B1038

Code

LAND ROVER B — Body

Front left seat heating sensor

Brand: LAND ROVER

Type: B — Body

Views: UK: 19 EN: 42 RU: 20

AI status

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Page language: EN

Causes

Open or short in the seat heating sensor wiring harness
Corroded, loose or disconnected connector at the seat sensor or seat control module
Faulty seat heating sensor (thermistor) or damaged heating pad
Water ingress or physical damage to the seat cushion or connectors
Faulty seat control module or software/communication error (CAN)
Blown fuse or poor ground for seat heating circuit

Symptoms

Front left seat heater does not operate or is intermittent
Seat heater warning or message on the instrument panel or infotainment
Uneven or incorrect temperature behaviour from the front left seat compared with other seats
Diagnostic trouble code B1038 stored in the vehicle control module
Possible disablement of seat heating for safety (no heat available even when selected)

What to check

Read stored and freeze‑frame DTCs with a suitable scan tool; note any related codes (CAN, seat module, other seats)
Visually inspect under‑seat connectors and harness for corrosion, damage or moisture
Check relevant fuses and ground connections for the seat heating/seat module circuits
Compare front left sensor readings to front right (passenger) sensor using scan tool
Wiggle test harness and connectors while monitoring live data for changes

Signal parameters

Seat temperature sensor: sensor resistance or voltage signal should change with temperature and should be similar to the corresponding opposite seat
Heater element supply: approximately battery voltage (~12V) present at heater feed when heating element is commanded ON
Control/sensor signal typically in low-voltage logic range (0–5 V) between sensor and seat module (refer to OEM specs)
Continuity: heater element usually shows low ohms (tens to low hundreds Ω) when intact; open circuit indicates broken element

Diagnostic algorithm

Record all fault codes and freeze frame data with a diagnostic scanner. Clear codes and attempt to re-create the condition.
Visually inspect the front left seat area (under cushion) for moisture, damage or foreign objects. Inspect connectors and harness routing to body connectors.
With negative battery disconnected or power isolated per manufacturer procedure, disconnect the seat connector and inspect pins for corrosion, bent pins or water intrusion.
Measure sensor resistance or voltage at the seat sensor connector and compare to the known-good side (front right) or to OEM specification. Check that resistance varies with temperature (warm hand on sensor area).
With ignition on and seat heater commanded ON, verify presence of battery voltage at the heater supply feed and that the seat module is commanding the feed (use scan tool to activate).
Perform continuity check of the heating element circuit to detect opens/shorts. Backprobe connectors carefully or use manufacturer-recommended access points.
If wiring and connectors are good but readings are out of spec, replace the seat heating sensor module/thermistor or the complete seat cushion/heater assembly as required.
If component replacement does not clear the fault, inspect/replace seat control module and verify vehicle software calibration and communication (CAN) integrity.
After repair, reprogram or initialize seat module if required by the manufacturer and clear DTCs. Confirm proper operation through multiple test cycles.

Likely causes

Damaged sensor element in the front left seat cushion (thermistor failure)
Chafed or pinched wiring between seat and body harness causing intermittent/open circuit
Connector corrosion at under‑seat connector due to spilled liquid
Heating element shorted or open preventing proper sensor reading
Seat control module reporting incorrect value due to internal fault or software mismatch

Fault status

⚠️ Status

B1038 — Front left seat heating sensor circuit fault (inspect sensor, wiring and seat module).

🟡 Repair difficulty: Medium

⏱️ Diagnostic time: 0.5-2.0 hours

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Repair manuals

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Browse 320 LAND ROVER manuals: repair procedures, diagnostics, wiring diagrams, component locations, service data and Labor Times by year, model and trim.

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