Heated Seats & Steering Wheel Stopped Working

[WamTwuk]

Hey Friends, I’m brand new here but unfortunately the Facebook groups weren’t helpful so I finally pulled the trigger and joined the dark side (I hear you guys have cookies?)

Anyways, I removed the interior of my truck to sound deaden a few weeks ago. I removed the seats, center console, and headliner. I DID NOT remove the dash.

Temps dropped to the 30’s this week in Florida so I went to kick on my heated seats and steering wheel, and nothings happening.

When I press the physical buttons on the dash, the red light is not coming on. When I use the head unit, I get the red circle indicating that I’m pressing that virtual button but still nothing is happening.

I check fuse F36 and there is no visible discoloration, and the fuse itself doesn’t have any obvious breaks.

Everything was working fine before I removed the interior which leads me to believe that I either didn’t reconnect something or I may have impacted a ground location in the sound deadening process.

Any recommendations for where to trouble shoot next would be greatly appreciated!

I’ve included all the photos I have from having the full interior out in hopes that someone might see something useful.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Not sure why the steering wheel would stop working, unless it works off the same module as the seats. My first guess would be something didn't get plugged back in or a connector isnt fully seated.

 

[WamTwuk]

Not sure why the steering wheel would stop working, unless it works off the same module as the seats. My first guess would be something didn't get plugged back in or a connector isnt fully seated.

I don’t disagree with you. Based on the research I’ve done, everything is controlled through the heated feature module under the passenger seat. I didn’t do anything with this module. The only thing unplugged on the passenger seat is the big, main yellow plug.

The only other thing I can think of is that I did disconnect this ground wire to add deadening and I’m wondering if maybe I disturbed this ground? But I would like someone who knows more than me to confirm that’s a possibility before I completely remove the front seats and center console again.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Did you by chance turn the ignition on while the seats were not connected?

I know you are supposed to reset the weight sensors in the seats if you remove them. Might be something similar for the heated seats.

 

[2025 Ram Limited]

Remove everything one at a time and check the connections, reinstall and turn on the heating. Do one thing at a time to see if that narrows it down.

 

[kapinallinen2]

What MY is your truck? My 2019 does not show F36 in the circuit.
It has F03 and F13, both 20 amp. and F34 for cooled seats.

 

[WamTwuk]

Did you by chance turn the ignition on while the seats were not connected?

I know you are supposed to reset the weight sensors in the seats if you remove them. Might be something similar for the heated seats.

It’s honestly a very real possibility that I at least cycled the ignition with the passenger seat out.

What MY is your truck? My 2019 does not show F36 in the circuit.
It has F03 and F13, both 20 amp. and F34 for cooled seats.

2020 Ram 1500 Big Horn, sorry should have been the first thing I said

 

[kapinallinen2]

unless it works off the same module as the seats.

Powered from same module AFAIK.

 

[kapinallinen2]

It’s honestly a very real possibility that I at least cycled the ignition with the passenger seat out.

2020 Ram 1500 Big Horn, sorry should have been the first thing I said

Should? be the same as my 2019.
I am looking up the ground G916A to see if that is the one pictured. If so, then a good possibility for causing your dilemma.
It is also very possible that there is something going on with the connector to the comfort seat module.
Would post a screen shot of the schematic, but the resolution suffers to he point that it is unreadable.

 

[Eighty]

On the 2020 DT, the steering wheel heater module is powered by fuse F14 on the Internal Power Distribution Center.

 

[kapinallinen2]

G916A, ground for the heated seat module is located in the right front kick panel.
Not sure what the one you pictured is for.

 

[kapinallinen2]

On a 2019 the F14 is one of the 3 fuses powering the module.

 

[kapinallinen2]

I will give this a try, usually the resolution blows...

 

[kapinallinen2]

And some boring reading.

“In addition to operating the heated seat elements, the heated seat module sends LED illumination messages to the IPC. The IPC then sends the LED illumination message to the Integrated Center Stack (ICS) so that the appropriate LEDs are illuminated for any given heating level LO, Medium, or HI.”

“The CSWM is a microcontroller designed to use the CAN-IHS data bus messages from the heated/vented seat switches. The BCM receives inputs from the heated/vented seat switches and in turn, signals the CSWM to operate the heated/vented seat elements or motors for both front seats.

Inputs



Vehicle Interior temperature from the HVAC module

Ignition State from BCM

Ambient Air Temperature from BCM

Vehicle Configuration from BCM

Left front heated/vented switch request gated from BCM

Right front heated/vented switch request gated from BCM

Remote Start status gated from BCM

Engine run state gated from BCM



Outputs



Left front heated status

Right front heated status

Left front vented status

Right front vented status



Hardwire



Left front heated seat switch to pad/cushion

Right front heated seat switch to pad/cushion

Left front vented seat switch to pad/cushion

Right front vented seat switch to pad/cushion

Heated Steering Wheel feed command

Heated Steering Wheel feed return”