04-06 DC Tundras installing aftermarket seat heaters w/ factory wiring/switches w/ Katzkin leather

I ordered up some Katzkin leather seats and I'm going to install 4 heat seaters as well. I bought a pair of factory switches from a junkyard ($40 for a pair) and plan on using the factory wiring for the front seats since all the research I've done says it's all in place on 04-06 DCs, you just need switches/relays. This has been done before, but it was a really old thread on tundrasolutions.com, so I thought I would post the really good instructional PDF that user created here since this site is much more active and who knows how long tundrasolutions.com will be around...here is the original thread: His instructions talk about using a non-toyota relay since it's 1/5 the cost, but the one he posts needs to be modified by cutting off a PIN. I found these Densos that are the exact same as the factory RELAYS and are only $7 (OEM are $50+)...

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2994222&cc=1432861&jsn=13256


I'll post back here after my install to report how hard/easy it was, but it will be a few weeks till I get my leather and get it installed...just in time for SPRING...

 

I'll be watching this thread!
I've added the factory switches but am holding off a bit on adding the heaters. I plan to install them under the factory fabric as I prefer that to leather.

 

Ok, well, I started work on this like 3 weeks ago but have literally been doing bits and pieces in between working at home during the week because of CV-19. This is the first time today I spent any weekend time working on it. I made alot of mistakes at first and had an issue with how the leather seats attached around the airbag (don't want to &^%* that up!) but got some questions answered by Katzkin and it's all good. I expect the remaining rear seats and driver seat will take me less time than the passenger seat by itself now that I know what I'm doing. I will give you one tip you must have. Buy a $15 clothes steamer from Walmart. My daughter and I struggled for over an hour to get the armrest and headrest covers on the passenger seat and gave up. I bought that clothes steamer and we had them both on and looking perfect in 5 minutes. It's wired using the factory seat heater switches and works like a champ. I'm attaching pics of the installed seat and the rear seat so you can see the difference in leather vs cloth. I will write up more tips after I get the rest installed, whenever that ends up being.

http://tiny.cc/7notnz

 

When you get to it please talk about the wiring with the OEM switches.

 

I've actually done that on this seat and it's in the document I posted above. One thing he leaves out in his parts list is you need some correct size connectors to fit into the OEM seated heat wiring. He talks about them on the forum, but doesn't mention them in the write-up. I bought 3 curt brake controller wire harnesses that have two of the correct wires and connectors in each because you need 3 total for for each front seat. When I do the drivers seat, I will take a few pics of how I did it and post them here.

You need 3 of these:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/CURT-Br...-OEM-Connector-with-2-ft-Wire-51362/205632133

 

Thank you for this thread!
Exactly what I'm looking at doing with my front seats.

 

Ok, I finally finished my seat install (well, mostly finished, I still need to do the wiring for the rear seat heaters I installed, but I'll wait till the end of summer or early fall to do that). Since I'm working from home during CV-19 I did it a little at a time over the last month. Having never done anything like this before, it was slow going. I would say it took me about 20 hours of actual work. Since it was all new to me, I think I could do it in 10 if I had to do it again. Wiring the factory seat heaters was the easiest part actually. Taking the seats apart was the hardest part. Putting the covers in place was not hard once you know a few tricks. I saved about $800+ compared to having someone else install them, so I'd say it was worth it...though I didn't feel like that before I learned those little tricks. In addition to the things listed in the directions I attached at the top, here is a list of things that you want to have BEFORE you start...

1. Two bags of zip ties...100 in each bag. You won't use them all...but you will use most of them. I chose to use zip ties rather than hog ties. It enabled me to get the seats snugger fitting and I found them easier to work with.

2. A garment steamer for heating the leather to make fitting MUCH easier...I got a $15 one from Walmart.

http://tiny.cc/7notnz

3. If you are installing factory seat heater switches and wiring, you want 3 of these. You need 6 connectors/wires total and each one of these has two. You will carefully disassemble the wires and reuse the smaller connector for the OEM wiring connector on the seat as they are the exact size connector you need. You cut the other end off and wire them to the seat heating elements.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/CURT-Br...-OEM-Connector-with-2-ft-Wire-51362/205632133

4. Exacto knife with a fresh blade and a new spare.

5. If you are doing the OEM seat heater switch, you need one of these relays.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2994222&cc=1432861&jsn=13256

6. Needle nose pliers/hog ring pullers to remove the hog rings

7. 1 of these for each seat you plan to heat. If you are doing OE wiring in the front, all you will use is the seating elements and none of the other wiring. These get nice and hot on high.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1929930&jsn=4

8. 10, 14, and 17mm sockets.

9. 10 or so fruit/vegetable plastic bags from the grocery store to help with heard/arm rest cover installs.

10. A shop vac, also to help with heard/arm rest cover intalls.



I'm sorry I haven't typed up too much additional detail, but I hate typing up big long instruction manuals. I made one sizable mistake by installing the driver arm rest cover upside down (I was in a rush) and cut the holes in the leather for mounting it before I realized it, but the gentleman I bought the Katzkin kit from, @jhuey8947, is helping me get a replacement. I am happy to answer any specific questions though and for someone tackling this I'd be happy to take the conversation offline. This wasn't easy to do if you have never done upholstery before, but it could have been MUCH easier if I had someone to talk to who had done it on this specific truck before, so I'm happy to do that...pay it forward so to speak.

 

Man that looks so nice. I really don't like leather but you guys are making me consider it...

 

When life is more normal and I'm making my drive north thru Atlanta to Lexington Ky I'll swing by with a 12 pack (or a case if you prefer) for your troubles. I want to get heaters installed before winter though all I have at the moment is the OEM switches (I plan on using the current fabric), this write up will make a world of difference.

I can't thank you enough!

 

Sounds like a plan...

 

Once I get my carpet in the truck the next step is the seats... really torn on all leather or leather with alcantara inserts.




Probably will do all leather in black with the trd logo and some grey piping

 

I know you mentioned in some other thread about our Tundras having unused key powered circuits in the fuse blocks, which would be perfect for my rear seats. Do you have any suggestions on identifying them or do you know two that are already available?

 

On the doubles I’m not too sure.

 

I’m scouting out if I can do this on my 2005 DC. So far, I can’t find any unused wire harness from under
the drink holder tray. I removed the entire center console, and I don’t see anything there except yellow
Airbag wiring and an Airbag computer in the middle. I thought all Tundras had the wiring for seat heaters?
Where am I going wrong here?

 

Mine were tucked down and to the right I believe. I didn't have to take my center console out to get to them...just followed the wires I could see till I found them.

 

As much as I don’t want to believe it, there are no wire bundles.
There is 1 unused connector. It is a one or 2 prong connection.
Nothing else in there, except airbag yellow wire bundles

 

@AV8R4AA I’m finding the same thing in my truck- bo wires at the switches in the console. I have a 2005 DC that I believe was an XSP to begin with. Maybe these weren’t prewired from the factory. Interestingly, I do have the plugs under the seats. @speedtre did your factory switch wiring come off the harness on the passenger side of the center console?

 

I have leather seats, but no under seat connector. I am going to get Katskins and try
to wire up the factory seat heater switches. I might end up with smoldering mess.

 

Interesting. Mine is XSP with cloth seats and connectors under the seat but nothing in the console near the switches. I have the whole console out, maybe I’ll remove the carpet and dig under there a little deeper.

 

Yes, it was down in there a bit...when you take the cover off they were not right in front of you...they had to be dug out...but they were there...

 

@speedtre thabks for your help man. One more question for you and @jhuey8947: there are side reinforcing straps in the seat backs of the front seats. Do these go on the inside or outside of the seat?

 

I kind of went over this with @jhuey8947 last year because I have airbags in my seats so that area is particularly sensitive. PM your e-mail address and I'll forward you the video I sent to John which he used to ask a question of Katzkin and then their reply.

 

You da man!

 

For anyone in the future...those straps are related to the side airbag in the seat. In my case, I don't have an airbag, so I'll not need to use them.

 

Well I got 4 of the 5 seats done. Still need to do the driver’s seat and headrests. Gonna probably call it a day for today. I’ll throw some pics up in my truck thread if anyone’s interested. Major thanks again to @speedtre for your help.

 

Looks Great!!

 

Thanks! I'm really happy with the product so far!

 

Are your seats 2 tone?