Town & Country V6-3.8L VIN L (2006)
Seat Heater: Description and Operation
Heated Seat Element
The heated seat system includes two seat heating elements in each front seat, one for the seat cushion and the other for the seat back. The two elements
for each seat are connected in parallel with the Heated Seat Module (HSM). The temperature sensor is a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC)
thermistor. One temperature sensor is used for each seat, and it is located on the seat cushion heating element for all models.
The seat heating elements are attached to the seat cushion foam and seat back foam units. The heated seat elements and the temperature sensor cannot be
adjusted or repaired and, if inoperative or damaged, the seat element assembly must be replaced.
The heated seat elements resist the flow of electrical current. When battery current is passed through the elements, the resistance of the elements to the
current flow is released in the form of heat. The temperature sensor is a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor. When the temperature of
the seat cushion cover rises, the resistance of the sensor decreases. The heated seat module supplies a five-volt signal to one side of each sensor, and
monitors the voltage drop through the sensor on a return circuit. The heated seat module uses this temperature sensor input to monitor the temperature of
the seat, and regulates the current flow to the seat heating elements accordingly.