1997 960... heated seats?

Has anyone been satisfied with the heat that's generated by the seat
elements in the 960? I just had mine (seats) checked; they're 'performing
within Volvo parameters'. But my bum doesn't get warm!
Any ideas? Any 'aftermarket heating elements? I also have a Ford F150
pickup; it's heated seats get so hot I have to shut them off after about 10
minutes!

Thanks in advance,
Scott
1997 960
89,xxx miles

 

Well the seats in my 1995 850 are great, really quick to warm up. Although
unlike your Ford the thermostat kicks in before they get uncomfortably hot.

 

The heated seats in my parents 93 960, which were part of the standard in
Canada - cold weather package provide only one setting... Grittle marks on
the ass... they are the hottest seat heaters I have ever seen, the only bad
thing is that it's only for the lower cushion, my 99.5 Golf has a 5 position
seat heater, but it takes ages longer for it to heat up what I think are
large metal plates that distribute the heat right up to the ends of the
lower cushion, and well beyond the lower back of the backrest... thoe whole
seat gets warm, but it doesn't have that same kind of Volvo - get your ass
off the cold, instant heat.

 

I actually found aftermarket pads in an electronics surplus store. The OE Volvo heater is
basically a resistance wire, this particular unit is a plastic pad that would replace it.

They sell for $5/pad, I think I am going to buy some to replace my faulty heaters.

Also, the 960 with only heat on the bottom, I'm pretty sure the back rest has a heater as
well (regardless of what the switch shows), it is probably not working.

I took my seat out to inspect the wiring, and surely, there is a backrest heater.

hey, some 850s have rear seat heaters as well!! nice!

My friend's Hummer H2 has solid state controlled heated seats, you can adjust the temp via
two switches, (momentaries), and they work quite well.

 

We only have bottom cushion heaters in our 960, the backs never warmed up on
their own... I guess they updated their design. I really think Volvo needs
to install more settings for the heat (come on.... my VW Golf has 5
settings) on the new cars I only saw two positions.

Rear heated seats are awesome.... My friend wants to install some from an
Audi into his old Jetta... that would be pretty nice I think.... Im
surprised the 850 has rear heated... The 960 was the flagship, it should
have everything the 850 has and then some. IMO.

 

Volvo seat heaters always had a backrest component as well as seat bottom
component. I'm sure your backrest heating pads are shot.

And the Volvo seat heater design in your 960 is a lot more complicated than
you think. Even though there is only 1 switch position, on/off, a temp.
sensor relay mounted under the seat is designed to detect the temperature
and provide the heating either continuously, or in different pulses. Thus
they achieve multiple settings with only 1 switch position.
_________________
Will
'90 Volvo 744 GLT
B230F converted to B230FB (531 Head & VX3 Cam)

 

Well considering my mom leaves the heaters on constantly ( sometimes in the
summer too, when her purse hits the buttons) I wouldn't be surprised if some
of the heaters don't work...

 

I rmember there being a switch inside the seat itself in my 240. it
was set into the plastic thing that holds the wires, and it was dead.
I replaced the switch ( looks like a watch battery) .. and they
worked fine after that. maybe the 960 has something similar?

Phil

 

There are temperature limits outside of which the heated seats do not switch
on.Make sure that it is cold enough for you to use them. You cannot switch them
on and expect them to heat up if the ambient temp is higher than say 10 degrees.

Cheers, Peter.

:
: I rmember there being a switch inside the seat itself in my 240. it
: was set into the plastic thing that holds the wires, and it was dead.
: I replaced the switch ( looks like a watch battery) .. and they
: worked fine after that. maybe the 960 has something similar?
:
: Phil
:
:
: On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 15:57:27 -0600, "scott"
:
: >Has anyone been satisfied with the heat that's generated by the seat
: >elements in the 960? I just had mine (seats) checked; they're 'performing
: >within Volvo parameters'. But my bum doesn't get warm!
: >Any ideas? Any 'aftermarket heating elements? I also have a Ford F150
: >pickup; it's heated seats get so hot I have to shut them off after about 10
: >minutes!
: >
: >Thanks in advance,
: >Scott
: >1997 960
: >89,xxx miles
: >
:
:

 

is it true, in order to work on the heat emiments and other parts of
the heated seat feature...you have to remove the seat ... and on a 93
940...since the seats are electric it is a big pain in the a$$, and
shop rates are around 2 hrs to pull seat & 2 hrs to replace..?

how hard is it to replace the actual eliments in the seat itself...?
and, do thesae go bad often...or, it problems in wiring, switches,
thermostats...???

my seat heater is out and it was -5 here in co the other
morning.......

;-(

my ass was hatin' life....it is spoiled due to volvo bun warmers...

 

I have replaced the seat heater on an 89 740 and didn't think the job was
too bad, allthough it might well be a different story on a 940 electric
seat. I would check with a meter for continuity on the element wires first,
also you could swap over the thermostat from the passenger seat.

To replace the element you would have to remove the seat and up end it on a
work bench to get to the small wire clips that hold down the upholstery to
the seat frame, peel back the upholstery to reveal the heater pad.

Not sure how it can take 2 hrs to pull a seat out, especially in a shop.

Steve

 

I have removed the electric driver's seat from my lamented 760 in around ten
minutes flat. Undoing connectors - one minute and undoing four bolts and sliding
seat out of keyways another five -7 minutes. You should have no problems with
SRS devices as they are in the B pillar and work on the seat belt reel (in
face-lift 760s device works on rear of seat).

Cheers, Peter.

: is it true, in order to work on the heat emiments and other parts of
: the heated seat feature...you have to remove the seat ... and on a 93
: 940...since the seats are electric it is a big pain in the a$$, and
: shop rates are around 2 hrs to pull seat & 2 hrs to replace..?
:
: how hard is it to replace the actual eliments in the seat itself...?
: and, do thesae go bad often...or, it problems in wiring, switches,
: thermostats...???
:
: my seat heater is out and it was -5 here in co the other
: morning.......
:
: ;-(
:
: my ass was hatin' life....it is spoiled due to volvo bun warmers...
:
:
:
: > There are temperature limits outside of which the heated seats do not switch
: > on.Make sure that it is cold enough for you to use them. You cannot switch
them
: > on and expect them to heat up if the ambient temp is higher than say 10
degrees.
: >
: > Cheers, Peter.
: >
: > : > :
: > : I rmember there being a switch inside the seat itself in my 240. it
: > : was set into the plastic thing that holds the wires, and it was dead.
: > : I replaced the switch ( looks like a watch battery) .. and they
: > : worked fine after that. maybe the 960 has something similar?
: > :
: > : Phil
: > :
: > :
: > : On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 15:57:27 -0600, "scott"
: > :
: > : >Has anyone been satisfied with the heat that's generated by the seat
: > : >elements in the 960? I just had mine (seats) checked; they're
'performing
: > : >within Volvo parameters'. But my bum doesn't get warm!
: > : >Any ideas? Any 'aftermarket heating elements? I also have a Ford F150
: > : >pickup; it's heated seats get so hot I have to shut them off after about
10
: > : >minutes!
: > : >
: > : >Thanks in advance,
: > : >Scott
: > : >1997 960
: > : >89,xxx miles
: > : >
: > :
: > :