Changing the switch for my heated seats

Wasn’t sure where to post this question so if it needs to be moved my bad. I would like to change the switch for my seat warmers so that when I remote start my truck they will automatically come on. Is it as simple as changing the switch to a rocker switch? I have 3 settings on my current switch if that matters! Here is a picture of my current switch.

 

So you put in aftermarket heaters?

I know with my old Tacoma I put aftermarket heaters in and all I had to do was leave them on when I turned off the truck. When I remote started it, they'd come back on. Same thing with my 2015 platinum OEM heated and cooled seats. If I leave them on they come on when I start my truck including when I start remotely.

 

Yea they are aftermarket. The switch is a push button not a rocker type switch.

 

So when you turn the truck off they turn off automatically?

I'm sure you can fix with a new switch. Or some kinda relay.

 

Yep! When I turn the truck off and restart they do not come back on even though they were on.

 

Hmmm weird. I'd try a new switch first. Would be easiest and quickest solution.

 

I had these. Was high and low. I see your switches have 3 setting so idk how that would work out

 

I also worry about the size of the hole cut for original switch..you may need a bigger switch to fill that hole?

 

Thanks man!!

 

Update: so apparently there is no way to change out the switches. They are connected by a copper colored ribbon looking thing. Frustrating!! Anyone has any other suggestions?

 

So there's no actual wires running to the switch? Very odd, if you can take a pic I'd be interested to see what's going on

 

Nope just that ribbon looking thing.

 

This is not the actual ribbon but similar.

 

Alright guys with winter coming up I really need to figure this out if possible. My current heated seats have a push button switch with the above attached ribbon like connection/wiring so a simple change of the switch will not work. What can I do to bypass the system to make my seats turn on when I remote start my truck this winter? I am willing to revert back to the original wiring after winter If i need too. If anyone has any suggestions or possible suggestion I would appreciate them. I will try and figure out how they are powered, which fuse/wire they are tapped into. @NewImprovedRon @TundraTex @Pudge @BlueBottle @Sting Ray please tag any other electrical guys that I may have missed. TIA

 

What kind of remote start do
You have? If you have a evo one with my car app it can be done very easily. If not, You could wire in a pac tr7 between the switch and the seat heater, program it to activate say when you press your lock button 3 times or something.

 

I will look into this. Thanks. Not even sure what remote start was installed by the dealer.

 

Here is the connection from the wires to the ribbon.

 

Not sure where to look for remote start Brand?

 

If it came with the truck then it’s probably OEM.

 

I would do the same. Different switch, just run wire, instead of the ribbon.

 

They had it installed with a local dealer. How would I go about finding a plug that would fit with the current plug?

 

I actually just did this. The seat shop said there is no way to change this short of changing out the entire system. It has a computer on it that prevents the seats from turning on when started due to fire hazard. So looks like I’m shit out of luck. Unless they are just telling me that to cover their asses. I have a Avital remote start by DEI.

 

Cut the wires, splice on new wires, tie those new wires into a new switch..done....

 

I would be willing to try this but the dude said there is a computer that will throw an error if I change the switch and wiring and not remove the computer. You believe this? Also they have 4 wires, how do I know where to attach each wire to the new switch? I assume I would need a switch that had a high medium and low plus a ground?@Sting Ray @NewImprovedRon

 

No worries man I don't expect a solution just you guys have much more knowledge with this sort of thing. I do not want to keep the ribbon cable, I was wondering if cutting the 4 wires in the picture below and running 4 new wires to a different switch(rocker vs the push button I have) how would I go about figuring out which wire goes where on the new rocker switch? I would do away with the ribbon cable all together. I appreciate the responses by both of you regardless if they solve my problem or not. Thanks!

 

You don't really need a new switch to do this. You should be able to just tap into the wires that activate the switch. Problem is you need someone to figure that out for you. Not something someone on the interweb can help you with. Im assuming 2 wires on that switch is for constant power and the wire 3 is for low heat and wire 4 is for high heat. Wire 3 or 4 can be sending voltage back or ground back into the controller to activate the heated seats. You need someone that is local that is either an expert alarm guy or an electrical engineer. A lot of testing will have to be done to figure out how it is wired up but it is possible to do what you want with just wiring and an output module from your remote start. That output module would short the wires needed to simulate the button being pressed. This probably sounds like a different language to you, and if does, you should go to a professional to perform this. The average alarm shop tech will not be able to do this, has to be someone with advanced or electrical engineering background. Good luck, if theres a will, theres a way.

 

you are correct I would need help figuring this out. My switch has a high med and low setting, so not sure 3 and 4 wires are for low and high heat but again you may be right. I am assuming 3 of the 4 wires are for high med and low heat and the 4th is for ground but what do i know. thanks for responding @BlueBottle

 

no i don't believe they are back-lit when the truck is on, the only light that comes on is when i hit the button to turn them on. 3, 2 or 1 light will display whether i have them on high med or low setting respectively. I will double check tomorrow if they are back-lit. thanks

 

I didn't read you had 3 settings, so what it could be is, 2 wires are for ground and power, the other 2 wires are just to switch between modes. So if you press it the button does it cycle through low-med-high-low-med-high etc? If thats the case then what I said is true and you just have to figure out which one is power, ground and your closure signal to switch modes. if 3 & 4 are in fact to switch modes, wiring up the output from a remote start in parallel with those wires should activate button presses. I wouldn't just start tapping into wires, if it was me, I would test each wire with a Multi Meter.

 

So with each push of the button it will go from: push one high, push two med, push three low, push four being off. I would be ok just figuring out which one activates the high med or low to have the seats just come on when remote starting the truck. I don't care which level comes on since I would be able to adjust it when I got in the truck.