2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Heated Seat Controls???

[MarkF]

I have the oppertunity to swap my factory leather power drivers side seats for Factory leather power, heated seats. The swap-in seats came from a wreck that is long gone with the controls. The big question is How do I go about controlling the factory heated seats, is the wiring in place in my 01?

If it all works out there will be a set of grey leather factory seats with power drivers side, with center console for sale very soon.

Thanks

Mark

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Convenience CODE package check

What you will find to be absolutely crucial is determining the various convenience groups CODE packages that came with your truck when it rolled off the line, that essentially describe all the options fitted. That will determine if it was "ready" but "not equipped". DC has on occasion configured the wiring loom deltas into the basic configuration, thus making your proposed upgrade relatively painless.

 

[MarkF]

What you will find to be absolutely crucial is determining the various convenience groups CODE packages that came with your truck when it rolled off the line, that essentially describe all the options fitted. That will determine if it was "ready" but "not equipped". DC has on occasion configured the wiring loom deltas into the basic configuration, thus making your proposed upgrade relatively painless.

Sounds good, now how does one go about checking that out?

 

[JyRO]

If its not painless...forget it...

I have the heated seats. They are... ok I guess. I wind up turning them completely off about the time the coolant starts warming up. They get too hot for me, even on low. I don't let my truck pre-warm. If I did, and jumped in with an already warmed seat, it may be a bigger benefit.



- JyRO

 

[MarkF]

I've been in too many rental cars with heated seats to no tdo it. I love em, especially with a bad back. I was planning on installing the aftermarket heaters that have been mentione din other forums, but If I can get the factory deal, (which I can at this point) I'd rather go that route. I just don't want to open a can of worms.

I know they have low and high settings, is just a matter of sending 12 V to one side or the other of the heater in the seat Low Vs High, or is ther some other controller/circuitry between the heating elements in the seat and the factory control switch?

 

[MarkF]

I knew better, but... ... ..... I was in the neighborhood so I stopped by my local dealer. There an OK bunch there, not the typical horror show you read about on the TDR usually. But I went to the parts dept to see what they listed for heated seat controlls. The parts monkey was lost with this one so he said check out the sevice monkeys. Went to the service monkey cage and explained what I wanted to do and just wanted to know how the seats were controlled, was it just a simple on-off switch or was there some kind of controller.

First thing they do is go into panic mode. Now y'all have seen monkeys panic right? They go runing and climbing around their cage really fast and start screaching and throwin monkey poop all around.

They tell me no way no how did they want to get involved with that project. If it didn't come with the truck they weren't puttin it on. I handed them a few bananas and explained that I was going to do the install myself since the Comp and BHAF would void any warrantee I had on the seats anyways. I just wanted to know if there was a controller I needed besides switches. The head monkey (read monkey manager) scampered off to the grease monkey cage to talk to the gorrillas swinging under the lifts. He swings back making that funny face with the lips all wide open, lights up his banana with a zippo lighter that I still cant figure out where he had it, and tells me there is a resistor that controlls the voltage that goes to the seats and it is integral with the swich. Go see the parts monkey again.

Back to the parts monkey cage: Long story short... they found the switch on their computer, thank god, cause if the part aint on the computer we all know it just doesn't exist. They don't have one in stock, and cant tell me if it has any kind of controller/resistor and also cant tell me if there are any other parts associated with that system.

Get this! Parts dink tells me I need to get ahold of a service manual to see the breakdown of that mess!!! Now, tell me this, If I'm a 5 star Dodge dealer wouldn't I have a service manual or two lying around for some of the vehicles that I service with all those stars? At this I said to all the monkeys thanks for the entertainment. I actually left the place smiling, half laughing at all the cluelessnes I experienced in the same place. I got exactly what I expected.

Like I said before, I was in the neighborhood.

Mark

 

[Briman]

Funny, good analogy, never seen a monkey with a zippo before.

 

[dflack]

evolution?

Great illusion - unfortunately probably a true story... .

Once upon a time in a previous age, I lived in the jungle. At the edge of our jungle was the "parts counter". I guarded this territory; my responsibility was to protect the sanctity of the tribal hierarchy (levels of blind, dumb and stupid).

Unfortunately, I was not a good monkey - I knew what parts were, what they looked like, what they did, and how to find them, even evolved to the "higher" plane of real printed catalogs, technical specifications, technical help lines and service manuals--not just relying on the magical computer orb. I was so good the other monkeys didn't like me and I had to leave the jungle. Now when I approach any parts counter, dealer or aftermarket, I cringe - for example, one of my other vehicles is a Merkur..... "a what", No, not a what, a Merkur: M-E-R-K-U-R. If I have the patience, as you did, I might humor myself and have such a story to tell, but most often, as you know, I find myself wary of the still unevolved monkeys and do the research myself, knowing what I need, and occasionally try to stimulate a brain cell (or two, that is to say both of them) of the "parts monkey".



Isn't this website great! Evolution and survival of the fittest. May Charles Darwin bless the TDR. (that is to say NOT Rube Goldberg and his mutants most often found "hanging around" the counter)



P. S. No offense to those professionals who DO know how to look stuff up - there are still a few of you out there, thankfully.



P. S. S. No Monkeys were harmed in producing this reply.

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Service Monkeys

Originally posted by MarkF

Sounds good, now how does one go about checking that out?

(1) Do you still have the build sheet /sales sticker for your truck? All the codes and what they translate or break down into, will be listed there.



(2) Do you have access to a Factory service manual (cost $110). Well worth the purchase and absolutelý essential for this exercise.



(3) Your vehicle VIN details should, with some investigation, relate back to the factory original build codes. Even the service monkeys can relate to that!!



JMc

 

[MarkF]

I do still have the origonal window sticker. I cry when I look at it cause it has the price of the truck on it. I'll see what I can come up with.

Thanks

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Originally posted by MarkF

I do still have the origonal window sticker. I cry when I look at it cause it has the price of the truck on it. I'll see what I can come up with.

Thanks

Unless I'm very much mistaken, we are talking about "tears of joy" right? :{



JMc

 

[Weidner]

It is an easy job to complete. The hardest part is sourcing connectors for the back of the heated seat switches. Their is a Heated Seat Module under the seats. You need that module to get them to work, you don't need the heated seat relay or the highest version of the Body control module (CTM - central timer module), you can run power to the seat module and wire the switches accordingly. Get the wiring diagram and go from there. I added the heated seats and did a lot of research on the subject. I got mine to work right away and they work great. Once you have them you will never go without. PM me with any questions or concerns. These can be easily added to any truck, just a little wiring to do, not hard though. I can fax you the diagram of what you need, but I don't have it today at work.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I have seen a monkey with a zippo!



Spring Break '98 - Cancun, Mexico.



People were having their pictures taken with a primate of some sort. The man that owned the beast asked this one couple if they'd like to see the monkey smoke one of their cigarettes... they said: ... sure, what the heck.



That little thing opened up the pack, took out a ciggabutt... . flipped the zippo lid open and proceeded to light it with the cig in his mouth!



I was floored! Sure beats anything you'd see a monkey doing at the zoo.....



Matt

P. S. - Good luck with the seats!

 

[Mtngoat]

Building codes

When I bought my 2000 3500 in Independence ,MO, I asked them if they could get me the window sticker somehow. They said they could not, but they could get me a build sheet with EVERYTHING listed with code numbers. I can't remember what it was called, but it had the number 14 in it. Something like code 14, or section 14 or something like that. I spose if you asked the dealer, he should know what I am talking about. The finance guy is the one who got it for me. I don't know if this is what you want but it is interesting to see what all was on my truck when it came down the assembly line. .



Robin

 

[MarkF]

Weidner, Thanks for sharing that info. I was just about to post em up for sale. I called DC direct with a number the previosly mentioned parts monkey gave me. You want to talk about Zoo on a phone!!

First dial the number... . listen to recorded message... . press 2, listen to another recorded message..... press 1, leads to a third recorded message... . press 2, another recorded message... enter my phone number ###-###-####... ... . listen to the next recorded message..... press 5... . (elapsed time at this point 3 min). Wait on hold listen to elevator music..... I hate elevators!!! Finally get Steve on the phone. Ask the seat questions and get "can I put you on hold while I consult with a technition?" Shure! I've got nothing better to do with my entire day. Steve comes back with the expected answer. We dont think you can do that but we aren't completely sure how they are controlled. It might involve the PCM, it might not, there is no wiring provisions if the truck didn't come with the seats, most people aren't capable of adding something like that so DC doesn't even supply a kit to install the seats later. I said "I'm not most people and one way or the other my buns are gonna toast!" So Steve tells me go to the dealer and take a look at the service manual and you should be able to identify all the components you need and order them. I about loose my shn*tz at this point since Bongo the parts monkey told me the same thing, but didn't seem to have a service manual at a five star dealer. Super chimp (Steve) on the phone says: "Try another dealer"!!!!! WTF!!!!!! I take it all with a grain of salt, but find it incredible that DC can't come up with a definate, confident answer.



Again Thanks Weidner I will PM you in a day or two when I get a fax number you can send the diagram to.



Disclaimer: No monkeys were harmed during the production of this thread, most names were changed to protect the ignorant and cluless, restrictions apply, offer not valid in states where smoking bananas is discoraged or prohibited. Your mileage may vary. Closed course, profesional drivers don't try this at home.