[cecoen]

More of a pictorial really. Sorry not a better write up. Mainly dealing with the switch pod. I used everyone elses write up to actually remove the seats and install the heating elements.

I have been trying like heck to put heated seats in my Jeep and use the factory switches. There is a thread somewhere that mentions a guy in FL that can re-program the computer if you want to add all of the factory parts. IIRC, it was a $ hundo or a little over? Too rich for my blood. (Actually I want auto lights too and thought about having him program both but still too much $ for me). I saw a video of a guy adding a micro switch between the OEM switch cover and the PCB board behind it. Looked promising so I studied the circuit forums for a while and designed a momentary clicky switch layout using micro relays and a debouncer but it quickly became too complex and I was still not sure I could get a momentary switch to do Off-low-hi-off again. I know our switch panel has a PCB sandwiched behind the switch covers. I assumed (HA HA) that my lowly little sport was not using all of that PCB and it was just there for Jeeps with more options than mine.

So long story short, I hacked off the ends of the PCB behind the blank switch covers, gutted the switch holes, glued the blank switch covers on the heated seat switches, and then glued the switches in the now gutted holes. Everything worked as planned. See pics:

Our switch panel is pretty neat design actually. All of the switch covers not being used are already hinged and ready to be used but the sides are left long and won't allow the switch to move. Just requires a little trimming and they actuate as Jeep designed them too. The pics should show the slide and rocker hinge mechanism of the switches.

Took out the PCB measured and hacked off the ends. Then I gutted the two end switch slots to make room for the aftermarket switches. I did not use the factory hinge parts, I used the aftermarket switches to provide the rocking action.

I pulled the switch covers off of the aftermarket switches and glued them to the underside of the OEM Jeep blanks. I forgot to take a pick before starting so I included a generic of the switches that came with my kit. I also wanted a way for the LED to show when turned on so after the glue set I drilled through the LED holes in the aftermarket switches through the OEM blanks. I broke a tong or tine or whatever off of a clear plastic acrylic dinner fork. I sanded it down and rounded it until it snuggly pierced the aftermarket switch hole and stuck out of the front of the OEM switch blank. I then cut off the excess flush with the switch cover.

Reassembled the switch covers with the switch body and placed them in the switch panel and clamped them up with some paint sticks. Made sure they were square and plumb and glued the switches in the jeep switch panel. In that last pic you can see the new LED hole and clear fork thingy.

To be continued....

 

[cecoen]

Continued....

Bonus pics. Remember boys and girls, if you take your dash apart, there is one more hidden screw behind the power window switch area. If you forget it and just pull it will break your dash in two. Hard to tell in the pics, but I bent up a piece of scrap aluminum to match the contour and put a square hole in it for the clip and clamped and glued the broken area back together while I had the glue out. I forgot to take a pic of the alum before gluing in place. Terrible write up, I know.

Test run - glue all dried up, time to see if they actually work. Yep, little brighter than I would have thought also. Up is normal, middle is off, and down is inferno. (yes, I nicked the shit out of the TSC switch :atomic: )
No worries though, I will be replacing this set up with a switch panel from a JK with OEM heated seats to get the real heated seat switch covers with the little heater picture on it. And I know I'll have to rework the LED layout too.

I have to say, Jeep has come a long ways. This was way harder and tighter spaces than any old CJ or TJ. I found it much more difficult to run wires and what not. Here you see damn near no room for relays behind the net panel. But there was one little nook that fit them perfect once I attached the relays together.

All done. All I need now is a little heated seat sticker or a switch panel from a JK that came with heated seats. Maybe I can find a graphics company that can make me a transfer sticker or something. Right now they are my "secret" switches!

Hope it helps someone.

 

[mcdeal]

OEM switches

Great idea. Where did you get the small aftermarket switches???

My project is similar, except:

I bought an extra set of Jeep OEM switches so that if the project fails, after I cut the board, I can revert to the original setup.

I will use the left end switch for my small Led Light Bar.

The right end switch is currently unplanned, maybe rear lights or Winch.

I will photo document as my project progresses!

 

[jdinny]

Just came across this thread.
Very nice job.

 

[cecoen]

Hey, thanks mcdeal and jdinny. Not sure why I wasn't getting notifications or I would have said thanks earlier! Sorry.

Anyway to update a little, seats and switches still working well. I have given up on finding a sticker for the blank switch covers I used and will one day buy a switch panel from a Jeep that came with heated seats and steal the covers for my switch panel. But until then, everything working well.....that is until I trade mine in on a 2018 with diesel engine and factory heated seats!

Thanks again,
Chad

 

[1070MAN]

Hey, thanks mcdeal and jdinny. Not sure why I wasn't getting notifications or I would have said thanks earlier! Sorry.



Anyway to update a little, seats and switches still working well. I have given up on finding a sticker for the blank switch covers I used and will one day buy a switch panel from a Jeep that came with heated seats and steal the covers for my switch panel. But until then, everything working well.....that is until I trade mine in on a 2018 with diesel engine and factory heated seats!



Thanks again,

Chad

Chad,

Thanks for the info on the switches. Really nice job. My question is, where did you get the heating elements? Also, do you have leather seats or cloth? I have cloth in mine and wondering if aftermarket heating element would work.

Thanks,
Brian


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[cecoen]

Chad,

Thanks for the info on the switches. Really nice job. My question is, where did you get the heating elements? Also, do you have leather seats or cloth? I have cloth in mine and wondering if aftermarket heating element would work.

Thanks,
Brian


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank Brian. I bought the elements on Amazon. Just a generic set of Carbon Fiber seat heaters with he standard round low/high switches. My kit had separate elements for both the seat bottom and back.

Yep, cloth. Mine is just a 2 door Sport with cloth interior. I am not a big fan of doing upholstery but was able to slip the cloth skins off, trim the elements, and re-install them pretty easily. Skins went back on straight with no wrinkles or pulls or anything and I am by no means an expert.

 

[1070MAN]

Where did you get the rocker switch for it?

Brian

 

[cecoen]

Where did you get the rocker switch for it?

Brian

Rocker? The little round switch that came in the heated seat kit is glued under the factory Jeep switch. The blanks in our lesser optioned Sport switch panel are actually not blanks they just aren't trimmed down so they rock.

 

[1070MAN]

I guess what I was wondering about was what you're talking about being the trimmed down blanks.

Thanks

 

[cecoen]

So long story short, I hacked off the ends of the PCB behind the blank switch covers, gutted the switch holes, glued the blank switch covers on the heated seat switches, and then glued the switches in the now gutted holes. Everything worked as planned. See pics:

Our switch panel is pretty neat design actually. All of the switch covers not being used are already hinged and ready to be used but the sides are left long and won't allow the switch to move. Just requires a little trimming and they actuate as Jeep designed them too. The pics should show the slide and rocker hinge mechanism of the switches.


Took out the PCB measured and hacked off the ends. Then I gutted the two end switch slots to make room for the aftermarket switches. I did not use the factory hinge parts, I used the aftermarket switches to provide the rocking action.

I pulled the switch covers off of the aftermarket switches and glued them to the underside of the OEM Jeep blanks.

Brian,
The blank switches on our panel are the actual covers used just hollow underneath, no real switching mechanism in there. If you pull your switch panel out and apart it'll all make sense. All of the switches on the panel can move, it's just that the ones not being used are kept from moving by the edges of the plastic cover being left long at the top and bottom so it won't rock. I tried to show it in the pics, it's really hard to explain in words - take it apart, it'll all come clear, promise!

 

[MCarter64]

All done. All I need now is a little heated seat sticker or a switch panel from a JK that came with heated seats. Maybe I can find a graphics company that can make me a transfer sticker or something. Right now they are my "secret" switches!

Hope it helps someone.

If you look on eBay, Quirkparts sells the 5 gang switch with heated seats on each end for $46 and change.
If you do get the heated seat switches to work with aftermarket heating pads, please let us know. I for one, would be interested in knowing how you can do it.

2013-2017 Jeep Wrangler DASH 5 GANG SWITCH MOPAR GENUINE OEM NEW 56054278AB

 

[JDLouisville]

Awesome writeup! Thanks for taking the time to share.

 

[AUSyTyIN]

Has anyone else done this mod? I'm wondering if the OP had any ill effects after cutting the PCB behind the switches, but he hasn't been online in almost a year...

I really want to use the factory location for the heated switch location.