Heated seats - after market elements?

AdrianH · 25-02-16, 04:50 PM

Like all ur-Quattros my drivers side seat heating has packed up, probably long ago. I've got to take the seat apart in the next couple of weeks to install a new seat base, and it occurred to me that I could insert one of the fit yourself seat heating elements I've seen. Does anyone have the electrical specs for the ur-Quattro seat heaters I can use to match a new element to, so I don't melt everything / blow up the dashboard and ECU / cause a fire etc?

Adrian

Duffy3074 · 25-02-16, 06:17 PM

The modern elements are much more efficient than the old so they should draw much less current. You should be fine

john johnson · 25-02-16, 06:33 PM

Stuart did it several years ago on his mb using after market ones and put the toggle switch on the side of the console , it looked factory and worked s treat
https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/311226366969

BackintheFold · 13-10-21, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianH

Like all ur-Quattros my drivers side seat heating has packed up, probably long ago. I've got to take the seat apart in the next couple of weeks to install a new seat base, and it occurred to me that I could insert one of the fit yourself seat heating elements I've seen. Does anyone have the electrical specs for the ur-Quattro seat heaters I can use to match a new element to, so I don't melt everything / blow up the dashboard and ECU / cause a fire etc?

Adrian

Thread resurrection here....
Obviously JJ's eBay reference is long dead.
I've got my leather seats in pieces. The seat heat pad is dead, as is the backrest. I think i can fix the backrest as i can see two broken soldering points.

However, I think the seat pad is done for.

Has anyone repaired theirs recently?
The problem is the horizontal bars seem to preclude sliding in a replacement pad, or if you do then they may get sandwiched by the bars...

Duffy3074 · 14-10-21, 08:51 AM

I’ve used after market kits to replace several OEM failed heating elements on various Porsche’s, E class Mercs and my daughter’s mk7 Fiesta.
The kits are fairly generic and it’s really easy to overthink the fitting
It’s just a heating element with a resistance, you’ll maybe end up with a slightly hotter seat than before (I find the modern elements to be more efficient) but outwith that it’s just a case of cutting them to shape and inserting them, i usually cut the connector off of the old elements and solder that onto the new element for the sake of tidiness.
It’s dead easy as long as you’re comfortable with hog rings and pliers

BackintheFold · 14-10-21, 09:11 AM

except with these seats there are horizontal bars in two places along the seat base, so the pad has to be VERY special-power going round the edges and just fabric loops to hold it in place across the bars.

I did think of just putting it at the very back of the seat, or of just using one in the backrest, but at the end of the day it really isn't a necessity.

If i change my mind, its not too hard to remove the seats and do it later.

Duffy3074 · 14-10-21, 10:17 AM

The metal bars holding the top cover onto the base are common to every seat I’ve ever worked on.
You take the cover off, cut away from the element what’s required to go around these and put them back on
As long as there’s a circuit it’ll work
It’s all very standard stuff

BackintheFold · 14-10-21, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duffy3074

The metal bars holding the top cover onto the base are common to every seat I’ve ever worked on.
You take the cover off, cut away from the element what’s required to go around these and put them back on
As long as there’s a circuit it’ll work
It’s all very standard stuff

Wellll, ok then. I've ordered a seats worth. My concern is the more i have to cut off, the less the resistance will be, so the higher the current and heat will be. Mind you, the set I've bought has a thermostat in so that should take care of that, provided the fuse doesn't pop. It'll just warm up super fast.

Did you use the hog rings or cable ties?

(mission creep here I come...)

Duffy3074 · 14-10-21, 12:48 PM

I used hog rings with the correct long reach pliers, very straightforward with these I felt

BackintheFold · 14-10-21, 03:42 PM

Thank-would you recommend (from Amazon) any of these? I need the rings too of course!

Sealey HRP002 Hog Ring Plier with Pistol Grip, 180mm Length
or
Cornwell Tools 8" Hog Ring Pliers Cushion Grip Handle 1.75” Ring PSGHRP
or
Kamtop Hog Ring Pliers Kit and 300 PCS 3/4inch Galvanized Steel Hog Rings Included for Shock Cords Bagging Traps Bungee Sausage Casing Meat Pet Cages

25-02-16, 06:33 PM	#3
john johnson Moderator of sausages Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: sheffield Posts: 13,331	Stuart did it several years ago on his mb using after market ones and put the toggle switch on the side of the console , it looked factory and worked s treat https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/311226366969 __________________ Mr OCD http://s159.photobucket.com/albums/t144/jsquatts/ Daily rs4 b7 with buckets that play havoc with my piles And if you are reading this as James may would say ' you're a cock '

14-10-21, 09:11 AM	#6
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,171	except with these seats there are horizontal bars in two places along the seat base, so the pad has to be VERY special-power going round the edges and just fabric loops to hold it in place across the bars. I did think of just putting it at the very back of the seat, or of just using one in the backrest, but at the end of the day it really isn't a necessity. If i change my mind, its not too hard to remove the seats and do it later. __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur

14-10-21, 03:42 PM	#10
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,171	Thank-would you recommend (from Amazon) any of these? I need the rings too of course! Sealey HRP002 Hog Ring Plier with Pistol Grip, 180mm Length or Cornwell Tools 8" Hog Ring Pliers Cushion Grip Handle 1.75” Ring PSGHRP or Kamtop Hog Ring Pliers Kit and 300 PCS 3/4inch Galvanized Steel Hog Rings Included for Shock Cords Bagging Traps Bungee Sausage Casing Meat Pet Cages __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur

25-02-16, 06:17 PM	#2
Duffy3074 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Dalgety Bay, Fife Posts: 2,078	The modern elements are much more efficient than the old so they should draw much less current. You should be fine

14-10-21, 08:51 AM	#5
Duffy3074 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Dalgety Bay, Fife Posts: 2,078	I’ve used after market kits to replace several OEM failed heating elements on various Porsche’s, E class Mercs and my daughter’s mk7 Fiesta. The kits are fairly generic and it’s really easy to overthink the fitting It’s just a heating element with a resistance, you’ll maybe end up with a slightly hotter seat than before (I find the modern elements to be more efficient) but outwith that it’s just a case of cutting them to shape and inserting them, i usually cut the connector off of the old elements and solder that onto the new element for the sake of tidiness. It’s dead easy as long as you’re comfortable with hog rings and pliers

14-10-21, 10:17 AM	#7
Duffy3074 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Dalgety Bay, Fife Posts: 2,078	The metal bars holding the top cover onto the base are common to every seat I’ve ever worked on. You take the cover off, cut away from the element what’s required to go around these and put them back on As long as there’s a circuit it’ll work It’s all very standard stuff

14-10-21, 12:48 PM	#9
Duffy3074 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Dalgety Bay, Fife Posts: 2,078	I used hog rings with the correct long reach pliers, very straightforward with these I felt