Heated Seat Retrofit

[Neanderthal]

Anyone done a heated seat retrofit?
I called Aspen Sound, they said $500 for two front seats, two heat levels.
Called the Chibby dealer, they pretty much had no clue. If it's not in a manual they get lost. Finally they said it can't be done.

THIS is where I have a wee problem with GM-exclusive dealerships. Talk about classic bureaucratic SNAFU. Is everyone at these stores locked into their boxed thinking?

I'm going to ask my KIA/Caddy dealer, service is closed today, but I'm thinking this is more a GM exclusive issue.

OK, other KIA dealer needed about 45 seconds, he said $599. That's for the Soul, not an Impala.

Anyway, any recommended kits or is this just a luck-of-the-draw gig?

Thaxx all.

[Lowboy]

Try a local interior shop.
What kind of car?

Was wondering myself about installing some LTZ seats in a LT Cruze to get the factory heated seats. Would be nice to know if the wiring is all there and just missing the components. Sometimes good deals can be found at salvage yards for correct colored heated leather seats.

[MrCritical]

It's a lot more complicated for a GM dealer. It's a lot more than "wiring".

Last time an aftermarket shop sent us a vehicle to be programmed for the rearview camera they had added, we were told by Tech Assistance in no uncertain terms, "No Way", and "don't call back".

[All Star]

Why didn't you just buy a car with heated seats in the first place?

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

It's a lot more complicated for a GM dealer. It's a lot more than "wiring".

Last time an aftermarket shop sent us a vehicle to be programmed for the rearview camera they had added, we were told by Tech Assistance in no uncertain terms, "No Way", and "don't call back".

That is just because they are ******* who don't want to help you. Just activate it in Tech II, Starconnect or whatever. It isn't big hacking.

Anyway why bother with the catbus and all that, you can just wire some relay to B+ and fuse it...

you can just peel back the leather cushion and add the seat heater grid and put the upholstery back. $599 is a large price to pay, probably new seats or something.

But it is annoying on the hands...

[Tomko]

MASS Electronics can do it.

They used to be GM's authorized radio and gauge cluster repair facility in Canada.

Here's the link to their seat heater. Available only through a dealer.

http://www.mass.ca/productshow.asp?id=322&vehicleId=0

[Neanderthal]

Try a local interior shop.
What kind of car?

Was wondering myself about installing some LTZ seats in a LT Cruze to get the factory heated seats. Would be nice to know if the wiring is all there and just missing the components. Sometimes good deals can be found at salvage yards for correct colored heated leather seats.

2012 Impala LT. Ya, junkyard is one option. I actually prefer cloth seats.

It's a lot more complicated for a GM dealer. It's a lot more than "wiring".

Last time an aftermarket shop sent us a vehicle to be programmed for the rearview camera they had added, we were told by Tech Assistance in no uncertain terms, "No Way", and "don't call back".

Haha. Sounds like the Buick dealer who "fixed" my radio. "This is our best work! AM is on its way out anyway! Listen to XM! Have a nice day! Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!"

Why didn't you just buy a car with heated seats in the first place?

Because I haven't bought it yet. And it's much more complicated than that. Heated seat models typically run several thousand more than the po folks version. Often not worth it.

That is just because they are ******* who don't want to help you. Just activate it in Tech II, Starconnect or whatever. It isn't big hacking.

Anyway why bother with the catbus and all that, you can just wire some relay to B+ and fuse it...

you can just peel back the leather cushion and add the seat heater grid and put the upholstery back. $599 is a large price to pay, probably new seats or something.

But it is annoying on the hands...

I'll check with a couple of upholstery shops. The first price was a car audio/video shop.

MASS Electronics can do it.

They used to be GM's authorized radio and gauge cluster repair facility in Canada.

Here's the link to their seat heater. Available only through a dealer.

http://www.mass.ca/productshow.asp?id=322&vehicleId=0

Thanks Tomko. I don't have a lot of faith in a GM dealer being able to put a brain around this. My experience with them has been essentially a hidebound "If it ain't in the book, it ain't!" sort of non-mentality. As I said, the KIA dealer figured it out in about 45 seconds. And I would too, for 600 bucks.

[Lowboy]

Why didn't you just buy a car with heated seats in the first place?

Because they force you to buy too much other useless garbage you may not want.
Plus they don't offer heated cloth seats.

[njtex]

Just buy an aftermarket kit and do it yourself. If you want to get fancy, upgrade the kit's switches with your car's factory originals.

[sonjaab]

Why would you call a GM dealer to put seat heaters in a POS kia?

I can see WHY the GM dealer gave you the blowoff.......................

[Lowboy]

Why would you call a GM dealer to put seat heaters in a POS kia?

I can see WHY the GM dealer gave you the blowoff.......................

2012 Impala LT. Ya, junkyard is one option. I actually prefer cloth seats.

He didn't say it was for the kia.

[Neanderthal]

He didn't say it was for the kia.

Thank you. Some people are reading-challenged. Asked KIA dealer for Soul price. Asked GM dealer for Chibby price. Crazy, huh?

[BR549]

Because they force you to buy too much other useless garbage you may not want.
Plus they don't offer heated cloth seats.

i'LL 2ND THAT. My 12 Silverado has leather seats but no heated seats. The dealership said they could put heat in them seats for 800. You will have a cold backside if your riding in that truck....Hell no I'm not paying that for that little bit you get out of it. But my wife sure likes hers on the 08 Impala LTZ..............