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[aaronjb]

I used mine for the first time this morning - I noticed my back was just about on fire, but my arse was sadly cold

[TheBoy]

Elite heated LEATHER seat elements are part of the material. Imagine the Leather layed flat inside up, then the copper "wire" element laid directly on top in the desired pattern, then the seat foam and padding layered and glued directly on top of that again. There is no pad to remove, the element is effectively stitched and glued in as one.
 To remove the original wire the padding would have to be cut down to the element and the individual strand of wire chased out by hand. Likely leaving evidence of it from the surface in an electric blanket s shape covering the seat cover.

When repairing mine we(TB and I, you know what i'm like with sparks) noted
1 that the heated element is directly under the leather, so when it fails due to britlness and hence brekage in the individual strands of wire over time, the resistance is higher at that point, often over heating enough to mark the leather externally, and litterally scorch the internal padding black as if burnt by fire... And

2 that if fitting an aftermarket pad under leather, that removal of the old wire simply isnt practical and fitting a pad under Elite leather is very likely to give differant performamce as its simply not possible to fit a new pad at the samed depth/ditance from your arse as the original, as the padding is one with leather on the oe seat cover. So will take longer to heat up the occupiers arse or need higher temp or voltage(?) to give the same heat effect as the original with the ability to turn the heat down again once the desired heat level is reached.

Imo, if repairing heated elite leather seats, cut out and repair/solder/join the heated elememt itself where the scorching is, and do so knowing the whole process may very well need to be repeated if the element brakes again elsewhere. Sorry, but having seen how its made, i cant see hiw fitting a complete pad will work under an extra half inch of unremoveable seat padding given how long the oe current takes to warm up, esp when its so close the leather originally....Etc.

We should have done a Guide 

1) Is the passenger still not working?
and
2) If not, do you care, seeing as you never sit in it

[TheBoy]

I used mine for the first time this morning - I noticed my back was just about on fire, but my arse was sadly cold

All wireds in series, so if one bit fails, none of it works.

[aaronjb]

I used mine for the first time this morning - I noticed my back was just about on fire, but my arse was sadly cold

All wireds in series, so if one bit fails, none of it works.

Maybe it's just all the 'insulation' between the nerve endings and the leather, then.. 

[feeutfo]

good read above there Chrisgixer

there are no signs of the element being burnt out on the seat, leather looks to be all in good nick, no discolouration etc......

yeah, my pas side one has none either, well, a very slight distortion that may be a possible in the base. Scorching may well be visible once the cover removed on the white cloth material on the back. Depends how quickly it fails i guess? Or lets hope so, theres little hope of finding the brake if not. As said these are wired in series, so a brake anywhere, from base to back, in the circuit will cause failure, although shorting out the plugs can narrow down to base or back.

And TB, there is a guide already. Just need a couple of updates for Elite leather. Like, try to remove the head rest restraints first, difficult as the internal clip holding them has to be snapped off first, blind, in order to remove. And lumbar support knob is a pig, but rebuilding was easier with lumbar cable slipped off the top of the lumbar support itself. This "may" make removal easier, dont know until i do the pas side... At some point

I had to refit the pas side un repaired for mot.

Also, i wondered if its possible to repair the back with seat in situ...? Base obviously not.

[TheBoy]

good read above there Chrisgixer

there are no signs of the element being burnt out on the seat, leather looks to be all in good nick, no discolouration etc......

yeah, my pas side one has none either, well, a very slight distortion that may be a possible in the base. Scorching may well be visible once the cover removed on the white cloth material on the back. Depends how quickly it fails i guess? Or lets hope so, theres little hope of finding the brake if not. As said these are wired in series, so a brake anywhere, from base to back, in the circuit will cause failure, although shorting out the plugs can narrow down to base or back.

And TB, there is a guide already. Just need a couple of updates for Elite leather. Like, try to remove the head rest restraints first, difficult as the internal clip holding them has to be snapped off first, blind, in order to remove. And lumbar support knob is a pig, but rebuilding was easier with lumbar cable slipped off the top of the lumbar support itself. This "may" make removal easier, dont know until i do the pas side... At some point

I had to refit the pas side un repaired for mot.

Also, i wondered if its possible to repair the back with seat in situ...? Base obviously not.

Given its 5mins to remove, and always going to be fiddly in situ, not worth the effort IMHO

[TheBoy]

I have to do MV6 passenger side. Certain I know where, as I can see it

[gareth.]

My Daughter burned her upper arm on the back of the seat earlier on today, left a nasty red mark

Had no problems with other migs, but this is my first leather. Are the heated seats a problem on leather?

[feeutfo]

Not unless there's a problem with the element. Broken strands in the wire usually.