GMC Repair: Seat Heater Diagnostic, air bag deployment, sir system

Question
QUESTION: Tim,
I have a 2002 Denali. The driver side seat heater has quit working. I have read some earlier posts in which you offer a diagnostic to trouble-shoot the system. Can you still provide that?

ANSWER: more than likely you have a burned out seat heater, you will need to remove the seat from the truck,  remove the seat cover material to access the heating element.  I can provide step by step instructions, but be aware it is not an easy task especially if you have never taken a seat apart before

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QUESTION: My hobby is restoring cars ('63 Pontiac, '65 Austin Healey, '71 GMC), so I am comfortable with the idea of taking the seat apart.

Answer
Caution: This vehicle is equipped with a Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) System. Failure to follow the correct procedure could cause the following conditions:

  •  Air bag deployment

  •  Personal injury

  •  Unnecessary SIR system repairs

In order to avoid the above conditions, observe the following guidelines:
  •  Refer to SIR Component Views in order to determine if you are performing service on or near the SIR components or the SIR wiring.

  •  If you are performing service on or near the SIR components or the SIR wiring, disable the SIR system. Refer to Disabling the SIR System.


If equipped with side air bags, disable the air bag module. Refer to Disabling the SIR System in SIR.
Remove the head restraint. Refer to Head Restraint Replacement .
Remove the seat trim panel. Refer to Front Seat Trim Panel Replacement .



Remove the outboard seat belt anchor nut. Pull the seat belt through the seat cushion.
Disengage the J-strip retainer on the bottom of the seat back cover.
Disconnect the heater seat element connector, if equipped.



Using a side motion, carefully lift the seat back cover partially off the foam pad in order to access the arm rest clip.
Remove the armrest, if equipped. Refer to Front Seat Armrest Replacement .
Using a flat bladed tool lift the seat cover over the air bag cover.
Remove the seat cover to the top of the seat.



Disengage the panel fasteners in order to remove the rear cardboard panel.
Unclip the head restraint retainers. Refer to Front Seat Head Restraint Retainer Replacement .
Remove the bolts which retain the seat belt tower cover.



Remove the seat belt tower cover.
Pull the seat belt and the seat belt bezel through the opening in the seat cover.
Lift the remainder of the seat back cover off the foam pad.
Carefully remove the foam pad from the frame.
Installation Procedure
Attach the foam pad to the frame.



Install the seat belt tower.
Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in the Preface section.

Install the bolts which retain the seat belt tower cover.
Tighten
Tighten the bolts to 1.9 N·m (17 lb in).





Install the rear cardboard panel. Engage the panel fasteners.
Install the seat back cover partially onto the top of the frame.
Feed the seat belt and the seat belt bezel through the tower opening.
Install the arm rest clip.



Pull the rest of the cover down using a side-to-side motion.
Install the armrests, if equipped. Refer to Front Seat Armrest Replacement .
Install the head restraint retainers. Refer to Front Seat Head Restraint Retainer Replacement .
Fit the seat cover around the air bag cover.



Pull the seat belt down through the seat cushion and install the outboard seat belt anchor nut.
Tighten
Tighten the nut to 53 N·m (39 lb ft).

Install the seat trim panel. Refer to Front Seat Trim Panel Replacement .
Install the head restraints. Refer to Head Restraint Replacement .
Push on the seat cover. Ensure that the cover is retained by the velcro in the seat cushion.
Connect the J-strip at the bottom of the seat.
If equipped with side air bags, enable the air bag module. Refer to Enabling the SIR System in SIR.