Hey guys, just a quick question:

Wondering if any1 has ever experienced this or just knows how to fix it.

My driver's side seat warmer button will not illuminate with the rest of the interior driving lights. When the seat warmer is on (in either position) the light that indicates whether it is on high or low will light up but the actual button and outline of the seat will not light. The passenger side works fine.

Anyone know anything about this? anything about the light bulbs inside there and how to open/replace the bubl in the button itself?

I can take a picture if this explanation is not clear

Thanks!

 

I'd also like to know why the position can be on in two different positions, with no difference in either position.

 

one is supposed to be high and one is supposed to be low, at least that's what it says in the manual

 

As best I can tell from the FSM, the illumination bulb is built into the switch. There is no indication that the bulb is separately replaceable, but the only way to verify this is by checking with your dealer parts expert.

Do you have MT or AT?

 

AT.

If this has taught me anything it's always call at least 2 dealerships for any information or estimates.

I called my local infiniti dealership and talked to the service dept. I don't think parts opens till 9am.

Guy told me I would have to replace the whole switch and it would be around $100 installed.

That seemed a little ridiculous cause the labor is like 2 minutes, I have taken my center console apart many times.

After this I called an east coast dealership's parts dept because w/the time difference they would be open. Took the lady a while to dig up the info but the part is only $23.99!

Outrageously over quoted at my local dealership.

this afternoon I will pull the button and open it up to see if i can work out what's wrong with it, and if not I will have to order a new one but the price isn't too bad.

I have an AT and if i'm not mistaken the buttons are the same ones that are in 350z's and maximas, so I am thinking I will go talk to the nissan parts dept and see what price they come up with.


thanks for checking the FSM, and that is what the "parts expert" confirmed but they usually don't have a clue beyond what some crappy diagram tells them.

 

Mine stopped working for about a month, then magically went back on. During the time it was out, I did some research and found out that the bulb is not replaceable. $24 is about the price I found as well. You have to replace the whole switch. It is VERY easy to do.

 

The dealer is just quoting the minimum labor charge. Just buy the switch and do it yourself if the light bothers you....

 

yeah i know it's easy as i said i have taken them out many times to custom paint my center console pieces, etc.

How did you "research it"? did you open up the switch yourself or just go off what the parts people told you?

Funny that in your case it went back on, this is making me believe maybe the problem is caused by moisture and once it dried up started working again. I did have to wipe my buttons down with some paint thinner recently to remove a bit of overspray from painting and this could have caused some moisture to get inside the switch, funny though how the "on/off" lights are still working.

 

I mean it is more or less "impossible" for the bulb to be unreplaceable, it may take some soldering or something but it should def. be replaceable somehow

 

I pulled out the switch, and it is pretty much a sealed unit. I also have the shop manual, and it does not indicate any way to replace the bulb. I also searched the internet trying to find a bulb that I might be able to replace it with. I didn't want to f*ck with the unit, as it is only $24 to replace. Hey, go for it. I was just giving you my experience. Missed the part about how you pulled the console out already.

 

sure thanks for the info. I am going to try to open it since i dont think I will break it any more than it already is.

I don't think the shop manual is going to give instructions to replace this unit because the shops time is clearly worth more than the value of the replacement switch. I still think there has to be some way to fix it, just as it had to be constructed somehow. it is probably glued shut so hitting it with the heatgun may help me get in

 

Well, keep me posted just in case mine craps the barrel again. My friggin dimmer switch light is doing the same thing. You know, you could probably have the dealer replace it under warranty. Bulbs shouldn't be burning out yet on these cars.

 

your right if I was still covered under warranty =}

i have over 61000 miles now.
I do have an extended warranty and I will see if this stuff is covered.

 

Mine went out.. took it to the dealer and they replaced it... now one is brighter than the other LoL

 

Lol!