Heated Seat element problem
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
C32 2002
Heated Seat element problem
Hi guys,
Just ran into another problem, the bottom part of my front heated seats do not function. Car is 2002 C32, now 93,000 Kms, just noticed the problem last week. Not covered by extended warranty.
Any suggestions ?
Please Help
Just ran into another problem, the bottom part of my front heated seats do not function. Car is 2002 C32, now 93,000 Kms, just noticed the problem last week. Not covered by extended warranty.
Any suggestions ?
Please Help
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 4
From: Boston
2004 C32 ///AMG
here:
For those of you following my saga, I've had my car at the stealership for nearly 40 days for the following repairs and just got the car back. After they tried to double dip and charge both me and my warranty and having to threaten to take them to court, they did the repairs for free and decided it wasn't wise to try and stick me with a $3k+ bill. The complaints I brought the car in for, their response, parts ordered and prices are listed below right off of their 4 page invoice. I'll save the best part for last...
*CUSTOMER STATES WHEN CAR HEATS UP LOSES POWER, POSSIBLE INNER COOLER PUMP - PERFORMED ENGINE SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACED AIR CHARGE RECIRCULATION PUMP
PT#000-500-03-86 COOLANT PUMP
PART: $276.00 LABOR: $80.00 TOTAL: 356.00
*CUSTOMER STATES WINDSHIELD FOGS IN CENTER, WORSE WHEN AC ON - CUSTOMER DECLINED UPDATED VENT REPLACEMENT (Reason being warranty would not cover it due to it being an "updated part")
*SHOWS ESP MALFUNCTION AT TIMES - ONLY CODES STORED DUE TO LOW VOLTAGE (Car mainly brought in because battery kept dying = low voltage and no codes stored)
*CUSTOMER STATES HAS A FLAPPING SOUND IN DRIVERS SIDE AC VENT, WORSE WHEN WINDY AT 70-75 - UNABLE TO VERIFY COMPLAINT (They obviously didn't take the car up to 70-75mph because it does it every time!)
*CUSTOMER STATES BOTTOM FLAP ON CUPHOLDER BROKEN - CUSTOMER DECLINED UPDATED CUPHOLDER BRACKET (again, warranty would not cover "updated part" and they wanted a ridiculous amount to replace)
*CUSTOMER STATES AUTO UP AND DOWN ON FRONT WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK AT TIMES - REPLACED LFT AND RT DOOR CONTROL MODULES
PT# 203-820-14-85 CONTROL UNIT $155.00
PT# 203-820-15-85 CONTROL UNIT $84.00
PARTS $239.00 LABOR: $208.00 TOTAL: $447.00
*BATTERY KEEPS GOING DEAD - CK AND REPLACED LEFT AND RT SEAT CONTROL MODULES DUE TO EXCESSIVE DRAW
PT# 211-870-46-26 CONTROL UNIT $145.00
PT# 211-870-47-26 CONTROL UNIT $276.00
PARTS $421.00 LABOR: $176.00 TOTAL: $597.00
*CUSTOMER STATES HAS A ROUGH IDLE, WORSE WHEN COLD - NO PROBLEM FOUND (Figures....)
*CUSTOMER STATES POWER MIRRORS MOVE WHEN YOU TURN OFF CAR, WONT HOLD ADJUSTMENT - REAPAIRED W/DOOR CONTROL MODULES REPLACED ON LINE G
*CUSTOMER STATES STEREO COMES ON WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION WITH CAR NOT PREVIOUSLY RUNNING - NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE (Is this true?! Your cars stereo will come on without the key on or car off?)
*CUSTOMER STATES BOTTOM OF DRIVERS SEAT WILL NOT HEAT - REPLACED LEFT FRONT SEAT CUSHION (LOWER) TO REPAIR SEAT HEATER OPERATION
PART# 203-910-43-46-9C05 COVER $625.00
PARTS: $625.00 LABOR: $184.00 TOTAL: $809.00
*CUSTOMER STATES OVER BUMPS HAS A THUMP IN FRONT - GAVE ESTIMATE FOR RT SIDE TORQUE STRUT AND BEARING AND ALIGNMENT. CUSTOMER DECLINED REPAIR (warranty would cover left side, the damaged side, but would not cover the right. they had to replace both sides with an updated part, warranty would not cover other side and dealership wanted a small fortune for repairs. thanks, but no thanks)
*CUSTOMER STATES AT ABOUT 1500RPMS, SHIFTS HARD - PERFORMED TRANS. SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS, AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING, FOUND VALVE BODY IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT W/UPDATED TRANS. CONTROL MODULE.
PART# 140-270-06-06-88 VALVE GEAR $606.00
PART# 032-545-12-32-26 TRANS. CONT MODULE $986.00
PART# 001-989-45-01-10 TRANSMISSION $10.00
PART# 140-277-00-95 TRANS OIL FILT $14.50
PART# 140-271-00-80 GASKET, TRANS $11.00
PART# 140 991-00-55 LOCK PIN $0.70
PART# 015-997-06-45 SEAL RING $2.00
PART# 015-997-05-45 SEAL RING $2.40
PARTS: $1702.60 LABOR: $396.00 TOTAL: $2,071.60
*CUSTOMER STATES DRIVERS SEAT CONTROLS WORK IN REVERSE AT TIMES - REPAIRED BY CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT LISTED ABOVE.
TOTAL BILL - $4,533.11 (and we wonder why it's so hard to get an aftermarket warranty for our cars!
Now, take a look at the part number for the TCU. It's completely different than what they initially gave me as a part number and about double the original price quoted. They are trying to tell me its "an update to the updated TCU". Sounds like their blowin smoke to me. They go on to tell me they would have thrown that in for free for my "troubles" of them taking a month and a half to fix my car which makes me even more suspicious. I'm wondering if they even replaced it now.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! So after sitting in a back office with the manager an hour past closing trying to get this settled outside of court we come to an agreement and I walk out of there with no out of pocket expenses. I sit in the car for some time looking everything over before I leave the lot, adjust the seats, mirrors, etc. and decide it's good to go. I make it a mile down the road in stop and go traffic and hit the brakes for the first time (beside tapping in parking lot of course) and am amazed to find the pedal is rock hard, the steering wheel shakes like crazy when the brakes are pressed, there is a horrific metal on metal sound coming from the front end and you can feel the grinding through the steering wheel and brake pedal! I immediately call back the dealership and get another manager on the phone and let them know I would be dropping the car off again first thing in the a.m. to have my brakes looked at because they seriously jacked something up. I would have drove straight back to the dealership but wanted to make sure there wasn't anything else wrong with it before I took it back! When I got home I was looking at the front rotors and they are all scratched to hell with gouges, were SMOKIN hot (rear rotors were cold to the touch) and could feel bumps in the rotors like it was starting to warp. Regardless it looks like the rotors need turned and probably new pads depending on how bad they screwed it up. They chipped the hell out of my front rims where the lug nuts go and the car was filthy when I picked it up, so who knows what other nicks and dings are on the car now. When I left I shook their hand and agreed to keep this out of the courts. Now I'm not so sure!
Now, I understand that for the most part it isn't so much the cars fault as it is the fault of having the worst dealership on the planet working on my car....but at this point I am seriously looking to do what others on here have done and just dump the car and get a freakin honda until I move closer to a REAL dealership within feasible driving distance.
Sorry for the extremely long winded post and if you've made it this far I applaud you! Believe it or not this is the VERRRRRY short version of a 40+ day drama that is sure to continue now.
*CUSTOMER STATES WHEN CAR HEATS UP LOSES POWER, POSSIBLE INNER COOLER PUMP - PERFORMED ENGINE SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACED AIR CHARGE RECIRCULATION PUMP
PT#000-500-03-86 COOLANT PUMP
PART: $276.00 LABOR: $80.00 TOTAL: 356.00
*CUSTOMER STATES WINDSHIELD FOGS IN CENTER, WORSE WHEN AC ON - CUSTOMER DECLINED UPDATED VENT REPLACEMENT (Reason being warranty would not cover it due to it being an "updated part")
*SHOWS ESP MALFUNCTION AT TIMES - ONLY CODES STORED DUE TO LOW VOLTAGE (Car mainly brought in because battery kept dying = low voltage and no codes stored)
*CUSTOMER STATES HAS A FLAPPING SOUND IN DRIVERS SIDE AC VENT, WORSE WHEN WINDY AT 70-75 - UNABLE TO VERIFY COMPLAINT (They obviously didn't take the car up to 70-75mph because it does it every time!)
*CUSTOMER STATES BOTTOM FLAP ON CUPHOLDER BROKEN - CUSTOMER DECLINED UPDATED CUPHOLDER BRACKET (again, warranty would not cover "updated part" and they wanted a ridiculous amount to replace)
*CUSTOMER STATES AUTO UP AND DOWN ON FRONT WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK AT TIMES - REPLACED LFT AND RT DOOR CONTROL MODULES
PT# 203-820-14-85 CONTROL UNIT $155.00
PT# 203-820-15-85 CONTROL UNIT $84.00
PARTS $239.00 LABOR: $208.00 TOTAL: $447.00
*BATTERY KEEPS GOING DEAD - CK AND REPLACED LEFT AND RT SEAT CONTROL MODULES DUE TO EXCESSIVE DRAW
PT# 211-870-46-26 CONTROL UNIT $145.00
PT# 211-870-47-26 CONTROL UNIT $276.00
PARTS $421.00 LABOR: $176.00 TOTAL: $597.00
*CUSTOMER STATES HAS A ROUGH IDLE, WORSE WHEN COLD - NO PROBLEM FOUND (Figures....)
*CUSTOMER STATES POWER MIRRORS MOVE WHEN YOU TURN OFF CAR, WONT HOLD ADJUSTMENT - REAPAIRED W/DOOR CONTROL MODULES REPLACED ON LINE G
*CUSTOMER STATES STEREO COMES ON WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION WITH CAR NOT PREVIOUSLY RUNNING - NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE (Is this true?! Your cars stereo will come on without the key on or car off?)
*CUSTOMER STATES BOTTOM OF DRIVERS SEAT WILL NOT HEAT - REPLACED LEFT FRONT SEAT CUSHION (LOWER) TO REPAIR SEAT HEATER OPERATION
PART# 203-910-43-46-9C05 COVER $625.00
PARTS: $625.00 LABOR: $184.00 TOTAL: $809.00
*CUSTOMER STATES OVER BUMPS HAS A THUMP IN FRONT - GAVE ESTIMATE FOR RT SIDE TORQUE STRUT AND BEARING AND ALIGNMENT. CUSTOMER DECLINED REPAIR (warranty would cover left side, the damaged side, but would not cover the right. they had to replace both sides with an updated part, warranty would not cover other side and dealership wanted a small fortune for repairs. thanks, but no thanks)
*CUSTOMER STATES AT ABOUT 1500RPMS, SHIFTS HARD - PERFORMED TRANS. SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS, AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING, FOUND VALVE BODY IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT W/UPDATED TRANS. CONTROL MODULE.
PART# 140-270-06-06-88 VALVE GEAR $606.00
PART# 032-545-12-32-26 TRANS. CONT MODULE $986.00
PART# 001-989-45-01-10 TRANSMISSION $10.00
PART# 140-277-00-95 TRANS OIL FILT $14.50
PART# 140-271-00-80 GASKET, TRANS $11.00
PART# 140 991-00-55 LOCK PIN $0.70
PART# 015-997-06-45 SEAL RING $2.00
PART# 015-997-05-45 SEAL RING $2.40
PARTS: $1702.60 LABOR: $396.00 TOTAL: $2,071.60
*CUSTOMER STATES DRIVERS SEAT CONTROLS WORK IN REVERSE AT TIMES - REPAIRED BY CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT LISTED ABOVE.
TOTAL BILL - $4,533.11 (and we wonder why it's so hard to get an aftermarket warranty for our cars!
Now, take a look at the part number for the TCU. It's completely different than what they initially gave me as a part number and about double the original price quoted. They are trying to tell me its "an update to the updated TCU". Sounds like their blowin smoke to me. They go on to tell me they would have thrown that in for free for my "troubles" of them taking a month and a half to fix my car which makes me even more suspicious. I'm wondering if they even replaced it now.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! So after sitting in a back office with the manager an hour past closing trying to get this settled outside of court we come to an agreement and I walk out of there with no out of pocket expenses. I sit in the car for some time looking everything over before I leave the lot, adjust the seats, mirrors, etc. and decide it's good to go. I make it a mile down the road in stop and go traffic and hit the brakes for the first time (beside tapping in parking lot of course) and am amazed to find the pedal is rock hard, the steering wheel shakes like crazy when the brakes are pressed, there is a horrific metal on metal sound coming from the front end and you can feel the grinding through the steering wheel and brake pedal! I immediately call back the dealership and get another manager on the phone and let them know I would be dropping the car off again first thing in the a.m. to have my brakes looked at because they seriously jacked something up. I would have drove straight back to the dealership but wanted to make sure there wasn't anything else wrong with it before I took it back! When I got home I was looking at the front rotors and they are all scratched to hell with gouges, were SMOKIN hot (rear rotors were cold to the touch) and could feel bumps in the rotors like it was starting to warp. Regardless it looks like the rotors need turned and probably new pads depending on how bad they screwed it up. They chipped the hell out of my front rims where the lug nuts go and the car was filthy when I picked it up, so who knows what other nicks and dings are on the car now. When I left I shook their hand and agreed to keep this out of the courts. Now I'm not so sure!
Now, I understand that for the most part it isn't so much the cars fault as it is the fault of having the worst dealership on the planet working on my car....but at this point I am seriously looking to do what others on here have done and just dump the car and get a freakin honda until I move closer to a REAL dealership within feasible driving distance.
Sorry for the extremely long winded post and if you've made it this far I applaud you! Believe it or not this is the VERRRRRY short version of a 40+ day drama that is sure to continue now.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
2002 C32
First, see if the light is illuminating on the dash-mounted switch. Behind this dash-mounted switch is the seat heater control unit (integrated into the switch box) for the driver's side heater. Assuming that is okay, look underneath the seat and make sure there are no dangling wires that look disconnected. Check your fuse box too.
Assuming that these are all okay (they usually are) then what you are likely dealing with is a fracture in the element or a burned-out part of that element. The element is integrated into the leather seat bottom, so the replacement part amounts to a new leather seat bottom. The price for that component is in the $500-$650 range, and there are complete instructions for removal and reinstall on the MBUSA Star Service Library DVD for the 203 model.
Regards,
Pete
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 1
From: San Jose, CA
ML63
I just had the bottom of my seat replaced. You need to replace the entire bottom of the seat. I was quoted about $1200 bucks parts and labor for the replacement as my warranty is expired. I had this replaced under warranty last year so MBUSA decided to pick up the charge this time for me.. How nice of them!
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
2009 C63
seat element
I purchased my 03 C32 on 12/30/06. About 3 weeks after I purchased it I noticed the bottom seat element would not heat. This appears to be a very common problem. MB replaced under remaining factory warranty for free. (Would have cost me about $750.) About 2 weeks after this was fixed, I had the reverse problem: bottom would heat, but back would not. MB then replaced the back part of the seat. Thank God the car had a couple thousand miles of factory warranty left when I bought it. In just over two months MB has performed approximately $3,000 in repairs, making my decision to buy an aftermarket warranty for $2700 a no-brainer. Problems that MB fixed are: bottom drivers seat, back drivers seat, belt tensioner, transmission control module and seal, front sway bar links.
Guest
Posts: n/a
my botom seat heater doesnt work and its at the dealer now i have mercury and they denied the claim on friday for the heated seat they said it is a upholstery item, and i called up and raised hell because it says they cover it, they are gonna call me back tomm and see why the adjuster denied it.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 0
From: Keesler AFB, Gulfport, MS
C32 AMG
my botom seat heater doesnt work and its at the dealer now i have mercury and they denied the claim on friday for the heated seat they said it is a upholstery item, and i called up and raised hell because it says they cover it, they are gonna call me back tomm and see why the adjuster denied it.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
C32 2002
Thanks
Hi Guys, thanks a lot for your response Pete, will check those. The red heating lights do come on Pete.
Unfortunately, I live in Toronto, Canada and things are a little different here. There is no such thing as a Lemon Law and also I have the Extended Warranty from Mercedes not the "Mercury" or "Starmark" I am not sure if warranties like that are available in Canada.
Looks like the expense will come out of my pocket. Will wait until next winter for the repairs now.
Thanks
Unfortunately, I live in Toronto, Canada and things are a little different here. There is no such thing as a Lemon Law and also I have the Extended Warranty from Mercedes not the "Mercury" or "Starmark" I am not sure if warranties like that are available in Canada.
Looks like the expense will come out of my pocket. Will wait until next winter for the repairs now.
Thanks
Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 1
From: Toronto, Canada
2003 C32
My understanding of the MB Canada extended warranty is that everything that is covered on the oriiginal new car warranty is covered, except the final year of coverage when only the powertrain is warranted, but I stand to be corrected.
I suggest you contact MB Canada to find out what the terms of their extended warranty is.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,255
Likes: 0
From: Bloomfield Hills, MI
W203, W211, W219, W212
But, MB of Westminster has stepped up and decided to replace my seat heater for free, and I can't thank them enough.
And they told me there's some kind of program in order to get warranty from MB on parts. I'll explain later once I get the details.
SPONSOR
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,517
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
...
OK I've lost the battle. We've tried and even with the director of Parts & Service backing me up, Mercury still wouldn't budge.
But, MB of Westminster has stepped up and decided to replace my seat heater for free, and I can't thank them enough.
And they told me there's some kind of program in order to get warranty from MB on parts. I'll explain later once I get the details.
But, MB of Westminster has stepped up and decided to replace my seat heater for free, and I can't thank them enough.
And they told me there's some kind of program in order to get warranty from MB on parts. I'll explain later once I get the details.
i would like to know about the program...my driver's side is not working at all, both the bottom and the back elements are gone...although i won't need them for a while here in houston
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 0
From: Keesler AFB, Gulfport, MS
C32 AMG
OK I've lost the battle. We've tried and even with the director of Parts & Service backing me up, Mercury still wouldn't budge.
But, MB of Westminster has stepped up and decided to replace my seat heater for free, and I can't thank them enough.
And they told me there's some kind of program in order to get warranty from MB on parts. I'll explain later once I get the details.
But, MB of Westminster has stepped up and decided to replace my seat heater for free, and I can't thank them enough.
And they told me there's some kind of program in order to get warranty from MB on parts. I'll explain later once I get the details.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham an Essex
2002 C32/2007 S320/2007 P 911 TurboS/2006 Pagani Zonda C12F/2007 Ferrari F430/2007 Bentley Arnage T
Hey
Hi,
The electric seats on the c32 is a nightmare when they go wron, and they are so expensive.
Could be:
1) Dash button - Broken
2) Fuse - Blown
3) Heating element - Broken
4) Motor - Broken
Apart from the fuse issue, whihc is a saimple DIY fix, the other 3 are exepensive dash out or seat out issue's, if you are working on a tight budget, then i suggest, you ignore it and turn the heating on higher, or take it to your dealership, they will most probably remove a 4 figure sum from your wallet though.
I had a simular issue, when a seat motor goes, they have to be replaced in pairs. Mercedes do this as routine, so it will turn out an expensive job, but it needs fixing so bite the bullet, make the call !!
The electric seats on the c32 is a nightmare when they go wron, and they are so expensive.
Could be:
1) Dash button - Broken
2) Fuse - Blown
3) Heating element - Broken
4) Motor - Broken
Apart from the fuse issue, whihc is a saimple DIY fix, the other 3 are exepensive dash out or seat out issue's, if you are working on a tight budget, then i suggest, you ignore it and turn the heating on higher, or take it to your dealership, they will most probably remove a 4 figure sum from your wallet though.
I had a simular issue, when a seat motor goes, they have to be replaced in pairs. Mercedes do this as routine, so it will turn out an expensive job, but it needs fixing so bite the bullet, make the call !!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
2002 C32, 2011 VW GTI
Doing the job myself (it's $233 for the driver's side unit from Programa after core rebate. Still looking for the other side). But I figured I'd bump this just so everyone's aware before wasting their time going to the dealer!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 37
From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
I definately need one. After two MB warranty replacements, Mercury won't budge and won't cover the repair -- unless I replace the heating element myself by having an upholsterer unstich and stich up the seat and I get a 12 month warranty on the heating element and the upholsterer's work. Havn't gone this route yet but might.
