heated seat switch problem

[nic996]

I hope someone can help. Partly a silly question. The passenger heated seat on my '97- 996C2 switches on but I can't switch it off until the ignition is turned off. I checked the switch and it is fine. I am assuming that there is a problem with the relay(confirmation of this would also be good!!). My main issue is, however, where are the relays!!! I can't find them and in the owners manual it refers any issue to the dealer. Surely a plug in item like a relay doesn't require a trip to the dealer??

Cheers!! :)

[Loren]

That sounds correct.

The seat heater control unit is 996.618.521.00.

They are the same on both sides so you should be able to swap them and verify that it is the problem.

[1schoir]

I hope someone can help. Partly a silly question. The passenger heated seat on my '97- 996C2 switches on but I can't switch it off until the ignition is turned off. I checked the switch and it is fine. I am assuming that there is a problem with the relay(confirmation of this would also be good!!). My main issue is, however, where are the relays!!! I can't find them and in the owners manual it refers any issue to the dealer. Surely a plug in item like a relay doesn't require a trip to the dealer??

Cheers!! :)

Nic:

There is one slight difference between the passenger's and the driver's side, in that the metal bracket that is snapped onto the side of the relay (part #3 in the diagram provided by Loren) is mounted as a mirror image to itself between both sides). You will find the relay under the seat about halfway between the front and rear edge of the seat bottom, at the outboard side. To remove the relay, aside from disconnecting its electrical connector, you must press out the plastic pin that is in the middle of the plastic rivet (part #4) that holds the bracket to the seat frame. The pin will fall into the foam rubber under the seat, but you can easily retrieve it as it is re-usable.

There is no need to take the whole seat out of the car, you can just lean it back after removing the four bolts that hold the seat brackets to the floor. If you do decide to take the seat out, be sure to turn the ignition off and remove the key from the ingitin before you disconnect the main electrical connector under the seat so as to avoid setting off the airbag light.

I had the same symptoms in my '97 Boxster and replacing the relay fixed the problem.

Regards, Maurice.

[nic996]

Brilliant!! Thanks to both of you for the replies!!

I will try and find some time to extract the part and take a trip to the dealer this week. Hopefully that should stop my girlfriend complaining in the cold mornings... well partly stop, perhaps there is a Porsche part no for miracles too :P

:renntech: