DIY heated seat, successed! cost only $3
#241
Burning Brakes
It's real simple to do this in-car. Remove seatback by pulling the bottom out, then 6 or so clips with pliers, peel up the leather (no need to remove the lumbar lever or headrest), repair the burnt spot, put it back together again!
#243
Advanced
For safety I'd disconnect the battery for a few minutes. And if you do have an air bag there, remember there's no back pad on the passenger side.
#245
Drifting
#246
2000 TL Black on Beige
iTrader: (1)
Well, the job is done.
Pulled the driver's seat, breaking the seat back power lever [still works, but I should have been more careful}. Got the seat up on the kitchen table.
Pulled up the back fabric, found the burnt wire, spliced the wire. Getting the insulation off the wire might have been the hardest part! Cut a piece of foam, replaced the back cover.
Flipped'er over, jammed more foam between the springs and the bottom cushion.
I might consider buying new heating elements [$91/back & $102/bottom], and new cushions [$210/back & $361/bottom], and rebuild the seat entirely, if money was no object.
However, for two hours and an old foam pillow, it's done.
The new foam doesn't compress like the old seat foam, but whatever.
Pulled the driver's seat, breaking the seat back power lever [still works, but I should have been more careful}. Got the seat up on the kitchen table.
Pulled up the back fabric, found the burnt wire, spliced the wire. Getting the insulation off the wire might have been the hardest part! Cut a piece of foam, replaced the back cover.
Flipped'er over, jammed more foam between the springs and the bottom cushion.
I might consider buying new heating elements [$91/back & $102/bottom], and new cushions [$210/back & $361/bottom], and rebuild the seat entirely, if money was no object.
However, for two hours and an old foam pillow, it's done.
The new foam doesn't compress like the old seat foam, but whatever.
#247
Kevin, I did what you did but when I got to the element I could not find a burt spot. The dealer said that sometimes it is a broken wire that and their is no burn. Does anyone know a way to find the break. Thanks Gary Petersen
#248
Advanced
The way I checked mines was with a razor blade knife clipped on to a multimeter lead. The harness has two prongs you will see whcih one corresponds to each wire color at the edge of the pad. Pick a prong to check for continuity. Use the razor blade to very very gently get in to the wire insulation. Keep going until you find a break. I had one that wasn't burnt open, the wire had just overheated and burnt up inside the insulation but the insulation was very stiff at that point. Probably melted and hardened again. Hope I made some sense.
#250
Burning Brakes
14 - 18 gauge should be fine. Tin both wires first and it'll make the job easy.
#252
severin--what do you mean tin the wires first?
please describe procedure
or was that trim?
please describe procedure
or was that trim?
#253
You like heat the wire up and melt solder onto it.
Its always a good thing to do rather than just melting solder between the joints.
>> also use flux core solder or some plain old flux and remember to wipe off with water when cooled (follow instructions on pkg (alchol/acetone/water))
Last edited by thelastaspec; 01-03-2011 at 01:42 PM.
#254
here is a good guide how to tin/incorrectly tin + join two wires.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jUaf394WIk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jUaf394WIk
Last edited by thelastaspec; 01-03-2011 at 01:43 PM.
#256
Does anyone know if can I swap the bottom seat cushion and the leather seat cover from the driver side to the passenger seat on my 03 Acura TL Type-S?
The passenger seat cover is clean and the cushion is firm compared to my driver seat.
Does anyone know if the seat leather cover and cushion pad are the same for the driver side and passenger side on 2003 Acura TL Type-S?
Thank you.
The passenger seat cover is clean and the cushion is firm compared to my driver seat.
Does anyone know if the seat leather cover and cushion pad are the same for the driver side and passenger side on 2003 Acura TL Type-S?
Thank you.
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qwz123 (09-05-2011)
#258
Thanks for the quick response, Sperry. The leather cover looks the same from outside. I wish I could swap the bottom leather cover from the driver side to the passenger side.
In terms of the bottom cushion, is there a way I can use a knife to cut out a bit here and there to make the passenger seat bottom cushion fit to the driver side? Don't worry much about the passenger side, since it's not often used.
I would greatly appreciate if anyone can post some pictures showing the difference between the driver side and the passenger side bottom cushions.
Thanks again, Sperry.
In terms of the bottom cushion, is there a way I can use a knife to cut out a bit here and there to make the passenger seat bottom cushion fit to the driver side? Don't worry much about the passenger side, since it's not often used.
I would greatly appreciate if anyone can post some pictures showing the difference between the driver side and the passenger side bottom cushions.
Thanks again, Sperry.
#260
Instructor
Gonna tackle this on my dad's '01 TL (not Type S) - does he have SRS side air bags in the seat to worry about? Or is it just the Type S that has them?
#262
Instructor
I plan to take the driver's seat out to do this. Guess it's safest to disconnect the negative battery cable. It's just that I'm not sure the old man knows his radio's security code :-(
#265
Burning Brakes
After fixing my driver's seat seat-back heater over two years ago, I finally discovered it wasn't working again (sure is hard to tell for some reason ). I took the seat apart again today and the wire burned out at the other weak point in the pleat area.
You'll see the one on the right that I fixed a while ago; the left is new (not fixed in this photo):
A half hour later and it's all fixed again! I suppose that if anyone's seatback starts working, its due to a burn-out in one of those two spots. Real easy and fast fix.
You'll see the one on the right that I fixed a while ago; the left is new (not fixed in this photo):
A half hour later and it's all fixed again! I suppose that if anyone's seatback starts working, its due to a burn-out in one of those two spots. Real easy and fast fix.
#266
I used 16 ga. speaker wire. Typically it has the finest strands and more of them for any given gauge. The insulation is usually more flexible than standard automotive wiring as well. It's held up for at least 3 years now, which is better than factory. [2 years, 2 times] Thanks to all who have provided info on this; I wouldn't have tried it otherwise.
#267
Yep, cold leather = cold butt.
This "DIY" is a great project for winter if you desire a bit of warmth on your woman's buns.
It really didn't bother me, but she loves it !!!
This "DIY" is a great project for winter if you desire a bit of warmth on your woman's buns.
It really didn't bother me, but she loves it !!!
#269
Yeah, That's why I kept putting it off.
But, what the hey.....it don't get cold in California. It's well below freezing here in Pa.
But, what the hey.....it don't get cold in California. It's well below freezing here in Pa.
#270
This is sorta off-topic:
Since you guys have taken off your seats before, can you tell me what this connection is and where it connects to?
http://imgur.com/kDINYKG
http://imgur.com/emKy32W
http://imgur.com/Wz0dNOl
If you look at the third pic, it runs up that side and from what I can tell, through the back part of the driver side seat we're your back connect to your tailbone.
I'd really appreciate it, thank you.
Since you guys have taken off your seats before, can you tell me what this connection is and where it connects to?
http://imgur.com/kDINYKG
http://imgur.com/emKy32W
http://imgur.com/Wz0dNOl
If you look at the third pic, it runs up that side and from what I can tell, through the back part of the driver side seat we're your back connect to your tailbone.
I'd really appreciate it, thank you.
#271
Advanced
This is sorta off-topic:
Since you guys have taken off your seats before, can you tell me what this connection is and where it connects to?
http://imgur.com/kDINYKG
http://imgur.com/emKy32W
http://imgur.com/Wz0dNOl
If you look at the third pic, it runs up that side and from what I can tell, through the back part of the driver side seat we're your back connect to your tailbone.
I'd really appreciate it, thank you.
Since you guys have taken off your seats before, can you tell me what this connection is and where it connects to?
http://imgur.com/kDINYKG
http://imgur.com/emKy32W
http://imgur.com/Wz0dNOl
If you look at the third pic, it runs up that side and from what I can tell, through the back part of the driver side seat we're your back connect to your tailbone.
I'd really appreciate it, thank you.
If you look at the picture I posted on page 6, it's called the back seat heater harness. The picture is of the passenger seat so the driver side is opposite.
Now would also be a good time to put a ohm meter on that and see if the back heater is still good.
Last edited by bensonchuong; 09-08-2014 at 02:49 PM.
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AMart83 (09-08-2014)
#272
That looks like the plug for the rear seat heater pad, it plugs in on the bottom of the seat almost right in the middle. you'll probably want to take the 4 seat bolts off and just tilt the seat back and look under there.
If you look at the picture I posted on page 6, it's called the back seat heater harness. The picture is of the passenger seat so the driver side is opposite.
Now would also be a good time to put a ohm meter on that and see if the back heater is still good.
If you look at the picture I posted on page 6, it's called the back seat heater harness. The picture is of the passenger seat so the driver side is opposite.
Now would also be a good time to put a ohm meter on that and see if the back heater is still good.
As for checking the ohms, I live in Miami and I don't have an ohm meter. :-/ I could do without the heated seats until I do find an ohm meter and I'll just take off the seat again and check it to see if it works.
#273
Advanced
Thanks. Do you know if it connects to the black box that's attached to under the seat?
As for checking the ohms, I live in Miami and I don't have an ohm meter. :-/ I could do without the heated seats until I do find an ohm meter and I'll just take off the seat again and check it to see if it works.
As for checking the ohms, I live in Miami and I don't have an ohm meter. :-/ I could do without the heated seats until I do find an ohm meter and I'll just take off the seat again and check it to see if it works.
Nope it connects to another wire with a grey plug, and that wire connects to a three pin grey connector which then goes into the carpet. If you follow the wires from the carpet, there should be a big black wire for the seat adjustments, a yellow wire for the side air bag and a smaller black wire for the seat heaters.
The black box your talking about is the memory seat module.
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AMart83 (09-08-2014)
#274
Nope it connects to another wire with a grey plug, and that wire connects to a three pin grey connector which then goes into the carpet. If you follow the wires from the carpet, there should be a big black wire for the seat adjustments, a yellow wire for the side air bag and a smaller black wire for the seat heaters.
The black box your talking about is the memory seat module.
The black box your talking about is the memory seat module.
#275
Advanced
There should be a round hole in the black fabric that holds the leather to the seat, look in there.
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AMart83 (09-08-2014)
#276
Is that the whole you're referring to?
If so, there's nothing coming out of that hole. I even felt around the under part of the seat to see if theres like a wiring harness, but there's nothing.
This is weird.
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