I used the seat heater for several days running, forgetting to turn it off when I left the car, so it turned on again when car started up. Then since I remembered to turn it off it has kept coming on and staying on every time I drive the car. Anyone else had similar experience?

 

Nope, not I. Sounds like something for the dealership to look at.

 

shebam,

My guess would be a busted switch. And yea Omnicron's suggestion woudl eb the corect one. The only option I can think of would be to open the trmi piece where the switchs are located. As I recall the wiring harnesses are identical (coudl be wong) except for different color to distinguish side. You could reverse the harnesses and see if the problem follows the switch or stays with the seat. But the dealer shoudl be able to resolve it without issue. If they have to order a switch for a few days, just ask them to switch the driver side to the good switch. By the way, if they need to order, they give us purchasing the option of overnight for an additinal 10%. I assume they could be "reminded" of that option if they need to order your part.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for quick replies. I'm off to the Consumer Electronics Show for a week so will make an appointment for when I get back -- so long as I'm sure it stays off when the car is off! Which it oughta. Have a day trip tomorrow but it's not overly annoying -- not like the BMW ones that will fry your butt.

 

the heater in the seats will only run when the ignition is turned. must be a faulty switch.

 

hi shebam,
FYI, if your butt starts getting too hot :D before you get this fixed, there is a fuse for the seat warmer that you could pull. See page 8-36 of the Owner's manual, fuse #14.

rx8cited

 

I'm kind of surprised that Mazda didn't make the seat heater switches momentary, rather than toggle switches. That would have eliminated the problem. The ones in our Trooper are on the center console as well, and they are momentary.

 

Hey, it didn't come on this evening on the way home from airport. Still, my non-technical advice is, shut it off before you turn the car off if you want to be sure it won't come on next time you start up. (If we could only be as sure re the engine turning over without flooding .....)

Thanks for the fuse tip, RX8cited.