Seat Heater Install

[dpav02]

You guys make me want to do this install with that hossen unit from Amazon!

I had a few questions if anybody has done this install or is simply familiar with the topic in general.

1) If I got a limited console with the dedicated heated seat switches from a scrap yard, would it just fit right into my 2006 Sport?

2) Would those stock switches work with this particular kit?

I realize it may be more expensive, but the stock look would be worth it IMO. Either that or I measure and take a dremel to my current one... But I'd hate to screw it up.

 

[jnance50]

I'm about to do this install - with the kit from Amazon - but any idea what the green and yellow wire go to? I'm guessing illumination? (I'm also guessing red and black are power / ground).

I'll do a write up tomorrow if I can find the answer tonight.

 

[Kraeken]

To those of you with the Amazon and eBay setups mentioned in this thread-

Do the switches fit on the holes properly? From the pics it looks like the edges of the switches are a little pointier than the holes. Also, the Amazon set looks like it is not illuminated, like the indicators are just painted on. Can anyone verify?

 

[axxman]

they have illumination, it is not painted on, to me, they look like they will be a perfect fit.

 

[Kraeken]

Nice! Now the last question before I buy a set of these for myself, and forgive my ignorance- What are the chances of this causing a fire or some other type of damage?

 

[Antman]

Nice! Now the last question before I buy a set of these for myself, and forgive my ignorance- What are the chances of this causing a fire or some other type of damage?

If you wire them in it will definitely burn.

Good thing you are a NYCFF.:hiding:

 

[Kraeken]

Hey Ant, YOU'RE going to be wiring them in! You thought I was going to do it? That's crazy talk.

 

[jnance50]

So I finished installing my amazon / ebay kit today. All in all not too bad. This was my first attempt at upholstery and it was much easier than I thought.

A few things about the kit:

• These aftermarket switches are identical from one another (left and right) as far as the aligning guides and clips go... the factory ones are not. So the left hand switch clicked right in but the right hand one I had to grind away two of the plastic aligning guides on the switch itself - but once that was done it clicked right in and both fit very snug - really does look factory.
• The wiring schematic is as follows (this was found by trial and error - the manual the seller sends via email is crap):
  • Red: Constant power from the battery
  • Black: Ground
  • Green: Switched power (control box acts as a relay)
  • Yellow: Illumination
• I ended up connecting all my greens and yellows together and scotch locking them into the power wire for the cigarette lighter. They just trigger the relay and run two tiny led's so I figured it wouldn't draw much amperage.

I will say this took me 8 or so hours to complete - but we also have snow and ice on the ground so that slowed down in-truck wiring a bit. Anyway, here are some photos - if anyone has any questions, ask away.

 

[axxman]

So are the switches lit all the time?

 

[jnance50]

The green bars are - there is no way around this that I saw. They come on as soon as the unit gets power to the green (switched) wire. Since the warmer can't be used until this wire is powered there's no way to connect this to an illumination source and have them only light up when the headlights come on.

The orange rectangular light at the top comes on once the seat heater is turned on with the rotary dial. This light will not turn on if the yellow wire is not connected to a 12v source.

I tried them out last night for an extended period - on the highest setting, I dare you to make it more than a half hour - these suckers get HOT - they definitely reach a max temperature though, and the rotary dial does function in ever setting (4 or 5 total). All in all I'm very pleased.

So are the switches lit all the time?

 

[lakerman]

what model

How much did the total kit cost and what was the name of it?

 

[wdlsmaerw]

So I finished installing my amazon / ebay kit today. All in all not too bad. This was my first attempt at upholstery and it was much easier than I thought.

...

Any way you could scan or take a photo of the install instructions that came with the kit?

 

[jnance50]

Any way you could scan or take a photo of the install instructions that came with the kit?

Sure, I'll get them up tomorrow if you want - but trust me when I say they are entirely useless. I don't even think they're for this kit - the wiring schematic is wrong (it only has 3 wires listed to this kits 4) and absolutely nothing 4runner specific.

I can however answer any questions you might have as mine are working well.

 

[jnance50]

How much did the total kit cost and what was the name of it?

The kit was $75 ish - if you search "Prado seat warmer" on ebay or amazon you should come up with it.

 

[H2O_Doc]

If I could install a cooter heater in the TE, I'd definitely get some popularity at home with Mrs. Water Doc (my Peruvian wife not yet adjusted to temperate climates). Complaining starts at temps below 68F and the frequency increases exponentially as temperature declines (I can plot a graph if anyone wants to see it).

Below freezing, she just cusses at me in Spanish like a feminine Ricky Ricardo (I have all the 'splaining to do). It is fast enough that I don't recognize many of the words, but that many hard consonants in rapid succession can't be complementary.

Thanks for posting.

 

[Laubage]

Encouraging! I just placed my order! Should be here when I get back from my upcoming TDY's.

 

[axxman]

working on wiring up mine today, I dont have access to a garage so it is most likely a 2 day job, I have all the wiring run, just connecting to the fuse box now, I am using 1 Add a fuse to position 13 on the fuse box, this is the seat heater fuse according to the manual. Pics to be posted later today.

The switches look great, just used my multi tool to scrape away a bit of material on the right switch for a perfect fit.
Only problem in routing the wires for me was the relays are so bulky but do to the length of the wire harness, I was limited where I could locate them and still put all the center console pieces together again. I managed to find some places and zip tie them in. I also used heavy duty weatherproof tape to cover up the wires.

Tips, the area behind the dash around the steering column is full of sharp edges, plus an airbag, so take your time routing the wire harness through there.

I am going to use just a 10amp fuse initially just in case I made a mistake somewhere.

I just bundled the yellow and green wires together and used a Posi Tap to get switched +12v off the seat heaters positive wire which are also getting switched +12v from the seat heater fuse circuit.
total time to run the wires with the seats in was about 2.5 hours, I took my time.

Now all I have to do is install the heating pads, since I dont have a garage, it will have to wait as I will have to remove the seats.

 

[jnance50]

Nice! Sounds like you and I had the exact same kit. I had to dremel away some plastic on the switch too. Also, we wired ours basically the same. I have the Trail with the 4wd Lever rather than the switch, so my seat control boxes fit perfectly nearly right beside it in the center console - and they're tucked beneath the main center console wiring harness.

Oh, and the seats are incredibly easy to pull. Less than 5 minutes per side - check the manual - 4 bolts and 3 plugs.

Tips on the seat pad:

• Go get a hand held pair of bolt cutters - the small one handed ones. The hog rings in the seat are really, really tough.
• Use Zip Ties to put the cover back on rather than hog rings. They hold up just as well, and most upholstery shops even prefer them to hog rings. Just make sure you get good zip ties - Home Depot has some nice sturdy ones
• Don't be afraid of cutting the pad within reason (smaller than an inch) to let the zip ties go through - you won't end up with cold spots
• Get someone with small hands to help reassembly
• Don't bother following the manual on seat disassembly. Read the section to remove the front and side plastic, then read the section on how to remove the seat top from seat bottom, then discard the manual. For removing the seat cover, just use common sense - you don't need to pull the cover completely off either part of the seat to put the pads in - only cut the rings you need to in order to get the pad in - see my photos earlier.

Good luck and congrats! They might be my favorite mod I've ever done ... and for only $70!

working on wiring up mine today, I dont have access to a garage so it is most likely a 2 day job, I have all the wiring run, just connecting to the fuse box now, I am using 1 Add a fuse to position 13 on the fuse box, this is the seat heater fuse according to the manual. Pics to be posted later today.

The switches look great, just used my multi tool to scrape away a bit of material on the right switch for a perfect fit.
Only problem in routing the wires for me was the relays are so bulky but do to the length of the wire harness, I was limited where I could locate them and still put all the center console pieces together again. I managed to find some places and zip tie them in. I also used heavy duty weatherproof tape to cover up the wires.

Tips, the area behind the dash around the steering column is full of sharp edges, plus an airbag, so take your time routing the wire harness through there.

I just bundled the yellow and green wires together and used a Posi Tap to get switched +12v off the seat heaters positive wire which are also getting switched +12v from the seat heater fuse circuit.
total time to run the wires with the seats in was about 2.5 hours, I took my time.

Now all I have to do is install the heating pads, since I dont have a garage, it will have to wait as I will have to remove the seats.

 

[Antman]

Question- do the white indicator bars on the dials light up?

I'll be installing these on Kraeken's TE on Monday. Keep the pics coming! More pics=less time figuring stuff out for me.

 

[axxman]

Question- do the white indicator bars on the dials light up?

I'll be installing these on Kraeken's TE on Monday. Keep the pics coming! More pics=less time figuring stuff out for me.

Yes See his photo on 1-1-2013.

Shame you weren't doing his tomorrow, I am in Laurel.

Jnance, yes, we did have the same kit, if you look back 1 or 2 pages, I think we ordered the one someone posted earlier in this thread. it took a while to arrive from china.

I have all the tools I could possibly need, I just dont like working on my car in the parking lot here where I live, I was going to try to install the heating pads without removing the seats, but the more I look at the photos and read, it looks like that is the best way.