By request: Seat heater detail

[troy]

I've had a couple requests about more info on the seat heaters in my XJ. I installed these originally in my '01 TJ to extend the topless season in the upper midwest and both the wife and I fell in love with them.

There was orginally a write-up on Jeepsunlimited but I cannot locate it (it was several years ago). If I find it, I'll pass it along. Similar install, good idea of what you need to do to install the heating elements: http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?39723-Mopar-Heated-Seat-Install

The heaters are from Rostra Controls. They are an OE supplier for GM, Chrysler and others for things such as cruise control, seat heaters, etc.

I orginally had to buy them direct from the manufacturer, but now they sell through several retailers. Summit racing has the kit I used for $99 per seat. They give an OEM look and feel. They have two heat settings and get nice and toasty in the winter.

Pics of were I installed my switches.


Kit I used from summit (sold per seat)
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RPC-250-1550

Kind of a fancy pants mod, but I thought the northerners on here might appreciate it. Install is pretty straight forward. I ziptied the control box under each seat and pulled back the covers and slid in the heating elements. I did use an add-on fuse block from painless wiring that had several ignition circuits to tap into, but it probably isn't necessary and could tap into the fuse panel.

Happy winter wheeling.

Troy

 

[alosix]

Not a fancy pants mod @ all. The bestop thermals I put in my Jeep a few years ago have been one of the better mods I've done.

Haven't used them as much in CA has I did in MD, but it still takes the edge off of a chilly night if I didn't bring the doors with me.

I'd be tempted to transplant this into my WRX

Jason

 

[jeepdreamer]

Spoiled rotten...

I gotta agree that until you try them people may think its "fluff" or being spoiled rotten. After 14 years in the Army my back isn't what it used to be and I really, REALLY appreciate the psudo-massage I get from the heat. I just bought a set of heaters off Ebay for my 99 Dodge truck and a pair of Nissan ('02) pathfinder heated leather ones for my CJ-8. Not sure how I will wire it all up but I'm still overseas and haven't gotten my grubby little hands on them yet...:elkgrin:

 

[MuckSavage]

I added seat heaters to my wife's '89 Ramcharger. While I don't use them, she loves 'em! She works about 6 miles from home, and in the winter, she complained that the interior just wouldn't warm up in that short distance. The seat heaters made her happy. Of course, she drives my XJ more often now, since it warms up in about 2 blocks (and has an auto-start)

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

I'll be adding heated seat to my WJ (maybe even leather). I think heated seats are under rated for sure. I'm looking forward to how much gas they'll save me since I won't have to warm up the jeep on those cold Colorado mornings.