Well dang... seat heating problems

[ogre01]

I've used my seat heater off and on this season on a couple cold mornings, no problem. However, I'd noticed a hot spot (uncomfortably so) under my right leg, to me it strikes me as a short; but I let it play out, using then shutting off. Well, yesterday, the heater would not come on at all, nor were the lights on the buttons on.

I'm basically looking for confirmation: is the element likely shorted, and the car "reacts" by disabling the control (and lights)? Is there a way to trouble shoot to confirm before I go about replacing my element?

On the element front, are people having any luck with the chinese replacements? Replacing a seat heater seems like a much more intensive process than just replacing a part in the engine bay. On that front, anyone have any part numbers or know where the heater elements are located on rock auto?

As usual, thanks all.

Not a bot.

 

[oktowncar]

Rock auto would carry the switches, connectors and maybe relays for the seat.
Random looking online gets me a ford parts site with this information:
6W1Z-14D696-A - Seat Cushion heater (Discontinued)

https://ford.oempartsonline.com/v-2005-lincoln-town-car--signature--4-6l-v8-gas/electrical--heated-seats

You can take the part number and search eBay for NOS parts.
Or possibly find a workable replacement from a salvage yard through sites like car-part.com

 

[Action]

Or remove and repair.

Guessing that the hot spot was an area that was coming apart.
The two pieces have parted ways
Reconnecting (Soldering) may be an option once the heater is removed.

Action

 

[ogre01]

Man, that's a hard to find part. Considering trying to fit an F-150 seat heater in there, brother has a '10 that I can check general measurements from.

Action, that's an interesting idea. I'm big on fixing my own stuff, I'll definitely take a look at that.