem seems to be isolated to the drivers seat.

1. If I install a new battery does or will the IBS/SPEG reset itself?
2. Can I switch the seat heat module/controller from the bottom of the seats from drivers to passengers seat, to see if that part is bad? Perhaps the control/temp sensor on the drivers seat went on vacation?
3. If the passenger seat is "hot" and heats fine, and my drivers seat is luke warm on base, safe to assume the battery is good also?

Any ideas before I take to to MINI and invest in my favorite SA and Tech.......

 

Update, took my Clubman to the dealer for scheduled service. SA recommends replacing the heated seat control module (a $65 part), 1st (dealer quote -- parts & labor $127) to test seat. Then if seat back still does not heat, replacing the seat back heating element (a $68 part) (dealer quote--parts and labor quote $381).

I took 5 minutes and carefully swapped the control modules from seat to seat; results--passenger seat still heats up fine, and drivers back is still dead. Confirms the heating element is DOA and the heated seat control module is fine. So it's time to change the seat back heat element. Based on dealer quote its appears to be about three hours to tear the seat apart and put it together again with the new heating element. Anyone ever taken the seat back upholstery off? Any tricks, if I decide to do the job myself?