Upgrading to heated seats possible using OEM components?

Post by **ThaddeusTheBold** » 08 Apr 2022, 04:37

Hi,

I have tired cloth seats in my 1998 with no seat heaters. Seat heaters are nice to have in Minnesota.

Yesterday I had the console out for an unrelated repair and I noted there looked to be wiring harness/plugs running to a spot in the console up near the ashtray where switches "could" go. I assume those 2 missing switches are for seat heaters.

It got me thinking... is the harness already in place throughout? If I were to find some nice leather seats with seat heaters, would I just be able to plug them in?

If that's the case,the task list would be:

(1) Source the heated seats, install
(2) Find seat heater switches, install
(3) Add a fuse or relay (??) to the circuit path... is there an unused socket somewhere?

Is it possible it could be this simple?

Post by **abscate** » 08 Apr 2022, 04:38

Yes it is. I’ve even got lots of seat heaters in various conditions here. Should be able to get them into a large usps box ?

Post by **ThaddeusTheBold** » 08 Apr 2022, 06:14

Very cool! I will begin searching for the seats then, I may reach out if I need the heater. Any ideas where I could find the switches?

Post by **abscate** » 08 Apr 2022, 08:53

I’ve got them too, I think. Maybe do some checking to see if 1998-9-00 are all compatible

Post by **erikv11** » 08 Apr 2022, 17:02

For a 98 everything should already be in place. There will be empty sockets under the switch blanks to plug the switches into, and unused sockets under the seat.

There is space in the fuse box for the two silver relays. I've got extra relays if you need them. 99-00 switches should be fine.

Post by **FireFox31** » 14 Apr 2022, 22:29

Is it possible to remove the heaters from one seat and install them in another? I think I saw VolvoPartsWebStore mention that this is not possible.

I may get the 350k mile Geronimo heated seats which are quite trashed. I'm nervous that the heating elements might be broken, thus a fire/pain hazard (I've seen a broken wire in a P2 and heard it was painful). It would be nice to add seats heaters if I end up replacing the covering on my seats.

Post by **abscate** » 14 Apr 2022, 23:35

I’ve got loose ones to explore but I’m connecting home from overseas at moment on a nasty broken travel leg

I will be home tomorrow/today for a bit though or a horrible airline statistic

Post by **abscate** » 16 Apr 2022, 03:26

I managed to find some in between trips for Easter. The heater elements are really easy to remove from the foam.

They probably only rate at about 50 watts max, so 4 amps draw at 12xvolts. They should test out on Zohms scale at about 3 ohms +_ 1 or so

Post by **foggydogg** » 16 Apr 2022, 11:05

abscate wrote: 14 Apr 2022, 23:35 I’ve got loose ones to explore but I’m connecting home from overseas at moment on a nasty broken travel leg

I will be home tomorrow/today for a bit though or a horrible airline statistic

An old friend visited me in DC, and got caught by weather/staffing/sun-spot airline goofiness. She had to spend the night at the airport in Newark, and says she may have seen a few new forms of life.

Post by **abscate** » 16 Apr 2022, 12:32

I’ve heard a Torx T20 will undo the armrests on the seats at EWR turning them into comfy beds.

That’s just a rumor though

Added heat pad pix above