Heated Seats

[Mr. Flibble]

My Royal Exceed has heated seats, or more accurately, it is wired for them and all the elements are dead except the lumbar support of the driver. The passenger seat has dead elements and a dead switch/relay.

So, I did some research on repairing heated seats, and I found that you can buy complete kits off of Amazon for about $50 per seat.

So, two seats with Carbon Fiber elements have arrived today from Amazon, and I will be installing them in my Girlfriends Jeep 2003 Safari. Step by step instructions are found here:

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/heate ... s-1027993/

Why no pictures of the Deli or the Deli install? Well, I am not certain yet that I will be allowed to keep the Delica, so this is all up in the air. Plus, once I know I will be installing a larger and more expensive set than what I am putting in the jeep. The Deli supports Silicone/Waterproof heated seat pads from Amazon, so if I go ahead with it, I will be replacing the elements with those. (The waterproof seat pads are larger than the ones going in the Jeep and more expensive. They are too large to fit in the Jeep seats, but perfect for the L400 seats).

The great thing about these aftermarket heated seat elements is that they are HUGE. The originals in the L400 seem to only cover parts of the seat, the carbon fiber ones can cover most of the seat! The ones going in the Jeep will take up most of the seat as well.

Has anyone else done similar? I ask because it is almost not even mentioned on the forum, and from what I can see it is a fairly easy mod that is a great boon for the winter!

Daisy, lying on a heated dog pad (covered in blanket) next to the two packages from Amazon. Each package contains both a lumbar and butt pad, as well as all the wiring.

heated_dog.png (627.26 KiB) Viewed 6590 times

Daisy the Adorable Schnorkie (weighing in at 11 lbs) is here for ultra cuteness and scale. Not that you have any idea how tiny a schnorkie actually is.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I use a natural gas seat warmer. Good mod, how much for the ones you're planning for the Starbug?

I recently loaded up a link in "Useful Links/Delica FAQ" for procuring part numbers. Have you checked it out yet?

Falco.

[Mr. Flibble]

I use a natural gas seat warmer. I recently loaded up a link in "Useful Links/Delica FAQ" for procuring part numbers. Have you checked it out yet?

Falco.

No, I have not seen it! I did a few searches here on heated seats before I went this option. Do you have a link? I just did a search and did not find it, nor under the FAQ section. I must be looking in the wrong part of the forum.

And, not to advertise, but those who are interested:

These are the elements/kits I am putting in the Jeep (seem to fit exactly without needing trimming)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001L6 ... 00_details

And these are the elements I am considering for the L400. (In fact, if they work well, I might install some in the center swivel seats as well).

http://www.amazon.com/WarmSeats-WSHW-Wa ... sbs_auto_4

[jessef]

I bought a pair of these for our Safari.

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/24v-or- ... s-kit.html

I like the idea that you can cut it to shape. 24v but same principle as your first linked one.

[joedelica]

Hi Jesse,

Not too familiar with these, but interested in purchasing a set just for my driver's side of my L400.
Would it make sense to get the waterproof one's? And do they have to be the 24V system?

Cheers,

Joe

[jessef]

do not get the 24v version. You need 12v. My JDM truck is a Nissan Safari that is a 24volt system ~ not to be confused with a 12V local Safari.

[thedjjack]

Heated seats

Worse is the Jeep install where the seat heater controls are beside the Axle locks!!!!

Trucks people these are trucks....

I do love turning them on in friends cars in the middle of the summer

[Mr. Flibble]

Having just installed the elements in both Jeep seats; the directions were slightly different than what I linked on the forum above. However, very very close. The one difference is that I had to cut some holes to allow the velcro on the seat bottoms to match up. That was not detailed in the forum post I linked.

However, I don't think my L400 has the same velcro. It will have the Hog Rings that you have to cut and replace with zip ties though.

If you don't feel the need to go with waterproof seat elements, then don't. I am looking at the waterproof ones because I frequently get in the van after kayaking, surfing or skiing, and I might need to turn on the elements when the seat is wet.

If you get the regular kind, they can get wet, just don't turn on the heat until they have completely dried out. You can spill coke or whatnot on them and they will be ok, just don't power them on when wet. :)

I still have to wire up the switches, and I may put them near the e-brake as opposed to the dash.

But, here is what I must suggest to the people of the Delica forum:

Install carbon fiber heated seats in your Delica! The install is actually not that hard, and you will love the result!

[Mr. Flibble]

So, the heated seat elements that are listed as "waterproof" arrived from Amazon. These cost $30 each more than the set I got earlier for my girlfriends Jeep. These are exactly the same sort of elements I ordered Before for the jeep, with a red plastic cover ironed on to make them waterproof. So, for the extra $30, they are really the same thing with an extra layer added on, thus making the seat pad at bit larger.

If I were to do this again, I would pick the cheaper seat pads knowing what I know now!

Seats.png (634.18 KiB) Viewed 6405 times

Shiba inu added for scale. (My iPhone is also in the middle of the photo for scale too, but not as cute)

I will be adding photos and steps of my install later on.

[delicat]

I bought a pair of these for our Safari.

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/24v-or- ... ted-seats-

What Safari? Aren't you Safariless?

I know these are trucks and trucks are meant to be trucks but I always loved heated seats from the days of my XR4ti. I have one coming for the Patrol, for my seat, only one just for me...

[nxski]

This is a modification I'm looking at doing with my L300. Since the fabric will need to be removed, and mine isn't in the greatest shape anyways I'm wondering if anyone has priced out leather upholstery. Leather heated seats would be the ultimate addition in my opinion.

Looking sharp! Can you not carve out a bit of the foam so the seats end up being the same height they were before? I also can't tell from those pictures if there is a pad for your butt as well as your back!?

[Mr. Flibble]

This is a modification I'm looking at doing with my L300. Since the fabric will need to be removed, and mine isn't in the greatest shape anyways I'm wondering if anyone has priced out leather upholstery. Leather heated seats would be the ultimate addition in my opinion.

Looking sharp! Can you not carve out a bit of the foam so the seats end up being the same height they were before? I also can't tell from those pictures if there is a pad for your butt as well as your back!?

Yes, with the kits from Amazon you get both butt and back pad, as well as the relay and LED switch that triggers the relay. Look at the link for the Jeep seat install in my first post for photos of almost exactly what it was like for me to install the seats in the Jeep. I did not take photos because it was a Jeep, not a Delica, and that forum post contains almost exactly the same directions - with the exception that the switches I have are different from those images, and I had to cut the seat pads to allow for slightly different Safari Seats. (You CAN cut the seat pads, but only if you do it correctly. If anyone is wondering, I can give details on how and why to cut the pads, but for my L400 I won't have to make any cuts.)

Also, for the thickness of these carbon seat pads, don't even bother carving anything out, you won't even realize that they have been added, you can't tell by looking and you can't tell by feel either. No need to perform any carving of any kind.

[jessef]

No ! Only temp safari-less. I did order them regardless :)

[FalcoColumbarius]

I use a natural gas seat warmer. I recently loaded up a link in "Useful Links/Delica FAQ" for procuring part numbers. Have you checked it out yet?

Falco.

No, I have not seen it! I did a few searches here on heated seats before I went this option. Do you have a link? I just did a search and did not find it, nor under the FAQ section. I must be looking in the wrong part of the forum.

And, not to advertise, but those who are interested:

These are the elements/kits I am putting in the Jeep (seem to fit exactly without needing trimming)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001L6 ... 00_details

And these are the elements I am considering for the L400. (In fact, if they work well, I might install some in the center swivel seats as well).

http://www.amazon.com/WarmSeats-WSHW-Wa ... sbs_auto_4

I'm sorry, I completely missed this. The name of the thread is "Useful Links", The sub forum is "Delica FAQ Section", part of "FAQ & Technical Reference Libraries", which is in "Delica Canada Technical" of the board index. This link is not for modifications, purely for procuring OEM part numbers for Starbug. Although it will give you some specific information about the Starbug, such as when she was manufactured, the body code, interior code, what options she came with... The idea is to establish the OEM numbers for all the original parts so you have something to reference or cross reference.

When you get to the thread, scroll down until you see a link that says "JDM Online Catalogue"; Click on that and a new page/tab will appear with five fields (Toyota; Lexus; Honda; Nissan; Mitsubishi); type Starbug's VIN in the Mitsubishi field and click enter: You should see a code synopsis of the Starbug, followed by a parts heading list that should correspond with the Space Gear shop manual.

Falco.

[Mr. Flibble]

Here is a "waterproofed" seat element held up against the sunlight so you can see the carbon filaments inside it. Also the temp sensor and the "rails" running up each side. Those rails are important. You do *NOT* want to cut those unless you are shortening the total length of the heated seat.

To be honest, I think that the non waterproofed elements were a much better value.

Notice in the bottom left of this photo the temp sensor that will cut off the power if your seats are too hot, I install this part at the back of the seats where they curve so you don't end up sitting on it or having it in your back. It is the only part of the seats that is "bulky" and that you might notice if you felt the seat with your hand.

The "waterproof" heated seat pad

DSC00429.JPG (107.18 KiB) Viewed 6344 times

Before you actually order your seat pads, you need to MEASURE the seats. the most important part is to measure the interior fabric piece at the narrowest point. You do not want your seat elements to be wider than this ridge, if they are, they won't work as you will have to cut them, and that will cut the "rails" and then you won't have any heat!

Measure the width of the center piece of fabric in your seats. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO DO BEFORE ORDERING THE SEAT PADS!

DSC00432.JPG (118.36 KiB) Viewed 6344 times

Finally, of course, you want to measure the length of the seats, this I think you can figure out without the photo, but I put it here anyways.

How long?

DSC00434.JPG (118.26 KiB) Viewed 6344 times

IMPORTANT NOTE!

Measure both the seat and seat back in this manner!

PAY ATTENTION TO THE SEAMS!

DSC00433.JPG (108.92 KiB) Viewed 6344 times

Notice how in the above photo that the seams are 10 inches across. However, the seat pad I will be installing is 11X22 inches. This means that at the top of the seats it probably won't match up! This means that I will have to cut the seat pads at the top to make them fit, which means that this very top part won't be heated! (I may be able to work around this, we will see when I actually get to the install.)