SC300Es

Heated seats work for the SCs during the summer too. I also had the misfortune of putting them on during the summer.

Ed

amf1932

I was about to say something nasty.....but on second thought I won't waste my breath.

JPI Racing

Go ahead. This is based what I learned at Lexus school. This is not about who is better than who. But if you have a problem please take it in private. I will show you my lexus certification.
JPI

DK Audio

Ok, Lexus of Wayzata replied to my email and this is what he said

"There is not any campaigns on the 97 es300 for the seat heaters. The tsb
that is out is for the seat heaters not working if the two connectors for
the front seats are reversed. I am more than happy to set and appointment to
diagnose the problem for you. The cost for diagnostic would be approximately
$60.00. Feel free to email me or call me if you have anymore questions."

Well, I am in college and paying for my girlfriends engagement ring plus my car. Needless to say I cannot afford that. What is he talking about (having the connectors reversed?)

lexusk8

I am guessing that when you turn on the heat seater for your (driver) side, it actually operates the passenger seat, and vice versa. If this is the case, I'd like to know who could be that dumb to screw up the assembly process of the heat seaters in a '97 ES?

DK Audio

Welp that's not my problem. My girlfriend and I ride together all the time and I have tried both of them on many times.

amf1932

OK......Give me driving directions to your house. I'll be leaving from NYC, so I'll be there in a couple of days.

LexFather

Everybody is cool right?

ssultan

I purchased a '97 with approx. 50K miles on it a year ago. My heated seats have never worked either. Both the switch lights activate but seat temperature never changes. The fuses are fine. I've been searching the forums hoping somebody has managed to track this down ...I'd love to do a DIY fix on this issue!!

DK Audio

Yup me too. I emailed the dealer again just asking what he meant by reversed connectors and he replied

"I wouldn't know if the connectors are reversed unless we remove the panel
over the shifter to check connections. The only way we would be able to know
for sure is to get it into the shop to diagnose it."

I told him that there is no way I could afford $60 just to find out what the problem is.

ssultan

Thanks for the info DK. Yeah, I guess the best bet is to wait till one of the forum guru's figures out the issue and posts a DIY fix

Plum

It is highly probable that the driver seat heating element is burned out.
Prone to our '97 ES models.
I had mine replaced last fall for about $400.
Not a cheap fix.
There are two elements that will need replaced and they are not cheap.
I plan on having the car for several years and enjoy the seat heaters
so I bit the bullet and had it done.

ssultan

Thanks Plum. At my end there is a problem with both front seats. The buttons light up just fine but the seat temperature doesn't vary. I'm wondering if it's possible that BOTH heating elements went ballistic?!

silversprucesc3

Can't you simply have an electrician test the circuit leading to the heating element and see if its drawing amps//??
If so then the problem is in the heating element not the switch...

DK Audio

$400 for just the drivers seat!!!