Ventilated Seats
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
Not sure about the vent fan motors, I have never noticed mine slowing on the long road trips I have taken but I will check Friday.
Most seat heater elements are of the PTC variety (positive thermal coefficient) and these will reduce current draw and thus heat output as the element reaches design temperature regardless of the seat heat level setting. What this means in practice is that the level control can maintain a lower level of heat output but on the high setting the element itself can determine design maximum; this is a safety feature.
The only reason I could think of for the seat ventilation fan slowing down is that the motor itself is going into self protection mode because of internal temperature rise. Depending upon the level of sophistication a thermal protective sensor can be part of the fan speed control loop. I wouldn't expect fan slowdown due to internal heat to be an issue except under unusual conditions (such as very high ambient temperature or all airflow around the fan blocked). Or maybe the Z06 engine cooling system designer worked for Lear (designer/supplier for C7 seats) before coming over to GM design
Most seat heater elements are of the PTC variety (positive thermal coefficient) and these will reduce current draw and thus heat output as the element reaches design temperature regardless of the seat heat level setting. What this means in practice is that the level control can maintain a lower level of heat output but on the high setting the element itself can determine design maximum; this is a safety feature.
The only reason I could think of for the seat ventilation fan slowing down is that the motor itself is going into self protection mode because of internal temperature rise. Depending upon the level of sophistication a thermal protective sensor can be part of the fan speed control loop. I wouldn't expect fan slowdown due to internal heat to be an issue except under unusual conditions (such as very high ambient temperature or all airflow around the fan blocked). Or maybe the Z06 engine cooling system designer worked for Lear (designer/supplier for C7 seats) before coming over to GM design
Last edited by NSC5; Jul 27, 2017 at 11:57 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,884
Likes: 2,887
From: Toronto
Mine does this too. It blows high then comes down a bit after a few seconds. Reminds me of those fans in old desktop computers.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 329
Likes: 54
One thing I learned though was to NEVER fart with the seat ventilators on. If you fart with them on and don't immediately regret it, there may in fact be something wrong with your seat ventilators.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,022
Likes: 2,715
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,845
Likes: 521
From: Eastern WA
You will notice the fan slow down within a few seconds of pushing the fan on button. Its easier to notice if you do it when parked and exhaust on quite so you can hear the fan. Please check and let us know if all the cars do this so we can speculate if it is normal.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,854
Likes: 535
105° today
20 minute ride with roof off
Ventilated seats on
No sweat on my lower back like I used to get with my 2007 C6.
VENTILATED SEATS ARE WORKING AS NEEDED.
20 minute ride with roof off
Ventilated seats on
No sweat on my lower back like I used to get with my 2007 C6.
VENTILATED SEATS ARE WORKING AS NEEDED.
Last edited by RedC7AZ; Jul 27, 2017 at 03:50 PM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Rattlesnake, FL
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,022
Likes: 2,715
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
My wife didn't know about the ventilated seats. One hot and sunny day we were driving along and she said the interior felt hot regardless of what temperature she selected for her side.
So I turned on her ventilated seat. She said "Oooh" and "Aahh" a couple of times, then turned to me and said "It feels like I just wet my pants!"
So I turned on her ventilated seat. She said "Oooh" and "Aahh" a couple of times, then turned to me and said "It feels like I just wet my pants!"
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,387
Likes: 150
From: Texas
My 2014 Corvette ventilated seats werent working but were still under basic warranty. Took it in and was told my car had TOO MUCH freon in air conditioner system. They bled off some of the Freon and my seats started cooling ---very weird.
Last edited by AttyVette; Jul 30, 2017 at 10:11 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,706
Likes: 552
From: St. Peters MO
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
Now that is the weirdest diagnoses for a ventilated seat i've ever heard of. I can't comprehend how that would make a difference.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,960
Likes: 1,106
Too bad GM didn't provide feed ducts from the HVAC system to beneath the seats to provide cooler air feeding the seat fans because that would make them far more effective. Ventilated (rather than cooled) seats can work very well if they have a good source of chilled air but just blowing ambient temperature (or likely above average cabin ambient given the heat sources in a C7) isn't very effective.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,845
Likes: 521
From: Eastern WA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,372
Likes: 227
From: N Cal
As far as proper maintenance, I have my own shop and all my cars are probably over maintenanced. Been doing this for over 45 years, and I am not old!
Last edited by l2vette; Jul 31, 2017 at 01:11 PM.
