Electrical Wiring Diagrams for seat heaters

[APhelps]

All,

I have some seat heaters that I need to wire up and wanted to see if someone could post up the electrical wiring diagrams. I want to know / verify the wiring running into the fuse box (near drivers side kick panel) can carry the 20 amps (10 amp per side).

I want to run pins into the actual underside of the box for the fuses as well.

Perhaps I'm better off installing an aftermarket fuse box and running the fuses and relays inside the box for a clean install.

I did buy these seat heaters : https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Era-Car...=B008D2LIRG&psc=1&refRID=Q9AE2SS9B5447PK3ZV41

but I can't seem to find out what type of relay they are. I suppose I can just swap out the relays though.

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[TheDurk]

http://www.teamtoyota4x4.org/archivio/1996%20to%202002%20Toyota%204Runner%20Repair%20and%20Wiring%20Manuals/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/ewdtmc2/ewdtmpdf/ewdsourc/2002/024runne/systemci/050sh.pdf

This for 2002. If you are not 2002, learn to post your year when requesting electrical help (pet peeve).

Stock wiring is for 20A.

 

[APhelps]

http://www.teamtoyota4x4.org/archivio/1996%20to%202002%20Toyota%204Runner%20Repair%20and%20Wiring%20Manuals/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/ewdtmc2/ewdtmpdf/ewdsourc/2002/024runne/systemci/050sh.pdf

This for 2002. If you are not 2002, learn to post your year when requesting electrical help (pet peeve).

Stock wiring is for 20A.

Sorry I thought I posted that I was looking for the diagrams for a 1998. In any regards I'm sure the wiring is very similar if not identical in most regards.

After googling around the only thing I've managed to find is that to correctly size the wire one should be using 12 (if not 10) gauge wiring to the load. I find this extremely difficult to believe. Sure the current should be split in half by each load (given that the loads should be equal).

I'm curious if Toyota just chalks this up to as a possibility of burning the vehicle down.

 

[jgue467]

...
but I can't seem to find out what type of relay they are. I suppose I can just swap out the relays though.

Thanks,
Aaron

I'd go with something like this instead so I get lower back heating too, feels Great! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FKK4L4...&pd_rd_r=07424a07-23dd-11e9-b1bf-7d7bb058b622


The relay s/b "standard", it gets power from an ignition switch source and passes it along only when switched "on". If you want power to be available to the heaters when the vehicle is off, then wire the hot to the battery with a fuse right at the battery. 10g sounds good, then ground close to heat pad and yeah thicker wire prevents excess heat buildup on the wire from the current flow.

Luck and enjoy that Runner! :cowboy:

 

[TheDurk]

Sorry I thought I posted that I was looking for the diagrams for a 1998. In any regards I'm sure the wiring is very similar if not identical in most regards.

After googling around the only thing I've managed to find is that to correctly size the wire one should be using 12 (if not 10) gauge wiring to the load. I find this extremely difficult to believe. Sure the current should be split in half by each load (given that the loads should be equal).

I'm curious if Toyota just chalks this up to as a possibility of burning the vehicle down.

I don't see a seat heater system EWD for 1998. It may have been a dealer option but not factory. In any case, if I were wiring it, I'd do it in 12ga. But I don't use 14ga for anything aftermarket I put in my cars. I like beefy wires.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

All,

I have some seat heaters that I need to wire up and wanted to see if someone could post up the electrical wiring diagrams. I want to know / verify the wiring running into the fuse box (near drivers side kick panel) can carry the 20 amps (10 amp per side).

I want to run pins into the actual underside of the box for the fuses as well.

Perhaps I'm better off installing an aftermarket fuse box and running the fuses and relays inside the box for a clean install.

I did buy these seat heaters : https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Era-Car...=B008D2LIRG&psc=1&refRID=Q9AE2SS9B5447PK3ZV41

but I can't seem to find out what type of relay they are. I suppose I can just swap out the relays though.

Thanks,
Aaron

Aaron, this is exactly the set of seat heaters that I bought (and they do include four pieces, both for butt and back) - they are great!

I was going to completely gut the wiring harnesses and make my own, but then got lazy and decided to use them as-is. The relays and the wires are already sized for the current draw, so I'd just leave it alone.

They come with 10A fuses, so that's your max current draw. With 10A, you can get away with 16ga wiring for each heater (or 12-14ga if you run one wire for both heaters, depending on the length).

I ran two 16ga wired from my aux fuse box above the pedals over to the heater wiring harness and relays, which I mounted under the console.

You don't have to get an aux fuse box, the '98 has empty fuse slots in the main fuse box in the engine compartment, you can easily make those functional if you want to.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

In any regards I'm sure the wiring is very similar if not identical in most regards.

Be careful with that assumption, there are numerous differences in wiring between early and late models. Do you have an EWD for the '98?

 

[gamefreakgc]

Be careful with that assumption, there are numerous differences in wiring between early and late models. Do you have an EWD for the '98?

I agree. Many of the wire colors swapped from the 96-98's to the 01-02, so much that it's pretty much useless to use an 02 wiring diagram on a 98. The 02's have more electrical systems than a 98, such as the traction system, brake pump system, climate control, etc.

 

[APhelps]

I don't see a seat heater system EWD for 1998. It may have been a dealer option but not factory. In any case, if I were wiring it, I'd do it in 12ga. But I don't use 14ga for anything aftermarket I put in my cars. I like beefy wires.

They didn't come with a seat heater system in 1998 as far as my knowledge goes. I'm looking to install them through the fuses in the kick panels for a "factory" OEM install. I wanted to verify what the wires were and what gauge those wires are rated before attempting to do the install.

 

[APhelps]

I agree. Many of the wire colors swapped from the 96-98's to the 01-02, so much that it's pretty much useless to use an 02 wiring diagram on a 98. The 02's have more electrical systems than a 98, such as the traction system, brake pump system, climate control, etc.

Seems like an expensive re-design from Toyota to do so. I would have guessed when they added additional systems they would add the different wiring as well and not re-design the old stuff.