Heated Seat Bypass Wiring

[RLBA]

Has anyone bypassed the heated seat switch and wired their heated seat so it can come on when the remote start system is used?

Thanks
Randy

[FordMudder]

I was actually wanting to wire either the 1 or 2 button to do this but could not find any documentation. Those buttons do nothing and I want to use them....

[F450Mikey]

You could wire it to an up fitter switch and leave the switch on. Then the heaters will fire up when the truck is started.

[FordMudder]

All my switches are taken. I want to use the number 2 button for my air horn as well.

[taken]

Here is what a kind poster on another forum worked up. I did it on mine. Works perfectly.

Pre-Heating Optional Heated Seats on Vehicles with Remote Start and Upfitter Switches

The optional 2008 Superduty Heated Seats operate on a resetting switch that can be activated only with the key in the ignition and by depressing the heated seat button on the dash (driver/passenger). If you don’t like sitting on cold seats, this can be a problem.

Remote Start:
For those with a remote start, upfitter switches, and heated seats, a quick hardwire alternative is present by utilizing one of the upfitter switches as a means of powering the heated seats in parallel to the dash mounted buttons (heated seat buttons remain functional)

Note: It has been reported that some remotes starters do not provide power to the upfitter switches. It is my experience dealer installed “Ford” remote starters do successfully power the upfitter switches (a must for this application to work). Verify power to the upfitter switch wiring before proceeding.

How it works once complete:

• Select the Upfitter Switch wired to the heated seat and leave in the “on” position (up)
• Remote start vehicle
• Enjoy “warm” pre-heated seats upon arrival

Tools:

• Multimeter
• Wire Connectors
• Approx. 20ft of wire (14 ga)
• Wire Cutters

Approx. Install Time – 1 hr.


Getting Started:

Remove Trim Cover beneath the Steering Wheel

Locate Four (4) Upfitter Switch Wires

Switches Color Fuse

Aux 1 Yellow 30 Amp

Aux 2 Green/Brown 30 Amp

Aux 3 Violet/Green 10 Amp

Aux 4 Brown 15 Amp

For this application, select any of the upfitter switches.

Beneath the front of each of the driver and passenger seats resides the heated seat relay.

Installation:

• Remove the door sill panel on the driver side – simply pull up along the length.
• Remove the kick panel on the driver side (near the parking brake pedal) – pull out on panel (see picture)

• Advance the driver seat to the full forward (front of vehicle) position (exposing the existing through-hole in the carpet)
• Route new power wire through the hole in carpeting beneath seat toward the driver door until exposed at door sill (currently removed)
• Route the wire through the existing cable tray beneath the door sill panel, and up through the dash to the upfitter switch wiring.
• Terminate this wire to the desired upfitter switch using wire connector.
• Return the driver seat to the full back position. Ensure adequate wire is provided for full seat travel front-to-back.
• Note: The heated seat relay is a black plastic assembly located at the front of the respective driver and passenger seat. It is clipped to the metal frame bottom of the seat structure and can be pulled/slid from the retaining clip without fear of damage (though stubborn). There is no need to remove the relay portion of the assembly from the wiring.
• Using a multimeter, check voltage and select the wire with (0 voltage) on the heated seat relay with the Ignition “on”, and heated seat selector “off “.

Verify your finding:
Toggle the corresponding heated seat switch on the dash to verify a state change from 0-volts to 12-volts on this wire when the heated seat switch is “on”. This is the wire to connect direct power from the upfitter switch. Connect upfitter switch power to this specific wire using a wire connector. Repeat for both seats (if desired).



Time Saver:

For 2008, the desired wire for my driver seat is ( Yellow / Blue ), and for my passenger seat
( Grey / Blue ). Check to verify this is correct for your application using the multimeter.

[RLBA]

Thanks Taken for this post. It looks very thourough. I will try this once my remote start is installed this week.

Randy

[taken]

Glad to pass it along Randy. I actually had two switches open so I did mine separately for the driver and passenger side. I figured I could always jump it back to one if I needed the switch in the future.