Topic: Heated seat kit - group buy

[DCLocal]

I also received my seat heaters-yay!  But the switches are a bit of bummer and I now better understand the limitations for installing.  I didn't realize how deep the switches are, let alone that they're wired from the rear.  Is there enough room to mount them on the door panel under the power door lock switch?

For 2kwk4u, looking at the way you installed your switches below the A/C controls, is there enough space to move them up slightly so they are centered between the bottom of the A/C controls and the top of the radio?

I also ordered two 20 amp pigtail fuses so if only one is indeed needed for both seats, someone at the meet can have my extra fuse.

[TomatoSoup]

For 2kwk4u, looking at the way you installed your switches below the A/C controls, is there enough space to move them up slightly so they are centered between the bottom of the A/C controls and the top of the radio?

If you mean me, when talking about the switches above the radio... the answer is no, there's not enough clearance to mount them higher, due to the A/C controller box.  You may be able to better see why here...


It doesn't look at all bad though, when the radio's in place (better than the photo without it).  If you want, I'll take a photo now it's all installed.

[DCLocal]

If you mean me, when talking about the switches above the radio... the answer is no, there's not enough clearance to mount them higher, due to the A/C controller box. 

Ah yes my mistake, especially since 2kwk4u hasn't installed his yet!  I guess I just automatically think of 2kwk4u when I see anything disassembled on a Solstice, no doubt from his early Solstice days and all the pictures he posted a couple of years ago.

Thank you for the picture, it is very helpful.  So far I'm partial to the dash mounting but am somewhat anal for symmetry.  A finished picture would be great at some point.  I'm just not sure about dash disassembly.

[spicy3480]

JPM  is installing mine at the meet. Ask them.

[2kwk4u]

Ah yes my mistake, especially since 2kwk4u hasn't installed his yet!  I guess I just automatically think of 2kwk4u when I see anything disassembled on a Solstice, no doubt from his early Solstice days and all the pictures he posted a couple of years ago.

Thank you for the picture, it is very helpful.  So far I'm partial to the dash mounting but am somewhat anal for symmetry.  A finished picture would be great at some point.  I'm just not sure about dash disassembly.

Easy mistake.    I'm mounting mine this weekend.  I'm absolutely with you on the placement, DC.  I might take mine a step further and see if there's room to disassemble and modify the housing on the HVAC control "head unit" to scoot the switches up some.  If I have any sort of breakthrough, I'll post it.

[TomatoSoup]

Easy mistake.    I'm mounting mine this weekend.  I'm absolutely with you on the placement, DC.  I might take mine a step further and see if there's room to disassemble and modify the housing on the HVAC control "head unit" to scoot the switches up some.  If I have any sort of breakthrough, I'll post it.

Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt

Unfortunately the A/C controller PC board is way down low (close to the dash panel).  IIRC there's just no room to modify the box enough to get enough clearance for the switches.
Unless, of course, you use the 'Goat method' ...    

I'll take some pictures of the finished dash and post later today.

I'm just not sure about dash disassembly.

Oh that's the EASY part.  Really not difficult at all... everything pops off except the two bolts holding the passenger grab handle.

[TomatoSoup]

So far I'm partial to the dash mounting but am somewhat anal for symmetry.  A finished picture would be great at some point.

OK, so I popped out and took a photo.  As you can see, the Solstice dash is SO asymmetrical anyway, that the switches look OK where they are (IMO).  However, as I look at this and reviewing my previous post, it's possible that you could grind the edge of the A/C controller box enough to raise the switches up maybe 1/8 to 3/16 inch.  Still wouldn't be symmetric, but might improve the look a little more.  (Not that I, personally, would incur the damage and risk for this, but you could.)
And while we're on the subject...  why oh WHY didn't they vertically align the two air vents?  It grates me every time I look at them... 



Adding photo (by 2quick, no less!) of controller internals:

[2kwk4u]

Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt

Unfortunately the A/C controller PC board is way down low (close to the dash panel).  IIRC there's just no room to modify the box enough to get enough clearance for the switches.
Unless, of course, you use the 'Goat method' ...    

Since you're throwing down the gauntlet, I'll gladly accept your challenge 

Thanks for digging out that picture.  Forgot I had that one

[reedred]

Is a date announced for the next SMMM?

If I can make it, I have no problem helping out. 

http://kappaperformance.com/forum/index.php?topic=3539.0

Hope you can make it!  (And not just because I want the exact same seat heater install...)

[jonymac]

Anybody know what the sheet of reflective tape is for?  No mention in the instructions.  Seems to be enough to put on the front or back side of one of the pads, but not both...  Is it meant to reflect the heat?  How did you guys use it?

[TomatoSoup]

Mine didn't have reflective tape, but it did have peel&stick tape - for taping the edges of the heater pads to keep them in place.  I actually used some wide double-sided tape instead for mine.

[2kwk4u]

The only place I see that tape maybe mentioned in the instructions is for an insulator around the bars in hog ring-type seats.

[1LILNDN]

jonymac ,TomatoSoup , 2kwk4u Is there any way to Locate the switches on the side of the seat.                  Unless it a thing that you have to see its just a Rocker type switch.

[LiquidPT]

The only place I see that tape maybe mentioned in the instructions is for an insulator around the bars in hog ring-type seats.

Did anybody else think the instructions weren't exactly English? Or was it just really late when I tried to read them? I couldn't understand about half of what they were trying to say...

[TomatoSoup]

jonymac ,TomatoSoup , 2kwk4u Is there any way to Locate the switches on the side of the seat.                  Unless it a thing that you have to see its just a Rocker type switch.

Sorry, No.  There's no hard plastic on the seat sides to mount the switches in (just clipped/stretched leatherette or cloth ).

[1LILNDN]

on the frame of the seat where theseat riser switch is

[elff]

That would only help on the Driver side.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make this MM.

[LiquidPT]

on the frame of the seat where theseat riser switch is

And on the passenger seat?

[spicy3480]

So does anyone have these things installed and working?  How are they?  Mine are sitting in my closet waiting for JPM to install them with my new seats at the Maryland Mod Meet.

[TomatoSoup]

So does anyone have these things installed and working?  How are they?  Mine are sitting in my closet waiting for JPM to install them with my new seats at the Maryland Mod Meet.

Yes. Great. Get out there and install them!

[1LILNDN]

That would only help on the Driver side.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make this MM.

Elff  the SMMM7 Dates are being Changed as per Joe check with him or keep reading Posts

[elff]

Unfortunately April doesn't work for me.
No worries I'll make the next one.
I'm also going to a bunch of the drift events. Gotta cheer our kappas to victory.

[2kwk4u]

Got mine installed today...  yes, the instructions are in Engrish (not exactly english).  They work well.  Not sure if my passenger's seat works as well as the driver's side.  I cut bigger "slots" in the passenger's side elements for the velcro to contact through.

I was able to mount my switches higher than TomatoSoup did, but I had to file the housing for the HVAC controls to do it...  I'll post pics soon.

[LiquidPT]

Got mine installed today...  yes, the instructions are in Engrish (not exactly english).  They work well.  Not sure if my passenger's seat works as well as the driver's side.  I cut bigger "slots" in the passenger's side elements for the velcro to contact through.

I was able to mount my switches higher than TomatoSoup did, but I had to file the housing for the HVAC controls to do it...  I'll post pics soon.

Yes please. I saw that teaser pic you did, and I want to do that...

Were you able to use the stock wiring as is, or did you have to add any? Would love a how-to (or at least routing, placement, etc)

[2kwk4u]

I mounted the relays to the undersides of the seats and had to extend the wires to mount the switches where they are.  Probably a good 4' extension on each 4-wire loom.  I tied the ground to the ground post that's under the e-brake trim panel and ran my wiring alongside the existing harness that's under there.  I spliced both power wires together and soldered them to a 14-gauge wire that I ran to the BCM.  I found a terminal on connector C1 that's tied to a fuse marked "empty" or "spare" in the fuse panel.  That circuit is actually ignition-switched and on retained accessory power (that goes off after you turn off the ignition and open either door... or after 10 minutes without opening a door).