heated seats

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greywagon

Has anyone ever tried installing third party seat elements? I'm curious
because I have an 89 240 wagon with worn out heated seats which I'd
REALLY like to repair..
 
greywagon said:
Has anyone ever tried installing third party seat elements? I'm curious
because I have an 89 240 wagon with worn out heated seats which I'd
REALLY like to repair..
Click to expand...

Many of the newer cars use a carbon fiber mesh fabric that is
conductive and heats very evenly. I knew of one fellow (with whom I
have no contact) who found a source of the material and was using it
for heated motorcycle apparel. You can literally shoot bullet holes in
the stuff and it continues to heat by conducting around the holes.
__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"
 
Randy G. wrote:
I knew of one fellow (with whom I
have no contact) who found a source of the material and was using it
for heated motorcycle apparel. You can literally shoot bullet holes in
the stuff and it continues to heat by conducting around the holes.
Click to expand...

LOL. It helps the blood congeal quicker. ;)
 
greywagon said:
Has anyone ever tried installing third party seat elements? I'm curious
because I have an 89 240 wagon with worn out heated seats which I'd
REALLY like to repair..
Click to expand...


You may be able to repair the original heaters, in 240's it's usually
just the wire breaks off the thermostat in the seat cushion.
 
Hmmm. Okay, I'm going to have a look. No if only I had somewhere warm
to work on it :(
 
Yeah, I saw some products like this online. I guess if I can't actually
repair the existing system, I'll go with something like this. Thanks.
 
greywagon said:
Hmmm. Okay, I'm going to have a look. No if only I had somewhere warm
to work on it :(
Click to expand...


Unbolt the seat and bring it inside, that's what I've done as the only
time one ever realizes the seat heaters don't work is when it's too cold
to work on them outside.
 
greywagon said:
Has anyone ever tried installing third party seat elements? I'm curious
because I have an 89 240 wagon with worn out heated seats which I'd
REALLY like to repair..
Click to expand...

Hi,

I just replaced the elements in my 760GLE. The old units probably could
have been repaired. The resistive wire broke within the circuit, and
actually burned the cushion and the pad/element. I could have simply
trimmed back the material and soldered the wires together, test, and
re-install.

However, what I did do was:

Found 12V resistive elements at a surplus store... installed them in the OE
units place, and voila!!! freakin' beautiful!! They get quite warm (maxes
out at 50C, which is hot..) They were not for seat heaters originally, but,
I knew they would work. $5 each!!! (Canadian!).

The only trouble I had was the lower cushion, I could not get the center tie
downs to fit in because of the contour of the cushion. I eliminated them
and it works/looks fine. The backrest came out perfect, punched holes in
the heater and voila!!

SUPER WARM!! :)

The carbon fiber elements are good, they are a bit expensive, but you can
cut them to any size without breaking the circuit (depending "how" you cut
it/where). They are quite flexible, and will outlast just about anything
else.

Check your Volvo dealer, I bet the old heater elements might go cheap!
PLUS, if they are like the 760 units, they actually cover the entire seat
pad area, not just a tiny portion like new cars do.

Cheers
 
Found 12V resistive elements at a surplus store... installed them in the OE
units place, and voila!!! freakin' beautiful!! They get quite warm (maxes
out at 50C, which is hot..) They were not for seat heaters originally, but,
I knew they would work. $5 each!!! (Canadian!).
Click to expand...

Don't suppose the surplus place has any more of those? If so I'd be
interested in a set, my 700 has the heaters embedded in the foam, both
seats are open circuit.
 
greywagon said:
Has anyone ever tried installing third party seat elements? I'm curious
because I have an 89 240 wagon with worn out heated seats which I'd
REALLY like to repair..
Click to expand...

Is this repair applicable to the 850? I have been told the elements are NOT
replaceable. True/false? Comments about replacing the heating elements in
an 850?

Where can I get this carbon fiber heating stuff on-line? I live in Canada
but go into the USA once a month so shipping it to my USA address should be
no problem.

Thanks.

Ken
Winnipeg
 
Ken said:
greywagon wrote:




Is this repair applicable to the 850? I have been told the elements are NOT
replaceable. True/false? Comments about replacing the heating elements in
an 850?

Where can I get this carbon fiber heating stuff on-line? I live in Canada
but go into the USA once a month so shipping it to my USA address should be
no problem.

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Well they're not replaceable in the '87 700's so I would guess the 850's
are the same way. The element is moulded into the seat foam.
 
Is this repair applicable to the 850? I have been told the elements are NOT
replaceable. True/false? Comments about replacing the heating elements in
an 850?
Click to expand...

I did one of my 850's seats. Just unbolt the seat, remove the lower
cover (it's always the lower portion) and go hunting for the broken
element. The burnt bit is usually a good giveaway.

David.
 
Well they're not replaceable in the '87 700's so I would guess the 850's
are the same way. The element is moulded into the seat foam.
Click to expand...

Mine were replaceable.. leather seats with separate heater pads between the
cushion and leather.

My car is an '87 760 GLE.

Cheers
 
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