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Installing heated seats in my 1988 Waggy.
This is most likely considered pris so I figured this is the best spot for it. After going EFI, adding keyless entry and remote start I figure the next logical step is heated seats. I picked up a very affordable kit from the auction site ($30) and set to work.
I also had some seat issues. The drivers seat was the only one working but was slow and lumbering. I had to fix the wiring to the passenger side and some connectors, while in there I also cleaned up, repaired, and lubricated the seat frames.
The set I bought came with 4 pads (backs and bottoms for both fronts), switch, and harness. It did not come with instructions but it's pretty easy to figure out.
RED - CONS 12v+
BLACK - GROUND
PINK - IGN SW 12v+
WHITE - LIGHT SIGNAL
First step, figure out where to put the switch. I didn't want it to look out of place nor cut into something I could regret later. The blank spot on the A/C vent housing seemed to be my best bet. There are many options for kits and switches out there, I went with this one for simplicity and style.
Directly below the face plate, the lower access panel is where I ran the harness out.
For the seats there are a few ways to tackle it. On the passenger side I did it by the book, pulling back the skins, cutting every single hog-ring , putting pads on and then re-ringing everything. On the drivers side, I tried to see the least amount I could do. After doing both, I like the shortcuts so I will speak to that.
Separate the seat from the track/base. This will allow you to get to all of the hogrings and then you can clean and lube the base off of the seat.
Seat base removed and cleaned.
Cutting hogrings
Pull back just enough of the cover so that you can slide the pads in. They are cloth and very flexible. Think of putting a pillow in a pillow-case for this method. Worked out just fine.
I ran the leads from the pads on the bottom seat to the front and on the back to the bottom. This has them coming out of opposite ends of the base.
Now onto wiring fixing....
Seat control switch pack damaged and repaired.
Damaged wiring - not shown the melted, flattened wiring under the carpet. Also replaced.
Some of the repaired wiring
A nicked wire, easy fix
Replace hogrings, Reassemble seats and bases, plug everything in, test power functions, and bolt seats back down.
Installing and finalizing wiring
Done!
Works great, especially with the corduroy centers, heats up quickly. So with EFI, remote start and heated seats I looking forward to our last stretch of winter.
This is most likely considered pris so I figured this is the best spot for it. After going EFI, adding keyless entry and remote start I figure the next logical step is heated seats. I picked up a very affordable kit from the auction site ($30) and set to work.
I also had some seat issues. The drivers seat was the only one working but was slow and lumbering. I had to fix the wiring to the passenger side and some connectors, while in there I also cleaned up, repaired, and lubricated the seat frames.
The set I bought came with 4 pads (backs and bottoms for both fronts), switch, and harness. It did not come with instructions but it's pretty easy to figure out.
RED - CONS 12v+
BLACK - GROUND
PINK - IGN SW 12v+
WHITE - LIGHT SIGNAL
First step, figure out where to put the switch. I didn't want it to look out of place nor cut into something I could regret later. The blank spot on the A/C vent housing seemed to be my best bet. There are many options for kits and switches out there, I went with this one for simplicity and style.
Directly below the face plate, the lower access panel is where I ran the harness out.
For the seats there are a few ways to tackle it. On the passenger side I did it by the book, pulling back the skins, cutting every single hog-ring , putting pads on and then re-ringing everything. On the drivers side, I tried to see the least amount I could do. After doing both, I like the shortcuts so I will speak to that.
Separate the seat from the track/base. This will allow you to get to all of the hogrings and then you can clean and lube the base off of the seat.
Seat base removed and cleaned.
Cutting hogrings
Pull back just enough of the cover so that you can slide the pads in. They are cloth and very flexible. Think of putting a pillow in a pillow-case for this method. Worked out just fine.
I ran the leads from the pads on the bottom seat to the front and on the back to the bottom. This has them coming out of opposite ends of the base.
Now onto wiring fixing....
Seat control switch pack damaged and repaired.
Damaged wiring - not shown the melted, flattened wiring under the carpet. Also replaced.
Some of the repaired wiring
A nicked wire, easy fix
Replace hogrings, Reassemble seats and bases, plug everything in, test power functions, and bolt seats back down.
Installing and finalizing wiring
Done!
Works great, especially with the corduroy centers, heats up quickly. So with EFI, remote start and heated seats I looking forward to our last stretch of winter.
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