Heated Steering Wheel Seems to Turn On and Off

[BlackMav23]

My apologies if this is posted before but I couldn't find anything with a search...

Anyone else have the lux package and notice their heated wheel seems to turn off and heat back up periodically? Mine sort of fades in and out (dash button stays lit). Is this a safety feature? An error? It doesn't seem to be linked to auto start/stop.

Thanks in advance.

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[KevCuRaoi]

My apologies if this is posted before but I couldn't find anything with a search...

Anyone else have the lux package and notice their heated wheel seems to turn off and heat back up periodically? Mine sort of fades in and out (dash button stays lit). Is this a safety feature? An error? It doesn't seem to be linked to auto start/stop.

Thanks in advance.

It might reset if it gets too hot? I've noticed mine does that too.
I occasionally get DTC B135C:13 which relates to the heater element in the steering wheel:

This DTC sets when the heated steering wheel is commanded on and the SCCM senses current less than 1 amp on the steering wheel heating element output circuit for more than 1 second. This indicates an open circuit. When this fault sets, the steering wheel heating element output is disabled until the heated steering wheel is commanded ON while the engine is running. If the condition that caused the fault to set is still present, the SCCM will switch the steering wheel heating element output off within 1 second.​

Mine works when I want it too, so I'm not worried about it.

 

[Darnon]

It seems to be pretty normal operation that it runs at high current initially to warm up to operating temp and then drops down to a lower sustained current.

 

[jeffrol48197]

It also turns on and off between 82 and 94F , so it will fluctuate once initially warmed up...it's Friday, so cheers to all!!!

 

[jsus]

It doesn't work much differently than the heated seats, or your heating pad at home. Or even your furnace/AC at home for that matter. They cycle on and off, and generally stay on longer the first time versus subsequent activations.

 

[BlackMav23]

It also turns on and off between 82 and 94F , so it will fluctuate once initially warmed up...it's Friday, so cheers to all!!!

Makes sense. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't an issue with mine.

To be honest once I'm on the road and my hands are warmed I turn it off to save energy. It's just that initial thaw on cold January days. I can't be bothered to remember my gloves.

Anyone know if there's a way to prevent mirrors from coming on with remote start? Is that just an automatic on cold days? I've noticed there's no option in the menus. Then again it took me forever to see that I could scroll to enable the lane keeping options. Maybe something in Forscan? I plan on getting purchasing that anyway to enable Eco mode.

 

[Darnon]

Anyone know if there's a way to prevent mirrors from coming on with remote start? Is that just an automatic on cold days? I've noticed there's no option in the menus. Then again it took me forever to see that I could scroll to enable the lane keeping options. Maybe something in Forscan? I plan on getting purchasing that anyway to enable Eco mode.

The mirrors are just automatic. They turn on when starting normally too, and not even at particularly cold temps; <50F or thereabouts.

 

[BlackMav23]

The mirrors are just automatic. They turn on when starting normally too, and not even at particularly cold temps; <50F or thereabouts.

That's annoying. Do they have a timer or an auto off if I forget to turn them off?

Years ago I had a VW with a dial (on the left armrest) to select between driver mirror adjust/passenger mirror adjust/heated mirrors. Well if you forgot and left it on the heated setting the heating elements would burn out pretty quick.

I wonder if they work like the steering wheel wherein it cuts power after x time at x temp.

 

[SkeeterB]

It seems to be pretty normal operation that it runs at high current initially to warm up to operating temp and then drops down to a lower sustained current.

I agree, hot initially then warm.

 

[JPerata]

When the mirrors are being heated, the wipers are also being heated. safety feature. One of the many things Ford thought about.

 

[MaverickInMass]

I have found myself a bit disappointed in my wheel. I have a 23 Lariat Tremor with Lux Package. I find my wheel warm for the first two minutes or so, and then Luke warm at best from there on out. I’d say much of the time it’s hardly even noticeable that it’s on. My wife’s Telluride gets much warmer, and much more consistent. Because it initially kicks on for the first 2 mins or so I don’t think it’s not working, but I may still have the dealership look at it when it’s time for oil soon.

 

[swtiming8]

My apologies if this is posted before but I couldn't find anything with a search...

Anyone else have the lux package and notice their heated wheel seems to turn off and heat back up periodically? Mine sort of fades in and out (dash button stays lit). Is this a safety feature? An error? It doesn't seem to be linked to auto start/stop.

Thanks in advance.

Ours does the same thing

 

[shadow76]

When the mirrors are being heated, the wipers are also being heated. safety feature. One of the many things Ford thought about.

Ford deleted the heated wipers on the ‘24 models. So this safety thinking was not continued.

 

[Sharksforarms]

I've noticed the same but don't think it is a defect.

Heating elements are often on/off, with a thermostat switching the power as needed to maintain a certain temp. Sort of like a central AC kicking on and off. So it will have peaks and valleys temp-wise. As others have said, it may also initially run at higher wattage to come up to temp quickly - possibly overshooting it's target temp by a little.

The cooler-feeling wheel is likely a combination of that and that fact that once your palms warm up a little bit, it will feel cooler since the transfer of heat from the wheel into your hands has slowed due to the lower temperature differential.

When something feels cold or hot, you aren't so much feeling the temperature of the object as you are feeling how fast heat transfers between you and it. It's why metal feels so much colder than cloth at the same temp.

 

[Sharksforarms]

That's annoying. Do they have a timer or an auto off if I forget to turn them off?

Years ago I had a VW with a dial (on the left armrest) to select between driver mirror adjust/passenger mirror adjust/heated mirrors. Well if you forgot and left it on the heated setting the heating elements would burn out pretty quick.

I wonder if they work like the steering wheel wherein it cuts power after x time at x temp.

Yeah they will shut off automatically. Not sure what criteria it uses, but they definitely will turn themselves off.

I was surprised that they come on in relatively warm weather but it actually is nice for clearing condensation off of the mirrors on cool mornings.

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