4th Gen Ram Tech 2009 - 2018 Rams and the 2019 Ram Classic: This section is for TECHNICAL discussions only, that involve the 2009 - 2018 Rams and the 2019 Ram Classic. For any non-tech discussions, please direct your attention to the "General discussion/NON-tech" sub sections.

Ventilated Seat Question

Old Sep 26, 2009 | 08:08 PM
  #1  
Mepsgod's Avatar
Mepsgod
Thread Starter
|
Amateur
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, NC
Cool Ventilated Seat Question

I have the ventilated seats and it feels like the cool air comes out of the seat back fine, however, the seat cushion no longer feels like cool air is coming out of it. It feels the same with or without the a/c on. I will have the dealer look at it on the next visit. I just wanted to know if anyone else may have had the same problem? I am sure the hot seats jokes will follow the great comments. Thanks in advance for the comments.
 
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2009 | 09:58 PM
  #2  
Cal'sFirstRam's Avatar
Cal'sFirstRam
Amateur
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
Default Same Issue

I thought it was just me....But a few months back...I noticed this also. The back does fine, but the seat doesn't feel like its doing anything. I was going to get in the passenger seat and check it out and see the difference...just haven't had time...No one sits in that seat, so I figured I would experiment.
 
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2009 | 10:09 PM
  #3  
Thatmarkguy's Avatar
Thatmarkguy
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Beautiful San Dimas, California
Default

The ventilated seats just blow air, the A/C isn't vented to the seat so it's just air.

After being in another car that has ventilated seats, such as a Lexus or a BMW, these seats are a poor excuse - there's almost no airflow, it just sounds like a jet spooling its turbines in the background, but you can feel the hum of the blower. There's no way to change the temperature, just ambient air, and very little of it, which doesn't do any good on a hot day.
 
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2009 | 12:44 AM
  #4  
Shumdit's Avatar
Shumdit
Professional
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Thatmarkguy
The ventilated seats just blow air, the A/C isn't vented to the seat so it's just air.

After being in another car that has ventilated seats, such as a Lexus or a BMW, these seats are a poor excuse - there's almost no airflow, it just sounds like a jet spooling its turbines in the background, but you can feel the hum of the blower. There's no way to change the temperature, just ambient air, and very little of it, which doesn't do any good on a hot day.
I disagree. #1, this is not a BMW or Lexus, so that's possibly an unfair comparision, but I get a tangible difference in the seat cooling and heating with those seats. I am pretty impressed with them. The other thing to remember is that the bottom has a harder time getting airflow since you are putting well over 100 lbs over pressure on the seat bottom on average, and on the seatback it's probably only a quarter of that. To the original poster, I think you also do not have the seat operation concept down. The seats do not Blow, they Suck (no pun intended! ) . They draw air through the seat, so you will not feel them blowing any air out.
 
Reply
Old Sep 27, 2009 | 08:51 AM
  #5  
Mepsgod's Avatar
Mepsgod
Thread Starter
|
Amateur
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, NC
Default

Not sure if it draws air in or blows it out. I feel a blowing sensation in the back part of the seat when I lean forward a little bit. It obviously feels cooler when the a/c is on and is getting the cooler air from the truck cabin. I can't seem to feel anything in the seat cushion part like I did when I first purchased the truck. Either it is not working properly or as suggested my weight is not allowing it to escape any more. I will do the passenger seat experiment later today.

Sorry for the delayed response. The lower seat part had a wire disconnected so the fans could not operate. Of course the service writer wanted to know what I had placed under the seat, to cause the wire to disconnect. He and I went round and round until the mechanic told him that the wire was really up into the seat and nothing placed under the seat would have touched the wire due to it's placement. After feeling vindicated just had a laugh with the service writer. Seat works fine and use it every day.
 

Last edited by Mepsgod; Aug 15, 2010 at 02:20 PM. Reason: Update
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2009 | 10:54 AM
  #6  
Shumdit's Avatar
Shumdit
Professional
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Mepsgod
Not sure if it draws air in or blows it out. I feel a blowing sensation in the back part of the seat when I lean forward a little bit. It obviously feels cooler when the a/c is on and is getting the cooler air from the truck cabin. I can't seem to feel anything in the seat cushion part like I did when I first purchased the truck. Either it is not working properly or as suggested my weight is not allowing it to escape any more. I will do the passenger seat experiment later today.
I am sure it draws air through, not blows air out. This is how all of the vented seats I have ever used operate and I know for certain the ones in the Ram operate this way. If you want to test it, get a piece of saran wrap and put it on the seat back with the seats on-then turn them off and wait a few seconds. That should show you. The heavier you are and the more dense the fabric you are wearing (most peoples shorts or pants are of a heavier denser fabric than their shirts), plus the additonal compression of the clothing from your weight pressing down all work against allowing as much airflow through the seat. It's also possible the seat gets some "dishing" from your butt and this also adds to the airflow restriction.
 
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 01:16 PM
  #7  
Hop's Avatar
Hop
Professional
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena, TX
Default

They draw air thru the seat. Three are two fans per seat as well. One for the back and one for the bottom.
I've noticed a lack of cooling from the bottom as well. I think it was to do with the preferations in the seat cover closing up over time. They still get cold. Crank the A/C and you can still feel it. I use mine every time I'm in the truck. I kind of wish they would have ducted air from the a/c into them. I set my A/C to floor and vent mode. There is a vent on the floor, under the front seats that supplys air for the back seats. I've thought about trying to make a duct of some sort that would redirect the air to blow on the bottom of the seat. That would make it nice and cool!
--Hop
 
Reply
Old Sep 29, 2009 | 02:26 PM
  #8  
HemiRAMV8's Avatar
HemiRAMV8
Professional
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: GA
Default

I actually find the reverse is true. The seat back cooling is useless while simultaneously freezing my a$$ off. I get home after an hour's commute and my shirt is wet with sweat and my shorts are noticeably cold.
 
Reply
Old Jul 26, 2010 | 06:25 PM
  #9  
shoeatic's Avatar
shoeatic
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Sachse, TX
Default

Does anybody know if I can add the vented seats to my truck? I currently have cloth seats but am looking to add the perferated leather ones, and would love to add this feature.
 
Reply
Old Jul 26, 2010 | 07:38 PM
  #10  
BigBlueEdge's Avatar
BigBlueEdge
Record Breaker
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,387
Likes: 1
From: MN
Default

I know they are a lot more effective than the ones in my '03 Lincoln Aviator. And yes, they do suck air through the seat, not blow it.

Rob
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:51 PM.