Something Different: Rear seat heaters Pt II

A little more progress today.

I managed to get the upper rear seat elements installed. To get the upper portion of the rear seat out you need to lay the seat down flat. There is a plastic cover in each lower corner that is relatively easy to pull off by hand and below it you will find a 12mm bolt. Remove those bolts and pull the seat out. For the right side you will also have to remove the seatbelt bolt under the bottom portion-again, a 12 mm bolt (or is it 14mm... hmm, I am not sure now. Bring both sockets with you!)

The back of each upper seat has a full size plastic panel that is the floor when the seats are layed down. To remove these there are two (left side) and three (right side) phillips head screws to remove, then just pull towards the bottom of the seat and the panel will pop off. Once in side, this section of the seats are hog ring intensive! Wow, there are a lot of hog rings holding these covers on. Top bottom and sides have wire that is ringed to an inner metal structure. For each side I cut the hog rings on the bottom and both sides.



I didn't count, but there are several on each side that you must cut. At this point I flipped the seat over and cut both vertical and the center horizontal wires loose (similar to what I did on the bottom portions) and installed the heating elements. Re do all the hog rings and flip it back over. For each side I cut the element plug off and extended the wires (approximately 3 feet left side and 6 feet right side.)



The wires I just ran out the bottom edge of the plastic panel-no drilling, cutting or modifying. Re install the plastic panel by setting it on top below where it needs to be and sliding it up into place, and putting the screws back. Now reinstall these seats back in the truck. The wiring I ran under the carpet into the space under the storage well. Just reach up under the seat back, find the edge of the carpet and pull it out enough to fish the wires in and through.




As I had a bit more time I pulled out the center consul and added the provided switches. These are deep switches and there is not alot of room under the cup holder area for them to fit-they are lower than I would like but the layout inside the cubby dictated where they could be put. I used the heater kit provided hole diagram to layout where to cut; however, be warned the size they give is WAY too big. I ended up measuring off the actual switch in the end. I marked everything out with masking tape, and then drilled the corners with a 3/16 drill bit. The plastic is fairly soft, so I was able to cut from hole to hole with a box cutter-carefully sneaking up on a good fit.



The switches sit a bit proud of the panel, but I cannot see a way to have them flush and actually be attached... Maybe some of you know something I don't. At this point I was out of time so I quickly cleaned up and put the consul back in the truck. Here is an image of the rear switches in the truck as well as the fronts.








A little bit of wiring to do and a heated backside will be enjoyed by all!

Cheers

Pat

 

I like . Could you cut out more of the plastic for the switches and then hot glue them so they sit flush

 

Did you do the seat bottoms in the back too?

 

Yes-both the backs and the seats. See same title part I for the seat bottoms.

 

So glad I did Clazzios and only had to peel and stick the element too get it in the seat cover front and rear.

 

I haven't done the front seats yet, but this was way easier than I had anticipated-really only two hours of monkeying around. Most of that trying to lengthen wires etc. and figure out where to run wires. The seats were easy. Hoping the two front seats go as well...

 

I am genuinely surprised no one has noticed my "special" button up front... though for sure that would get caught!

 

Now that you pointed out! I've only done my front seats,they were easy.On the upper part of the seat l cut off the top third of the heating pad on mine (then used the adhesive tape to cover the cut end). The top part of your back really doesn't touch that part of the seat.I'm 5'11 so it worked for me.Makes the job easier too.
Never thought about doing the back seats @pearing Good idea