Install Aftermarket Heated Seats in a Mazda MPV With Leather Upholstery

Inserts to convert car seats to heated seats can be purchased at several places online. It took about three hours to install such a kit in a Mazda MPV.

Steps

  1. Buy a kit online. A carbon fiber kit is more durable than the single wire kits, as the carbon fiber mesh continues to work, even if it is broken in places. A waterproof kit may be a good idea for convertibles, or if you ever want to steam clean your interior.
  2. Read the generic instructions such as listed here[1]
  3. Snap open the four plastic covers that hide the 14mm bolts that hold the seat to the car with a short wide blade screwdriver. The covers fold away from the seat.
  4. Loosen the bolts for the seat, and move the electric power seat forward so you can reach the plugs for the airbags before disconnecting the battery.
  5. Disconnect battery ground with car off and key in the ignition to prevent airbag problems.
  6. Lift the seat out of the car, careful not to scratch anything and not to damage the connectors dangling underneath.
  7. Remove the armrest after unzipping the leather by loosening the 14mm bolt.
  8. Loosen the upholstery from the backrest by sliding a screwdriver from one side to the other to loosen the two interlocked plastic pieces that are sown onto the leather at the bottom.
  9. Unzip the sides.
  10. Remove the grab bar on the back by unsnapping the two plastic covers and unscrewing the the Philips head screws.
  11. Pull the leather off the seat, leaving the airbag side alone, just enough so you can tape the heating pad in place.
  12. Reinstall the upholstery, with the wire coming out at the same side as the airbag wire. The two plastic pieces will snap together by overlapping them.
  13. Take this time to clean the leather.
  14. Reinstall the armrest.
  15. Lay the seat on edge, with the power buttons facing down.
  16. Remove the sub mount for the car seat (4 nuts, also 14mm), so you have access to the clamp sown to the cloth piece of the leather.
  17. Pull the cloth pieces off the seat bottom.
  18. Remove the leather from the bottom seat by pulling the plastic clamp pieces that are sown into the leather of the metal brackets. The side where the power buttons are can be left untouched.
  19. Pull all the Velcro loose and insert the bottom heating pad.
  20. Reinstall the upholstery.
  21. Zip tie the seat heater controller to the bottom of the seat
  22. Reinstall the bottom sub mount. The seat is now done.
  23. Lift the plastic edge along the door that holds the carpet down straight up. If you are lucky the front most plastic clamp piece won't break off. If it breaks, that is OK, it is not essential.
  24. Pull the bottom piece of the center console straight back, otherwise the two plastic clamps may break off.
  25. Pull the plastic piece under the steering wheel down and out (It pivots on its lower mounts)
  26. Open the glove compartment slightly and lift the left side up to get it loose, than it will slide out the right side.
  27. Find the six screws that hold the center console in place. Remove all six screws and pull the center console straight back.
  28. Lead the wire from the seat to the center console by guiding it under the carpet (Reach in under the carpet from the door)
  29. Connect the 12V line to the cigarette lighter wire (purple/pink)
  30. Connect the ground to the ground lug next to the gas pedal.
  31. Drill 3/4" hole in the center console, low enough to not interfere with anything else for the switch. Install and connect the switch
  32. Reinstall center console and three smaller plastic pieces
  33. Reinstall the seat.
  34. Reconnect the battery ground.

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.heatedseatkits.com/installation.html

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