Steering Wheel Heater & Seat Heater suck

[DNAinaGoodWay]

So, what is the resistance spec for the steering wheel?

Don't know what the number is, but the point is that the technician doesn't need to spend an hour checking that the wheel really does get too hot then shut off. Just needs to check the resistance of the heater and if out of spec you need a new wheel, no arguing about "it was designed this way."

So, the resistance is too high, wheel overheats, trips some failsafe that prevents it cycling on again? That makes sense. New wheels all around! Good for you.

 

[XeonPony]

Resistance too low, low resistence =more amps.

 

[ASP]

Very good to hear. Maybe you will be the first to have it fixed. As I documented earlier in the thread, I've been in touch with Nissan Customer care several times and have a long standing case with them, but have been told there is nothing they can/will do about it.

Yes, and thanks. Because of your posts, I started a case with Nissan Customer support BEFORE I went to the dealer. When I went to the dealer I mentioned that I had started a case with Nissan USA. Maybe that helped for them to take this seriously.

Good news. Do they expect it to still cycle now, just with a longer interval? Or will it just stay on all the time? I'd really like to get ours fixed....along with the seats.

 

[stjohnh]

Good news. Do they expect it to still cycle now, just with a longer interval? Or will it just stay on all the time? I'd really like to get ours fixed....along with the seats.

Don't know if they will cycle, I hope not. My wife's steering wheel gets nicely warm and stays that way, no cycling at all.

 

[lion]

I called Nissan support 877 664 2738. Talked to Wesley, specialist ext # 457250. He didn't know about the problem, but said he would call the Leaf technician at the local dealer on Monday when I have my appt to have the steering wheel heater looked at.

Might be helpful is everyone with this problem called the same specialist, Wesley, at the above extension. Open a new case # for problem. My case # is 12674403.

I would hate to call him a liar, but he is not telling the truth. I talked to Wesley about this, and even mentioned others had a case open, but he specifically told me they can't help me until I bring it to the dealer first.

Very good to hear. Maybe you will be the first to have it fixed. As I documented earlier in the thread, I've been in touch with Nissan Customer care several times and have a long standing case with them, but have been told there is nothing they can/will do about it.

Yes, and thanks. Because of your posts, I started a case with Nissan Customer support BEFORE I went to the dealer. When I went to the dealer I mentioned that I had started a case with Nissan USA. Maybe that helped for them to take this seriously.

Guess you got lucky, as they refused to open a case until I had the dealer check it out. :evil:

So, what is the resistance spec for the steering wheel?

Don't know what the number is, but the point is that the technician doesn't need to spend an hour checking that the wheel really does get too hot then shut off. Just needs to check the resistance of the heater and if out of spec you need a new wheel, no arguing about "it was designed this way."

I'd like to know this spec as well, as my tech told me everything is working as designed (spoke with the LEAF tech personally, for over 20 minutes). I need to have some type of data I can use to fight them on this, without me having to waste my time or drop my car off multiple times. Anything you can share would be greatly appreciated!

 

[stjohnh]

I called Nissan support 877 664 2738. Talked to Wesley, specialist ext # 457250. He didn't know about the problem, but said he would call the Leaf technician at the local dealer on Monday when I have my appt to have the steering wheel heater looked at.

Might be helpful is everyone with this problem called the same specialist, Wesley, at the above extension. Open a new case # for problem. My case # is 12674403.

I would hate to call him a liar, but he is not telling the truth. I talked to Wesley about this, and even mentioned others had a case open, but he specifically told me they can't help me until I bring it to the dealer first.

Very good to hear. Maybe you will be the first to have it fixed. As I documented earlier in the thread, I've been in touch with Nissan Customer care several times and have a long standing case with them, but have been told there is nothing they can/will do about it.

Yes, and thanks. Because of your posts, I started a case with Nissan Customer support BEFORE I went to the dealer. When I went to the dealer I mentioned that I had started a case with Nissan USA. Maybe that helped for them to take this seriously.

Guess you got lucky, as they refused to open a case until I had the dealer check it out. :evil:

So, what is the resistance spec for the steering wheel?

Don't know what the number is, but the point is that the technician doesn't need to spend an hour checking that the wheel really does get too hot then shut off. Just needs to check the resistance of the heater and if out of spec you need a new wheel, no arguing about "it was designed this way."

I'd like to know this spec as well, as my tech told me everything is working as designed (spoke with the LEAF tech personally, for over 20 minutes). I need to have some type of data I can use to fight them on this, without me having to waste my time or drop my car off multiple times. Anything you can share would be greatly appreciated!

Hmmm... Not sure what is going on, but Wesley did call me back yesterday 12/12 and told me he had talked to the technician, he knew details that he could only have known if he really did, like that my replacement steering wheel delivery had been delayed by 24 hours due to bad weather, and that my appt for replacing the wheel was this coming Monday. I did ask Wesley what the spec resistance for the wheel was, he said he didn't know. When I take the car in on Monday, I will try to remember to ask the technician what the resistance is supposed to be.

 

[XeonPony]

I'd love to know the number as well becuase it is a right piss off when it cycles off at -22f (-30c) even with gloves on your hands freese at that temp right quick!

if all ells fails a pwm mudulation system with a nice thumb wheel to adjust temp! and all safeties willbe gutted! (Kinda handy if I can make it close to that hot intentionaly at our temps!)

 

[Twofieros]

Does your wheel still cycle on off? What were the resistance specs? My 13 s with black wheel is doing the same thing as everyone else. I wrote it off as our Prius did the same with the seats. If it isn't as designed I'll start to complain but I'm not looking forward to that as the closest dealer wouldn't give us the advertised price on the car. We bought 65 miles away.

 

[stjohnh]

Does your wheel still cycle on off? What were the resistance specs? My 13 s with black wheel is doing the same thing as everyone else. I wrote it off as our Prius did the same with the seats. If it isn't as designed I'll start to complain but I'm not looking forward to that as the closest dealer wouldn't give us the advertised price on the car. We bought 65 miles away.

Well, I am kinda bummed at the repair. The heater still cycles on and off, just doesn't get as hot. Had I known this, I wouldn't have had it "fixed."

 

[XeonPony]

that is indeed very lame!

 

[lion]

So has any progress been made?

Now that I'm using remote climate control on a regular basis, I found out that it turns on the steering wheel heater (thought I was going nuts, didn't know this was a feature), meaning my steering wheel is cold by the time I get in my car since it only runs for 5-10 minutes before shutting down. Nissan really screwed this one up.

 

[tszukow]

Steering wheel heater works only if temperature of the wheel is below 68 (20C) ,so its normal when after some time is ON and Off ,page 2-45 in the manual.

 

[LeftieBiker]

So has any progress been made?

Now that I'm using remote climate control on a regular basis, I found out that it turns on the steering wheel heater (thought I was going nuts, didn't know this was a feature), meaning my steering wheel is cold by the time I get in my car since it only runs for 5-10 minutes before shutting down. Nissan really screwed this one up.

If you turn the wheel heater off right before you shut the car down, it won't turn on with Carwings. That can be a help OR a PITA.

 

[lion]

So has any progress been made?

Now that I'm using remote climate control on a regular basis, I found out that it turns on the steering wheel heater (thought I was going nuts, didn't know this was a feature), meaning my steering wheel is cold by the time I get in my car since it only runs for 5-10 minutes before shutting down. Nissan really screwed this one up.

If you turn the wheel heater off right before you shut the car down, it won't turn on with Carwings. That can be a help OR a PITA.

That's the thing, I usually turn everything off right before shutting down the car. I verified this several times, including recording the state of the heater via my dash cam just to make sure I wasn't going crazy. I'll have to play with the timing and see if that makes a difference.

Steering wheel heater works only if temperature of the wheel is below 68 (20C) ,so its normal when after some time is ON and Off ,page 2-45 in the manual.

So you are telling me it's normal for it to turn off and stay off even when it's -20F outside, and the wheel is ice-cold? Yet I can make it work when it's over 100 degrees in the car.

Based on the feedback in this thread, the 2013+ steering wheel/seat heaters aren't working properly, so I don't think this is working as designed, or there is a major design flaw.

 

[Nubo]

Steering wheel heater works only if temperature of the wheel is below 68 (20C) ,so its normal when after some time is ON and Off ,page 2-45 in the manual.

Yes, 30 degrees below body temperature is exactly why it sucks. I'm not impressed that Nissan considers this normal.

People press the steering wheel heat button because they want a WARM steering wheel. I'd put that this means "at least (live) body temperature" or slightly above. When someone turns on the steering wheel heat, they DO NOT want the wheel to be the temperature of a CADAVER.

"Oh dear, my hands are so cold. Maybe holding hands with this corpse will help..." :roll:

 

[lion]

Here is my 'evidence' that the heater turns on by itself:

Right before turning the car off (but in Park):

(9 hours later) I remote started HVAC via CarWings, steering wheel heater is running:

Several seconds later, I turned the car on, heater turns off:

I'll have to read through the manual again, but either way, I can't preheat my car for more than 5-10 minutes or I lose the heater by the time I get in the car.

 

[LeftieBiker]

Heh, now I'm wondering why mine is sometimes off when I use CarWings.

 

[davidcary]

Mine runs for 15 mins before shutting down for about 3 minutes - getting cool - and then fires back up again. I just checked yesterday morning and confirmed the 15 minutes. It was 32 out and I was driving freeway speeds.

The seats do something similar. Really really good for about 15 minutes, then not warm enough for a few minutes and then good again.

Seems they could have done a better job here but they don't suck. The time to warm is great and the temp of the seats can be pretty scorching.

 

[lion]

I guess I'm going to have to build a data logger to explain this, but when the steering wheel is cold for a long period of time, in -20F weather, there is a problem. Seats are very similar (at least on 'high', on low, it's like sitting on warm towel). If Toyota can get this right in their Prius Plug-in, Nissan sure as hell should have been able to get this right.

Anyways, will dig through my Arduino/sensor pile, and see what I can come up with.

 

[Deleted member 14724]

Lately, I've noticed that some trips, the steering wheel heater does not come on at all. And it won't come on even if I'm out for an hour. But once I get home and plug in, it will come back on when I next go out. This tends to happen after I use the preconditioning feature.