Heated seat element

Hi all,
Freelander 1 54 plated TD4. Any idea as how to change the leather seat heating element?

Back rest or base? Back rest is easier than the base. The seat base isn's so easy but it's doable at home if you have time.
Basically you have to strip of the leather cover to gain access to the elements.
It's definitely worth measuring the elements resistance before ripping the seat apart

Thanks, its the base. Will give it a shot. Do I have to remove the seat?

Uttamt said:

Thanks, its the base. Will give it a shot. Do I have to remove the seat?

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I would. You'll struggle to get to the hog rings and clips if you don't take the seat out.

my passenger one wont heat up either, neither back or base yet the switch lights up....what could that be then ?

thebluemax said:

my passenger one wont heat up either, neither back or base yet the switch lights up....what could that be then ?

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Relay, wiring or elements.

yes..does the relay control both seats or individual ones as the driver side works ok ? got a feeling its the elements so will have to bung the multi meter on the plug at the seat end to find out.

The relays are under each seat.

Nodge68 said:

The relays are under each seat.

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how do you check the relay then ? what does it even look like, all I can see under the seat is the amp and a connector with a cable going up into the seat. again thanks for any info.

Didn't realize that there are individual relays under each seat. Let me check that before I attempt to change the element. In my case the passenger side seat heats up & driver side doesn't. Both the switches work fine.

Seems the relay is ok. Any idea as how to take the seat out?

Uttamt said:

Seems the relay is ok. Any idea as how to take the seat out?

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The seat is held in by 4 very obvious Torx bolts. If you a struggling to work out how to remove the seat, then you'd best leave replacing the elements to the professionals.

A bonus to read this as I have the same problem with my passenger seat.

going to have a go at this when I come back from france next week, although I'm working in the dark information wise.

Hmm...a video would have helped (guess asking for too much in life!). But will try to give it a shot soon.

Rimini-Scott said:

A bonus to read this as I have the same problem with my passenger seat.

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Didn't get a link to read.

Guys, the seat heating is all fine, tool it to an auto electronics pro nearby. Both the wires were out & didn't have to take the seats out as well. Seating element was ok. 30mins work for £20. Job done! Thanks for your post too.

Thanks for the heads up it made me go and look at mine today. I think I had the same problem as you so I took some pictures that might help others





In the first picture there is a black wire with a white end hanging down behind the largest white metal hoop, this was pushed through the circular hole in the seat base above it but it turned out it was not connected, once I pushed it back through and reconnected it the heated element fine, to stop it coming off again I put a cable tie round either end and one through the middle of both to prevent it coming off again.

Thanks for the pics. This seems to be a very common yet simple to rectify problem with Freelanders. The connectors seem to be not perfect. Will recommend anyone with a non working seat heating issue to check these cables first.