Folks,

The steering heating element in my 2020 Defender 110S isn't working anymore. If you turn it on, the button illuminates for about a minute, but the wheel remains cold. It then turns itself off, and if you try to restart it, the light flashes three times and turns off. Has anyone else experienced this, and what was the fix? Fortunately, I have some time left on my warranty, so I am trying to get it sorted.

Thanks

 

I'd first check the fuse to see if its blown. Heated steering wheel is fuse #43 in the fuse box behind the glove compartment. If that isn't the problem, either you have a bad switch or the actual heating element went bad.

 

Since virtually everything in the car goes through one of the many computers in the car, there is one other check you can try. If you have a code reader, plug it into the OBDII port and see if it is throwing a code. The three flashes (not that I have any special insight what it is saying by flashing three time) are kind of the fault giveaway. It pretty much indicates something going wrong, which may show up as a body code. Unless it is something needing a re-set, then the element is probably not all it can be anymore.

 

yup, first they replaced the switch pack, then the steering wheel. check search, there are a few threads

 

My guess is your clock spring is bad - there are 2 parts needed - clock spring and wiring - We have done several lately with your same concern - just an opinion.

 

My guess is the actual steering wheel heating element has shorted out and is now bad. Or clock spring as someone suggested... ?

If I recall correctly, the fuse is blown the indicator lamp will not even come on, so it's likely not the fuse. I tried pulling the fuse and this was the result.

Similar non heating wheel happened to my 2020 about 2 years ago (I may have posted up about it here, I can't recall). New steering wheel fixed the issue. My indicator lamp for the heated wheel would just flash on momentarily, then turn off. No heating.

 

2021 Defender just passed the warranty period and the heated steering has failed. Paid the dealer $250 cdn to diagnose that the heating module is broken and it is not sold separately from the steering wheel. I am not paying $4,200 cdn to have heated steering. Instead, I will probably buy a nice pair of Salvator Farragamo gloves lol.

 

Funnily enough this morning my heated steering wheel was only being heated on the back of the rim. My fingertips were warm, but my palms were not. I guess I'll have to make an appointment to get that fixed.

 

Indeed! Prior to mine completely failing the heating only worked in certain areas of the steering wheel again, by this time the warranty had already expired.

 

Why is it that my dealer refuses to work on a fix rather, they will only replace an entire steering wheel?!