| Curtsan |
I am just looking for some feedback from any of you who have the need to use the seat heaters in those colder areas.
I find that the driver's seat does heat up fairly quick and work pretty well in both the "butt" and back area..../ However, the passenger "Butt" heater is very slow to warm up, even in the high setting...in fact it almost warms quicker in the low setting? and never gets near as wearm as the driver side...anyone else find this?(I realize the back does not heat due to the Airbag sensors)
That all being said, both seats are considerably less warm than my 99 Accord was, or my current Milenia, which gets downright toasty (and my wife loves it...)
Has anyone else found this, or is this something for the delaer to look at?
Thanks... |
|
|
| hammermdx |
| I find that the seats in my X and my wife's TL take way too long to heat up. The same is true in my parents TL too. I guess I got spoiled by the heated seats in my Bimmer, it has 3 settings and you could use them to toast marshmellows!:2: |
|
|
| sandman1 |
| I remember reading that the heating element was taken out of the bottom portion of the passenger seat on the 03's due to some electronics/sensors that were placed there for the new air bag system. |
|
|
| dbauchat |
The MDX is our first vehicle with butt toasters, so we don't have anything to compare to, however, we find the drivers seat heats a little faster than the passenger. When set on high, the seats take about 5 minutes to reach the point where you've got to switch them to low. Warm up on low is quite slow as to be expected.
The rate of "perceived" warm up differs greatly depending on what you're wearing. With dress slacks, the heaters are almost immediately noticeable, versus with jeans, it takes about 3-4 minutes to get noticed.
In our climate, the heaters are really appreciated. Acura really needs to consider adding them to the middle seat to eliminate the winter battle to ride shotgun!
As I mentioned in one other thread, the heater system is really fast. It is putting out heated air in less than a mile of driving with no warm-up. Since the temperature in my garage is typically around 25-32 this time of year, that is pretty outstanding. My only complaint about the HVAC system is that to really get the defrost to work effectively requires you to manually push the full defrost mode button which cranks up the fan to full blast and turns the AC on. This is annoyingly loud. It would be nice to have a more intermediate level of defrost that was a bit quieter. I need to experiment with the controls a little more. |
|
|
| ahlberg |
So far the X's are great (have had my 03 for about a month). Both sides heat up pretty quickly (about a minute or so to start feeling it and about 3 minutes to get them full). The high for me is too hot to leave on all of the time. The low is just about right to keep on. I have noticed that the passenger side is not has "hot" or quite as quick, but I think that is probably due to not having a back heated. Definitely a benefit in Chicago when it is below freezing most of the winter.
For perspective, I'm coming for an older car with no heated seats so I have nothing to compare it to. |
|
|
| Frank Dominick |
Does anyone no for sure if the seat back is heated ?
I do not think so. |
|
|
| ahlberg |
| The manual says that the drivers seat back is heated and the passengers is not (due to the air bag). This seems to be the case since my driver side back feels like it is heated and the passengers does not. |
|
|
| raddray |
quote:
Originally posted by Frank Dominick
Does anyone no for sure if the seat back is heated ?
I do not think so.
Only the driver side... |
|
|
| ndahbar |
On most Bimmers I've been in, it always takes at least 3-4 mins before the heat is at a maximum. That's normal in all cars, especially on a nasty cold day.
Now, I recall that it also very much depends what u are wearing! I was once just wearing a T-shirt (but with Jeans so those are still thick) and I remember my rear waist area and hip area getting DARN hot! Too much! I guess sweaters and jackets make u think otherwise but try it out in your 'X. Wear just a T-shirt and put both seats on hi for 5 minutes and then see. |
|
|
| chillimouse |
quote:
Originally posted by dbauchat
The MDX is our first vehicle with butt toasters, so we don't have anything to compare to, however, we find the drivers seat heats a little faster than the passenger. When set on high, the seats take about 5 minutes to reach the point where you've got to switch them to low. Warm up on low is quite slow as to be expected.
The rate of "perceived" warm up differs greatly depending on what you're wearing. With dress slacks, the heaters are almost immediately noticeable, versus with jeans, it takes about 3-4 minutes to get noticed.
In our climate, the heaters are really appreciated. Acura really needs to consider adding them to the middle seat to eliminate the winter battle to ride shotgun!
As I mentioned in one other thread, the heater system is really fast. It is putting out heated air in less than a mile of driving with no warm-up. Since the temperature in my garage is typically around 25-32 this time of year, that is pretty outstanding. My only complaint about the HVAC system is that to really get the defrost to work effectively requires you to manually push the full defrost mode button which cranks up the fan to full blast and turns the AC on. This is annoyingly loud. It would be nice to have a more intermediate level of defrost that was a bit quieter. I need to experiment with the controls a little more.
I agree totally with what you mentioned, even for the HVAC system.
I also find that if you want to heat up your X fast, turn on the RR climate control to full speed high heat and it warms the whole car way faster than without RR. |
|
|
| neide |
| The BEST way to heat (or cool) your X is with a remote starter. I've got one and wouldn't ever have a car without it again. |
|
|
| ahlberg |
quote:
Originally posted by neide
The BEST way to heat (or cool) your X is with a remote starter. I've got one and wouldn't ever have a car without it again.
What make/model of remote starter do you have? Where did you get it installed? I'm planning on getting one installed but just haven't done it yet. Can you remote start the car and still have the ability to remote unlock the doors? I heard some starters will allow this and others will not.
Thanks in advance |
|
|
| prairiedawg |
A passenger rode with me 25 miles (round trip). Outside temperature was in the 30's & I had the passenger seat heater on low. I forgot to tell him & he never indicated that it was on. He likes the heat to be full blast so I'm sure he would have said something if he had noticed it. Next time I'll turn it on high & see if it gets any response. I don't use the seat heater so am a poor judge of the effectiveness of the seat heaters. I was surprised to find the the main heater warms the interior very quickly.
I have yet to try the defroster in extreme conditions. Ditto for the AC. |
|
|
| ghost |
quote:
Originally posted by ahlberg
The manual says that the drivers seat back is heated and the passengers is not (due to the air bag). This seems to be the case since my driver side back feels like it is heated and the passengers does not.
Quite true. It's the other reason I always drive! :D |
|
|
| hammermdx |
| The drivers seat in my Bimmer warms up within a minute when I'm wearing jeans, the X takes a good 3-4 mintues before I feel anything. I don't think this is unique to the X, my wife's TL (99) and my parents TL (01) exhibit the same behavior. |
|
|
| rn4fun |
| I just got my new HB '03 touring/navi and had a chance to read the manuals on Christmas vacation. It specifically says the drivers seat has a heated seat and back and the passenger seat has just the heated seat due to airbag sensors like someone mentioned above. The drivers seat heats quickly in mine on High setting, within a minute, and I switch it to Low by five minutes, haven't had a chance to sit in the passenger seat and try it but now I am curious! Sure is fun to figure out the navi system, many different levels of things to learn..... |
|
|
| MDXor |
My wife complains that the heated seats don't work. She says that it takes her almost 15mins to feel any warmth.
She is comparing it to my passat and audi which warm up within 2-3mins. It also has five settings but really we either set it to the max (5) or (4) since there is a big difference in heat.
Based on your comments I guess the seats heaters in all Acura's are weak and slow...
I guess that's why they are standard equipment?
:) |
|
|
| DaleB |
They are slow, and it take a good 30 minutes to feel comfy. Since I installed sheepskin covers it's even worse, or better depending on your perspective. Don't really need the heaters.
The coldest climates that can appreciate them will also put the most drain on their batteries using them. They take way too long to heat up. |
|
|
| ghost |
Here, where we've been well below 0 every morning for the past couple weeks (and heading for -20 by Tuesday), I put mine on high first thing. After 6 miles, which is about ~10 minutes I turn it down to L, it's more than warm enough by then.
If it takes yours 30 minutes to warm up, I'd head for the nearest dealer and tell them you want a warranty repair or replacement- it ain't working right! |
|
|
| dmyles |
quote:
Originally posted by ahlberg
........The high for me is too hot to leave on all of the time. The low is just about right to keep on.
Actually I think I read somewhere (maybe in the manual?) that you're supposed to do just that.....only put it on HIGH long enough for the seats to warm up, and then switch it to LOW. i.e., you're not supposed to leave it on high all the time. So that's what I've always done. |
|
|
| rn4fun |
| My heaters take 2-3 minutes to heat up, you might want to have yours checked, sounds waaaaaay toooooo loooooong to wait for bun warmers, the purpose is to have quick heat when it is miserably cold! I start out on HIGH and have to turn them down by no more than five minutes. |
|
|
| jurincie |
| Mine get almost uncomfortably hot within about 5 minutes and I have to turn them down to low. Our X is garaged, but it has been down in the low teens here at night. |
|
|
| gsacca |
| I had he heated seats in my 2000 tl and could never leave them on high for any length of time. They got really toasty! I've had the MDX 6 days and it has been bitterly cold and those seats hardly get warm. One thing I've discovered is if I turn the seats off and then put them on again they will get warm. I think mine are defective based on the heat the tl seats had. |
|
|
| MDXor |
Has anyone taken their X to dealer on this issue? if so what were their response and/or fix?
It sounds like for some people the seats heat quickly and for others (including me) it takes for ever if at all. |
|
|
| dbauchat |
We're having no problems with our seat heaters. After 10 straight days of below 15F weather (lows below 0F) our experience is that the seats are putting out noticeable heat in 2-3 minutes on High. By the time you put 4-5 miles on, you've got to drop them to low cause they are too much.
Heat is most apparent on the drivers side due to the heated seat back, but we have had no trouble with the passenger side.
The biggest difference we notice is when you are wearing heavy or line jeans, then the heat takes much longer to get thru the material. |
|
|
| catzx6 |
| As the driver, I can't use it on High, it gets way too hot for me. Low is comfortable. But I notice the person in the passenger seat will keep it on High as long as they are sitting there! Apparently the pass. seat heater doesn't get as warm as the driver's. But I do wish the pass. seat did have the lumbar heat, too. Maybe in 2004! |
|
|
| Curtsan |
Thanks for all the great replies, and from reading through them, it would appear that it is not consistent for all, which leads me to believe that I (and others) may have a problem with it. I tried again yesterday, when it is 25 degrees below. Both heaters, turned to high at same time in a totally cold vehicle. Within 2-3 minutes, driver side warm, and getting hot, passenger side, virtually nothing, still chilly....(comparing only the seat bottom, not back)
When flicked to low, passenger seat seemed to come to "life", as you could feel some warmth, but nothing more than comparing to the natural warmth a person would warm the seat to by sitting there.
Interesting though, was after driving for a while, my wife was leaning forward and off of the seat cushion to reach for something. Of course the Pass. side airbag indicator flickered on and off until she sat back down, which makes sense due to the sensors, but all of a sudden, she said she could feel heat
from the seat, and fairly intense at that....I reached over, and it was hot, within a very short time, so it does tell me that there can be heat there, and element obviously works fine, so maybe a poor switch or connection. I don't live where there is a dealer close by, so its a bit tough to stop by and check it out, but certainly plan to discuss it at the first oil change/service.
If anyone else has reported this to the dealer, it would be great to hear your responses. It also may help me point the dealer in the right direction when looking when I do get there. |
|
|
| ghost |
Wow - you got us beat, only -15 here today. -25 is verging on seriously cold.
It definitely sounds like a wire connection problem, and probably not too bad of a fix once you can get to the dealer (of course, you need them NOW!)
Good luck! |
|
|
| pdempsey |
| We're in So. Cal. but my wife has asked if the passenger side seat heater was working. She says it does not seem to heat up. I'll be checking this out with the dealer. Appreciate the thread. |
|
|
| Mite66 |
Before taking a deeper look at it, I just thought of asking you guys.
Is it me or the heated seats just don't work when the MDX is remotely started ? :confused:
I don't use my remote starter much, but It seems to me that when I did, my seats were feeling just as cold as if I have'nt done anything. Even after running for 2-3 minutes with the seats set to High.
Any comments ? |
|
|
| m2pc |
quote:
Originally posted by neide
The BEST way to heat (or cool) your X is with a remote starter. I've got one and wouldn't ever have a car without it again.
I was thinking of a remote starter, but with the smart chip in the key, this becomes a little more difficult. Does the remote start bypass the security feature making it open to theft? |
|
|
| hockeyplayer |
quote:
Originally posted by m2pc
I was thinking of a remote starter, but with the smart chip in the key, this becomes a little more difficult. Does the remote start bypass the security feature making it open to theft?
Hmmm. maybe you could just leave the key in the ignition?:) :) :) |
|
|
| hammermdx |
| This is just a guess, but I wonder if there is a pressure sensitive switch in the seats that prevent them from getting warm unless you have a butt in them. |
|
|
| mdxxxx |
quote:
Originally posted by hockeyplayer
Hmmm. maybe you could just leave the key in the ignition?:) :) :)
LOL, dont forget to leave the doors open! :2: |
|
|
| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by hammermdx
This is just a guess, but I wonder if there is a pressure sensitive switch in the seats that prevent them from getting warm unless you have a butt in them.
Nope, which is nice, because you can heat up the passenger seat for someone you are picking up. Not exactly something we think about doing much in these parts. |
|
|
|
