Description And Operation
DESCRIPTION
The heated steering wheel system is designed to enhance the thermal comfort of the driver by heating the steering wheel, when desired. The steering wheel heating element is made of copper wire and is sandwiched between the leather and the substrate material of the steering wheel. A vehicle with a heated steering wheel can easily be identified by the heated steering wheel switch located in the Uconnect® touch screen, at the center of the instrument panel. When the heated steering wheel switch is pressed to activate the system, the heated steering wheel switch illuminates and an International Standards Organization (ISO) symbol appears in the Uconnect® touch screen.
The heated steering wheel system consists of the following major components:
| 1. | Refer to HEATED STEERING WHEEL . |
| 2. | Refer to HEATED STEERING WHEEL SWITCH - The switch is located in the Uconnect® touch screen. |
| 3. | Refer to COMFORT SEAT AND WHEEL MODULE (CSWM) - The CSWM is located beneath the passenger front seat. |
OPERATION
| Refer to COMPONENT INDEX . |
- The CSWM provides power to the heated steering wheel heating elements in the steering wheel. This output passes through the Steering Column Control Module (SCCM).
- The SCCM is the interface between the heated steering wheel and the vehicle.
- Body Control Module (BCM) gates messages between the Controller Area Network - Chassis (CAN-C) bus and the CAN - Interior High Speed (CAN-IHS) bus. Additionally, the BCM provides vehicle information to the CSWM.
- A thermistor sensor feedback from the heated steering wheel element to the CSWM is used to regulate the heat output to prevent the heated steering wheel temperature from rising above the set points.
- The heated steering wheel system will only operate when the vehicle engine is running, approximately (RPM > 400).
- The CSWM will automatically transition the output from ON to OFF after a period of 80 minutes has elapsed.
| Refer to COMPONENT INDEX . |
The heated steering wheel system is designed to enhance the thermal comfort of the driver by heating the steering wheel, when desired. The steering wheel heating element is made of copper wire and is sandwiched between the leather and the substrate material of the steering wheel. A vehicle with a heated steering wheel can easily be identified by the heated steering wheel switch located in the U-Connect Touch ™ screen module, at the center of the instrument panel.
The heated steering wheel heating element can not be serviced by itself. If diagnostics leads to the element needing to be replaced, the steering wheel itself must be replaced.
| Refer to COMPONENT INDEX . |
- Once the switch is pressed, the switch will illuminate and an International Standards Organization (ISO) symbol appears in the Uconnect® touch screen, indicating that the heating element in the steering wheel is operating.
- Pressing the switch while the heated steering wheel is ON, will turn the heating steering wheel OFF.
- When the heated steering wheel switch is pressed and a fault is present in the heated steering wheel system, the switch will illuminate for two seconds and then immediately turn OFF.
- The heated steering wheel switch, located in the Uconnect® touch screen, cannot be adjusted or repaired. If a heated steering wheel switch or indicator lamp is inoperative or damaged, the entire Uconnect® touch screen must be replaced.
Steering Wheel Thermistor Feedback
- The steering wheel switch receives the steering wheel thermistor data from the heated steering wheel.
- The steering wheel switch transmits the steering wheel thermistor data signal via a Local Interface Network (LIN) bus to the BCM.
- The BCM transmits the steering wheel thermistor data signal to the CSWM on the CAN-IHS bus.
- When the CSWM heated steering wheel output is ON, if the thermistor feedback exceeds 50°C (122°F), the CSWM will immediately turn the heated steering wheel output OFF.
Auto ON Feature
- The "Auto ON" feature is a customer configurable feature that, when enabled, will activate the driver heated seat and heated steering wheel on engine start based on ambient temperature.
- If Auto ON feature is enabled, and the ambient temperature is at or below 4°C (40°F), the CSWM will activate the driver heated seat and heated steering wheel feature at the high level after engine start.
- This feature also works with Remote Start.
The heated steering wheel system is diagnosed using a scan tool. Refer to DIAGNOSTIC CODE INDEX . The steering wheel heating element is not serviced separately from the steering wheel and if inoperative or damaged, the entire steering wheel assembly must be replaced. Refer to WHEEL, STEERING, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .