[Kendive]

I think you're exactly correct. I'm going to try to take my cover off this weekend and snap some pictures. I'm hoping somebody smarter than me can offer up a suggestion on fixing the problem. Somebody already insulation tape or heat shield. I'll see if that's an option ones I'm in there.

Looking forward to seeing the pictures...

 

[Jeepentj]

I was finally able to take the seat apart and snap some pictures of the innards. After playing with it and seeing how it works, here are my thoughts:

1) You can feel the warm air coming out of the exhaust of the motor. It comes out across a copper looking heatsink intended to cool the air. If it's cooling the air, it's doing a poor job of it.
2) Ford told me I could not disconnect the "lumbar cooler" without turning off the butt cooler. They said it was one motor controlling the entire system. Wrong. There are clearly two. I can easily disconnect the lumbar cooler and say goodbye to the hot air. I can also say goodbye to the heater in the winter.
3) After seeing the seats in action, I don't think insulation tape or a heat shield would work because the exhaust does push the air away from the seat, it just has no where to go.
4) In the map pocket, there is a cutout that has foam. This combined with the pinholes in the "upper" section of the rear of the seat are intended to be the exhaust areas for the fan. My theory is they simply don't allow enough air to escape.
5) I also think the intake is too close to the exhaust. And because of this the fan is simply pulling in the air it's exhausting, which is of course warm.

Anyway, these are my thoughts and some or all of them could be wrong... Here are the pictures. What do you all think?

Here's a picture of the full setup.

Here is a picture of the motor.

And here is a picture of the heatsink located near the exhaust of the motor.

David

 

[sven1olaf]

Without proper removal of the exhaust air, this setup is like taking an air conditioning unit out of a window and sticking it in the middle of a room. There will be some cold air, but the warm air will win.

Ford needs to come up with a TSB to deal with the ventilation, pronto

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[Jeepentj]

I performed a test I want to share with the group. I took a couple of chip holders, rolled up my seat so the instake and exhaust didn't have to "fight" through the leather on the seats and drove around. What an amazing difference! The seats blew significantly more air - I mean night and day difference. Here's a picture of my hi-tech fix.

Given all the coolers really do is blow air, I'm wondering if the problem stems from the intake (the cooler has to work too hard to pull air), exhaust (the hot air can't escape and is recycled into the intake) or both. My guess is it's both. I would love to see a TSB for this but the dealership told me this design came out of the Explorer (or maybe the Escape) so it's likely not going anywhere.

I think the fix lies in allowing the cooler to breathe more easily and routing the exhaust out of the seat. The problem is I don't know how to do that without cutting into the seat. Not super excited to do that to a new truck.

 

[RossD583]

My question is how did they do it in the 2013 F150's. Because it worked a lot better than my 2015 does.

 

[Red whoosh]

My question is how did they do it in the 2013 F150's. Because it worked a lot better than my 2015 does.

The previous generation seats were/are far more substantial and one of the things that I truly miss!

 

[Jeepentj]

I have another update. I "unrolled" the seat and connected it to the base but left it unzipped. The theory was that with it unzipped, the intake would be able to more easily pull in the air and the exhaust would more easily be able to get rid of it. In other words, I was hoping the performance would still be better than the stock design. Unfortunately, it wasn't. There is a huge pocket of hot air in the middle of the seat that just isn't leaving the area.

Given I can't really drive around with the back of my seat rolled up, I think I'm just going to unplug the lumbar cooler and go without. Frankly, I think this is a crappy solution for a +$50k vehicle but with it being 110 in Arizona, I don't need more heat on my back. I'm hoping Ford does something to address this.

 

[Ezilch]

My new 2015 F150 is having the exact same issue. The back temp increases the longer the coolant is on. Brought it to the dealership and they explained that it is working as designed. Gave me the Ford Customer Service number to call and they put me in touch with a Field Rep / Customer Service Manager for Ford named Ron. This guy clearly could care less about the issue. He said that because the other Fords were experiencing the same issue it was performing as designed.

Normally, I can see past an issue but this is so incredibly noticeable - I'm shocked by Fords response to this issue and this will be the last in my long line of F150's and Ford products.

 

[Marvin]

"Performing as designed" means, in essence, "Our design was $hit and you should therefore not expect it to work worth $hit. Thanks of ponying up for that option."

 

[AzPlatinumEB]

Take a look at these posts.....especially #213 & 215....looks like some field techs are actually FINDING what the problem might be...HOORAY...mine is in transit but maybe a fix is on the horizon.....

Cooling Seats - Are Your Seat Backs Working Properly? - Page 22 - Ford F150 Forum - Community of Ford Truck Fans

 

[Jeepentj]

Hallelujah!!! Although it's very far from a fix, it's great to see all the activity in another forum regarding the same topic. Given power is in numbers, I'm feeling better about things. Now, we just need Ford to step up. I am going to add my notes into the other thread.

 

[AzPlatinumEB]

Hallelujah!!! Although it's very far from a fix, it's great to see all the activity in another forum regarding the same topic. Given power is in numbers, I'm feeling better about things. Now, we just need Ford to step up. I am going to add my notes into the other thread.

Thanks for adding your info there....I spend the time wating for my Patinum to arrive looking across all the info I can find....put a link to this forum over there so we could mount some strength in numbers

Hope mine arrives on the 17th with the seat issue fixed on the line...smile

 

[Jeepentj]

For those of you experiencing this issue, please add your experience to this thread too. I realize it's another forum but it's 26 pages long (meaning there is a lot of activity around the topic). Also, please PM your information to the Ford rep (the details are in the thread). I did so and received a call from Ford the next day. Customer Service asked me to take my truck in to have it looked at (even though I've already done this once). This time they are going to follow-up on it because she indicated "we are hearing more of this issue being reported." We HAVE to report it! Posting online isn't enough (but it helps!).

Cooling Seats - Are Your Seat Backs Working Properly? - Ford F150 Forum - Community of Ford Truck Fans

 

[AzPlatinumEB]

Many of us with concerns about this issue have started reaching out to media etc. to be heard.....I myself sent a lenghtly message to Motoreek as they ae aout to do a revien the 2015s.....see link below....good news is that momentum is picking up on putting pressure on Ford.....so sad we have to do that!!

Cooling Seats - Are Your Seat Backs Working Properly? - Page 30 - Ford F150 Forum - Community of Ford Truck Fans

 

[rtraviator]

Three hour trip yesterday seat bottoms were absolutely fantastic, seat back absolutely horrible. Had one of my grandsons in the back and he said he felt heat coming off the back of the seat.

 

[Dave Sheehan]

Ok..this is what i found with my truck...My seat back worked till i played with the massage and lumbar stuff...then i saw this post and realized that there was a problem..i opened up the seat and found several things the big one being its a plain crappy design next the rubber accordion duct for the cold air was pulled free from the grommet in the seatback...So no cold air going where its needed..i RTVed it back on and put on a new tie wrap and let it sit over night...Next thing is when the seat is ealed up the intake pulls air from the same space as the hot air...its like putting an AC unit in the middle of a room..not too smaht as they say here in the Boston area..the unit has 1 intake and fan that blows air over the cool side and the heatsink side...thats all cool and all but it gets overwhelmed pretty quick...cancels its self out..SO i had 1/16 thick Thermo cool insulation thats self adhesive...got a dishwasher overflow hose thats flexible and completely insulated that area from the rest of the seat and made the intake go to under the seat and the exhaust the other side under the seat...now its perfect ...I would NEVER let any dealer techs mess with my stuff and from what im reading it will be some time before they can figure this out...thats what i did and ill be doing the passenger seat soon

 

[Maven1129]

Ok..this is what i found with my truck...My seat back worked till i played with the massage and lumbar stuff...then i saw this post and realized that there was a problem..i opened up the seat and found several things the big one being its a plain crappy design next the rubber accordion duct for the cold air was pulled free from the grommet in the seatback...So no cold air going where its needed..i RTVed it back on and put on a new tie wrap and let it sit over night...Next thing is when the seat is ealed up the intake pulls air from the same space as the hot air...its like putting an AC unit in the middle of a room..not too smaht as they say here in the Boston area..the unit has 1 intake and fan that blows air over the cool side and the heatsink side...thats all cool and all but it gets overwhelmed pretty quick...cancels its self out..SO i had 1/16 thick Thermo cool insulation thats self adhesive...got a dishwasher overflow hose thats flexible and completely insulated that area from the rest of the seat and made the intake go to under the seat and the exhaust the other side under the seat...now its perfect ...I would NEVER let any dealer techs mess with my stuff and from what im reading it will be some time before they can figure this out...thats what i did and ill be doing the passenger seat soon

Any chance for some pics of the setup?

 

[Jeepentj]

Yes, pics please!!!

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

 

[Dave Sheehan]

here are a couple of shots...i didnt do a step by step as i was winging it...if your 1/2 way mechanically inclined this is Hot Rodding 101 and you'll see as you go...


I insulated everything that looked like it needed it...you can feel the hot air blowing out of tube and if you wet your finger and put it over the intake you can feel it get cool from air pulling by it...it works good...the seat back does not get as frosty as the seat bottom but its not getting hot and between them both its comfortable...you can get the insulation from Summit or Jegs...its pretty sticky and solid once its in there and the seats moving around so it should be good for the long run

 

[Dave Sheehan]

You can not feel any warmth from the setback leather now at all...im going to Lowes in a bit to get a temp gun ..im pretty sure the Passenger seat is messed up too so i can get a diffrence between the 2