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Seat heater install on 2014+ Tundra

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by trdlife, Jan 27, 2018.

  1. Jan 27, 2018 at 8:36 PM
    #1
    trdlife

    trdlife [OP] Toyota Master Technician

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    I have had my PRO for about 2 1/2 years now, and my area has had some pretty non existent winters over the last couple years but as of late it had gotten pretty damn cold. I already have a Directed Smart Start system, which helps get the truck to operating temp and warm up the cab but I just felt like heated seats would be nice, so I did some research and got a set off Amazon, it came with seat bottom & back pads for both front seats, and wire harness, both with build in relays and in-line fuses. All they required was a power & ground.

    IMG_0288.jpg IMG_0321.jpg IMG_0322.jpg IMG_0323.jpg IMG_0324.jpg

    I have provided some pictures of the install as well as videos, at the end i have a full video on the basic seat tear down I recommend watching the video all the way through to get an idea of difficulty and what all is entailed in the install.

    If you have any questions regarding the install process, or etc. Feel free to comment or send me a PM directly and I'll try and get back quickly and help.

    Kit I used:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011PTSGDW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Other supplies: Zip ties, misc wire tap(pic below), electrical tape. Hog rings(20-25). 1 bolt( M6x1) about 1/2 long.
    IMG_0334.jpg

    Tools: Rachet or electric impact
    14 mm & 10 mm sockets
    3 & 6 in extensions may help.
    Phillips head screwdriver
    Plactic trim remover tool
    small flat blade (pocket screwdriver)
    Small pick if you have helps with undoing clips.
    Wire crimper.
    Hog ring pliers
    Dykes
    Flashlight
    Drill and a 20 mm step drill bit.


    Install time est: 2-4 hr

    Disclaimer: Perform this at your own risk, I am not liable for any damage to your vehicle. You will be working with electrical systems and the SRS sirbags in the seats. Improper work can result in SRS system malfunctions & electrical issues, including fire hazards. Also note that the seat frames are very sharp and can easily cut you and cause severe bleeding.

    Step 1: Disconnect battery negative terminal and let set for 5 minutes prior to starting. During this time make sure you center console is cleared out and the cupholder area as well.

    Step 2: Remove both front seats and remove from vehicle. For power seats before you remove since it is power, I reccomend lifting the seat all the way and getting the seat back straight up. Both front seats have 4, 14 mm bolts holding them down, and the rear bolts of both seats have trim covers over them. After the seats are unbolted, you can tilt the seat back and undo the connector to the seats from the floor harness(see video). 3 connectors per seat & 1 harness clip that attached to the seat. The yellow SRS connector will require 2 hands, you will push down on the white tab and pull up on the yellow half of the connector and it will come off.
    *After you unbolt the seats and connectors remove both seats form the vehicle an set off to the side. you will want a flat surface to work on them. I use the truck bed personally due to it being elevated or you can simply lay a blanket down and do it on the floor.

    Step 3: Removing center console area. Pics below for reference. Open the center console lid. First we remove the trim around the shifter. Using a trim remover or flatblade (wrap the tip in electrical tape) on the back edge(where the empty card slot is) or on the drivers side pry and lift up and it will pop off and set it to the side. Next the cup holder trim, the back/top of it where the console lid would cover on both sides you see a small line where the trim is devided, pry there slightly on each side while pulling up and and the clips will disengage and you lift up on it around the edges and it is now free to pull out off to the passenger side and set to the side.
    *Now at the bottom of the center console you will see 4, 10 mm bolts remove all 4 of those and then 2 screws at the front of the console piece close to the shifter. There is 1 white connector you see at the front of the console disconnect this and you can pull it back slightly is all you will need, this is to run the seat harnesses.
    Link for video.
    https://youtu.be/Gcg7Ryk8oeg

    IMG_0340.jpg IMG_0339.jpg IMG_0341.jpg


    Step 4: Routing harness & hooking up power & ground. Pics below for reference. You will dis-connect the seat heater harness from the heater pads and set the pads off to the side & also disconnect the switches from the harness, we will locate them next step. From the center console area you will lift up where carpet spots and feed the harness(heater pad plugs) thru the carpet along side of the factory floor harness and pull out enough slack to plug them in, you will need them to reach further than the factory harness. about 8-10 inches. no have both harness are met in the middle, take the ground wire from each seat harness and crimp them both together with the eye-hole connector. and take both red power wires and crimp them together using the spade connector.
    *Down on the passenger side of the hvac ducting you will see an empty bolt hole, this is where you will ground the harness using the m6x1 bolt.
    *For power You will tap into 1 of the cig outlet power wires. using the blue wire tap then take the power wires and connect to the splice. I used the front power outlets as i have my cb and chargers power thru the rear ones.
    *Now the excess harness & relays I zip tied together and secured them to the floor harness under the hvac ducts, and keep the ends that go to the switch up in the middle of the 2 vents in front on the center console. Keep track of which one goes to which side( you can sharpie or put a piece of electrical tape on the connector end for the drivers side. Also disregard the mess, It got a pretty through cleaning afterwards.
    IMG_0312.jpg IMG_0313.jpg IMG_0314.jpg IMG_0315.jpg IMG_0316.jpg IMG_0317.jpg IMG_0344.jpg

    Step 5: Mounting the switches. I choose to mount mine right behind the main cup holders, they are easy to use form either seat and a clean finish. There is a drilling template that was included with the instruction of this it. I used a 20 mm step bit you will drill from the back side(see below) you want to get close to the middle of the back to it will set flush. Once the hole is drilled slide the switch in from the top, it will be tight but it will fit.
    IMG_0319.jpg IMG_0318.jpg IMG_0321.jpg

    Step 6: Now you can re-assembled the center console are back together. Connect the power outlet connector and slide it forward and bolt it down (4 bolts & 2 screws) Now re-installed the cup holder trim, connecting the seat heat harness to the appropriate switch. and finally the shifter bezel.

    Now the fun part. Seat Dis-assembly & re-assembly is very similar between both front seats, so I will put them together. The trim pieces are the worst part of these as you fell like you will be breaking them. The larger trim piece on the outside is the main difference. Below is a Video I put together to help walk you thru the seat section. I am not a professional cameraman, so there will be some oops and bad camera holding, Holding the phone and doing a 2 hand install was fun. Also feel free to ignore the 12 year old voice you hear, I sound horrible through audio.

    Basic seat cover removal & install video below. In the videos i described how the placement of the heater pad should be but i did forget to mention like the kit I got had built in adhesive. This goes adhesive side down on the yellow seat cushion material.

    Link for seat removal and cover removal/Install: https://youtu.be/Jyt_xMX5O_E
    Seat bottom IMG_0303.jpg seat backIMG_0305.jpg
     
  2. Jan 27, 2018 at 8:51 PM
    #2
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Great job! Great write up! Thanks for sharing!
     
  3. Jan 27, 2018 at 8:53 PM
    #3
    trdlife

    trdlife [OP] Toyota Master Technician

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    Thank you. It was a lengthy write up, but an upgrade I think a lot would consider wanting to do
     
    thatsscience likes this.
  4. Jan 27, 2018 at 8:53 PM
    #4
    TXRailRoadBandit73

    TXRailRoadBandit73 YOTAS,RAILROADER,RÖKnRÖLLN',BEER,MAX/GEMMA

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    Would like to do as well!
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2018
    trdlife[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  5. Jan 27, 2018 at 9:34 PM
    #5
    Ely010606

    Ely010606 New Member

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    Pretty nice write up.
     
    trdlife[OP] likes this.
  6. Jan 27, 2018 at 10:10 PM
    #6
    GAknight

    GAknight New Member

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    Yes...Thank you for the write up!
    I have a set of these (Christmas) from SparksParts...on the mod list, when I have time. I'm debating on a leather upgrade as well. I keep telling myself, I've gotta pull the trigger so I can do everything at one time.
    This will definitely come in handy, I'm sure.

    I was just looking at the Rostra site yesterday and was thinking how difficult it could be to add in their temp dials. Not sure if it would be a straight replacement or if they would have to work in tandem???

    http://www.rostra.com/comfortheat-automotive-seat-heater-by-rostra.php
     
    trdlife[OP] likes this.
  7. Jan 28, 2018 at 4:19 AM
    #7
    rodm1

    rodm1 New Member

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    Nice! Can you feel the heatpad?
     
    trdlife[OP] likes this.
  8. Jan 28, 2018 at 5:38 AM
    #8
    Slayer

    Slayer Member

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    Nicely Done
    great write up
    Thank-You.. doing this soon

    we have so many talented people here
     
    trdlife[OP] likes this.
  9. Jan 28, 2018 at 6:33 AM
    #9
    porkitt

    porkitt New Member

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    @trdlife Thank you for the write up. I will work on this soon
     
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  10. Jan 28, 2018 at 7:04 AM
    #10
    trdlife

    trdlife [OP] Toyota Master Technician

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    Yea it heats up pretty quick too. I can put in on high and it will get warm by the time I get to the highway(2 blocks for me)
     
  11. Jan 28, 2018 at 7:08 AM
    #11
    trdlife

    trdlife [OP] Toyota Master Technician

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    Good, I hope the write up will help and yea if you are thinking about upgrading to leather that would be the time to do it by just switching out the covers. And the back seats are fairly simple as well just bigger but same concept as the front seats to switch out. And for the dials it looks as though they good go in place of he switch like I used. Some of our factory Toyota use that dial type as the switch.
     
    GAknight[QUOTED] likes this.
  12. Jan 28, 2018 at 7:30 AM
    #12
    71_340

    71_340 The German

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    Very good and detailed write up, you got some nice Snap-On tools! Enjoy your heated seats, I sure do mine.
     
    trdlife[OP] likes this.
  13. Jan 28, 2018 at 7:38 AM
    #13
    94slowbra

    94slowbra New Member

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    Thanks for the write up and info. This is now on my list if to-do's
     
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  14. Jan 28, 2018 at 7:57 AM
    #14
    trdlife

    trdlife [OP] Toyota Master Technician

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    Thank you yea I’m digging them, should’ve done them awhile ago. And yea that thermal imaging gun is pretty sweet
     
  15. Jan 28, 2018 at 9:10 AM
    #15
    ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo New Member

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    Wow, hat tip for a great write-up...those are awesome!!
     
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  16. Jan 28, 2018 at 9:53 AM
    #16
    soarvet

    soarvet New Member

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    Awesome! Thanks for the detailed write-up.
     
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  17. Jan 28, 2018 at 10:05 AM
    #17
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Outstanding write up. Those Snap On Thermal Imagers are nice! We use Fluke Imagers at work.
     
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  18. Jan 28, 2018 at 11:30 AM
    #18
    GAknight

    GAknight New Member

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    Good info...Thanks bud!
     
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  19. Jan 28, 2018 at 11:47 AM
    #19
    trdlife

    trdlife [OP] Toyota Master Technician

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    Thanks I appreciate that. Yea I finally broke down and got one. Even on sale it was a cringing purchase.
     
  20. Jan 28, 2018 at 12:24 PM
    #20
    Laz1388

    Laz1388 New Member

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    Well done sir, thanks for the detailed write up
     
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  21. Jan 28, 2018 at 3:42 PM
    #21
    Stulloh

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    So I tried this today, 15 mins in the airbag deployed which shot the beer in my hand through the back window. Blew multiple fuses which started a small fire. Electrical system seems to be fried. Truck won’t start but my seat heats up so hot that I fried bacon on the passengers seat....


    Ok none of that happened, nice write up!
     
  22. Jan 28, 2018 at 3:51 PM
    #22
    trdlife

    trdlife [OP] Toyota Master Technician

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    Holy shit man way to give me a heart attack lol. I was like what lol I said disconnect the battery lol. I did manage to slice my had up pretty good on mine still
     
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  23. Mar 3, 2018 at 7:41 PM
    #23
    tomeks81

    tomeks81 New Member

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    Great write up! Love the switch placement.
     
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  24. Jan 16, 2019 at 3:54 AM
    #24
    Mclugnut

    Mclugnut New Member

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    Just did this and it worked great very easy!!!!!! Good write up!
     
    trdlife[OP] likes this.
  25. Jan 17, 2019 at 10:32 AM
    #25
    ccdawnpatrol

    ccdawnpatrol New Member

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    This is a great write up. I am about to do mine in early February. Was there anything he may have missed or something that would help make it go quicker?
     
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  26. Jan 17, 2019 at 11:34 AM
    #26
    PotentPotables

    PotentPotables "Where we're going we don't need roads."

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    I added this kit a few months ago on my SR5. There were two things I found helpful:
    1. My Tundra had unused 20A heated seat fuse which, is where I tapped into get power.
    2. At the time, I was installing Katzkin leather seats. While I used hog rings for the install generally, I found it easier to use zip-ties on areas where the heating elements were. Just a little piece of mind as I really didn't want to accidentally clip any area of the heating elements with the metal rings.

    Good luck. It's totally worth a couple hours of your time to have a warm arss.
     
  27. Jan 21, 2019 at 11:52 AM
    #27
    trdlife

    trdlife [OP] Toyota Master Technician

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    Thank you, I'm glad it helped make it go smooth. I appreciate the feedback.
     
  28. Oct 25, 2019 at 10:10 AM
    #28
    graves037

    graves037 New Member

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    So cutting holes in the heating pad for the hog rings is okay?
     
  29. Oct 25, 2019 at 10:47 AM
    #29
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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  30. Oct 25, 2019 at 11:07 AM
    #30
    ZeRussian

    ZeRussian New Member

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    Since it’s the season for ass heaters, for those interested in getting a set, look at these: Besond car seat heater carbon... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MEE2FOR?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

    Same as OP’s except the switches fit in one of the blank spaces for a cleaner install. They also give you the ability to dial in the temperature setting instead of high/lo
     
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