Front Seat Cooling

[Bobodude]

Hi, we're new to the forum and happy to be here. Just picked up our new 2016 MKX Reserve Trim Lincoln and we love it. Having some issues right out of the gate. One issue is the front seat cooling. We noticed that after a week, the passenger cooling seemed to deminish considerably all on its own. Don't have a Lincoln dealer in our area (bought the car at our nearest Lincoln dealer 380 miles from home) so we took it into a local Ford dealership. They checked the seat and reported everything ok. Didn't like that answer so I made a call to purchasing Lincoln dealer and talked to the service manager. What a wealth of knowledge. He explained to me the operation of the seat cooling. I thought there was a cooling element in the seat or some duct work that connected to the main AC system. WRONG.

The cooling is achieved by a fan under the seat that draws in cool air from the floor area. You have to have the AC air blowing into the floor area, via the climate control on the Nav touch screen with NO obstructions under the seat and the engine running over 350 rpm. Seat cooling does not work unless the engine is running. Well when we picked up the car, our salesman thoughtfully had put the AC on with it blowing top and bottom vents. And I had not stuck the big fat First Aid bag under the passengers seat yet. Bingo. Wrong venting and big obstruction equals very little air flow and very little cooling. Thought you would like to know folks!

[akirby]

Not true - there is a peltier device that provides the heating and cooling with the fan.

[enigma-2]

Here's a nice discussion on how Ford/Lincoln seat cooling/heating works (and how to check for problems).

 

https://m.facebook.com/notes/fordpartscom/fordpartscom-parts-tip-stay-cool-know-about-climate-controlled-seats/223295744373477/

[akirby]

Can you paste it for those who can't get to facebook?

[enigma-2]

Tried and it appears that the text can't be selected for copying. It comes off the FordParts.com website and I don't have a subscription to that site. I'm using an Android and possibly it can be pulled by someone on a comouter.

 

Basically it's a description to ford mechanics on how the system works and how to troubleshoot. The main failure reiterated is that the airflow is blocked (dirty filter, clogged with dog hair, napkins, etc.).

Edited June 30, 2016 by enigma-2

[akirby]

Facebook is blocked on many corporate networks so that doesn't help.

[Adam]

Facebook is blocked on many corporate networks so that doesn't help.

Well how about giving the cause a little college-try, Mr. Long time IT professional and posting some useful information on the seat cooling mechanics?

 

Edit to add that I find you so darn irritating.

Edited June 30, 2016 by Adam

[akirby]

Well how about giving the cause a little college-try, Mr. Long time IT professional and posting some useful information on the seat cooling mechanics?

 

Edit to add that I find you so darn irritating.

 

How am I supposed to give it the old college try when MY employer blocks facebook?  You think I can/should hack firewalls?

 

If I was ABLE to do it myself I would have.  

 

And I find you just as irritating.

[akirby]

And assuming you have facebook access, you could have just as easily posted it rather than complain about me not posting it.

[enigma-2]

FordParts.com Parts Tip: stay cool: know about climate controlled seats.
July 22, 2011 at 3:11pm

 

 

Climate controlled seats have become an option of choice on high-end vehicles over the past few years. Vehicles equipped with these systems are now coming out from under the umbrella of manufacturer warranties and they represent a potential new profit stream for aftermarket repair facilities.

 

As with all new types of automotive systems, the first step in accurate diagnosis and service is to understand how these seats work. Let’s look at how Ford and Lincoln-Mercury climate controlled seats operate.
◾There is a thermo-electric device (TED) located within each front seat cushion and backrest.
◾The TED uses a ''Peltier'' circuit of P-type and N-type semiconductors connected in series using copper electrical conductors. Sandwiched between the semiconductors are insulating ceramic plates.
◾When current is applied to the TED, one side releases energy as heat, while the opposite side absorbs energy and gets cold.
◾By reversing the current flow, the hot and cold sides reverse.
◾The seat temperature is monitored and adjusted by a dual climate control module (DSCM).

 

Ford uses three different variations of these systems, so you will have to inspect the vehicle in order to identify its exact nomenclature.

 

During normal operation:
◾Cabin air is drawn through the seat fan motor and distributed to each of the TED modules located in the seat cushion and backrest.
◾The TEDs then heat or cool the air.
◾ The air is then directed into the foam pad surface.
◾Channels in the surface of the foam pad are used to distribute the air along the surface of the seat.
◾Once the system is activated, the DCSM controls the heating/cooling modes and the fan motor speed based on the control switch settings.

 

What steps can we take if a customer comes in with a climate controlled seat that’s not heating or cooling? Look for the following:
◾Does the seat indicator light on the Climate Controlled Seat Panel light up? If not, look for an issue in the power system.
◾Does the Message Center in the instrument panel indicate a climate control seat fault? If so, use a scan tool to retrieve codes from the DSCM.
◾Are the blower motors for each seat working?

 

In fact, blower motor issues are the most common source of climate controlled seat concerns. And in many cases the culprit is the filter on the motors.

 

Of course the filter is beneath the seat, so the napkins from the fast food chain that get kicked under the seat may get sucked into it. And if the vehicle owner is a pet lover, animal hair will accumulate there. So a filter inspection should be your first step.

 

Be aware that a restriction of airflow to the TED, may cause it to overheat. This will likely result in DTCs, and cause the seat to enter a recovery mode that disables the TED but runs the blower motor to cool it down. Once the airflow restriction is removed, the seat will resume normal operation.

 

Although there are other potential faults that can affect the operation of these seats, air filter concerns are by far the most common.  Service publications can help when diagnosing individual component or circuit faults, and be aware that when servicing these systems you will also have to interact with the supplemental restraint system.

 

Climate controlled seat technology varies between car manufactures, but as with all vehicle systems they will require service. Your understanding of these seats, in combination with your automotive service skills can make these seats a new source of profit!

 

[akirby]

Thanks enigma-2!   That's a great explanation.

[VBBoston]

We have this problem on our 2016 Lincoln MKX Black Label: the back of the front seats are warming and cooling and we can hear the fans blowing when the functions are turned on, but the bottoms of the seats are not warming nor cooling anymore. First, this happened to the front passenger seat, then a few months later - to driver's seat. What can be the problem? Are there 2 fans per seat and 1 of them failed or what? Any help would be much appreciated!

[akirby]

I believe there are 2 separate fans for each seat.

[VBBoston]

18 hours ago, akirby said:

I believe there are 2 separate fans for each seat.

Thank you. Are there part numbers for the failed bottom section fans and / or schematics of these seats?

[akirby]

2 hours ago, VBBoston said:

Thank you. Are there part numbers for the failed bottom section fans and / or schematics of these seats?

 

fordparts.com

[VBBoston]

Here it is if anyone else needs it: Part #: 19N550Ahttps://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/suspension/ride-control/blower-assy-vent-air-ccs-6396749-1

[VBBoston]

Unfortunately I checked the bottom fans on both front seats are blowing. And still no heating or cooling under my butt when seating on them. What else can be the problem? Any help would be much appreciated

[NOTMY911]

Check if the thermo-electric device getting power

[VBBoston]

5 hours ago, NOTMY911 said:

Check if the thermo-electric device getting power

Do you know how this part looks like and where it is installed?

[NOTMY911]

8 hours ago, VBBoston said:

Do you know how this part looks like and where it is installed?

 

 

From enigma-2 diagram (post # 10 above).

 

 

 

[NOTMY911]

Re-reading you post, if both front seats got the same problem (no heat/cooling but the fans work) I doubt that the problem is with the seats.  More likely what control the power to the TED.  I'm guessing that neither TED are getting power.

Edited October 31, 2019 by NOTMY911

[NOTMY911]

5 minutes ago, NOTMY911 said:

Re-reading you post, if both front seats got the same problem (no heat/cooling but the fans work) I doubt that the problem is with the seats.  More likely what control the power to the TED.  I'm guessing that none of the TEDs are getting power.

 

Edited October 31, 2019 by NOTMY911

[VBBoston]

But the back of the seats are cooling and heating

[NOTMY911]

6 hours ago, VBBoston said:

But the back of the seats are cooling and heating

 

OK back to check if the buttons thermo-electric device are getting power

[VBBoston]

Hello! So I replaced the fan/TED assemblies and still problem persists. Has anyone figured where is the physical location of seat cool / heat control module is on this vehicle (2016 MKX)? Under the passenger seat only positions control module and 110v power inverter, no seat climate control module.