Heated Seats

[Skipton01]

Does anyone out there have heated seats on their A2?

If so, could you please take a photo showing where the cables exit the backrest and seat base.

I'm asking because it's come to my attention that ALL seats have heating elements built into them, but that they have the cables either cut off or tucked away at the factory if you choose not to have the option!

I'd be very grateful of a photo showing the arrangement for exiting these cables, either on the forum or in a private message. It's one thing seeing a drawing in ELSA, but another to see it in the flesh.

I've priced up the switches and new face plate and as long as I can get new cables soldered in without destroying the seats, this'll be my next retro-fit project.

WAS : A2 TDI SE 2001 Ebony Black Pearl (The Little Tank!)
NOW : A2 TDi 90 Sport, OpenSky, winter pack, ISOfix, all-round fogs, climate control, all-round electric windows, Blaupunkt Woodstock DAB54, genuine HID xenons and red leather! Not to mention CCC Tech chipping (118bhp), K&N air filter, all round tinting, all-black headlining and retro-fitted cruise control and GALA.(The NEW Tank).http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b163/skipton01/A215.jpg

[hollyrescue]

Skipton, see if this info is good enough w/out photo.
Looking from front with seat right back, there are 3 different size plugs, red, white, and green (viva Italia!!). These plugs are connected to wires which are all led out to a cable form which disappears into what looks like a bracing crosspiece in the floor, its a box section.
Photo possible but needs a bit of a contortion act from me, will do if you really need it, but concerned about damaging the PICC line in my arm. If not there's always a look at CC next Saturday.

[Skipton01]

Cheers Hollyrescue, I know about the underseat connector, it's where they exit the fabric or leather that I need to determine, so that I can 'go in' as cleanly as possible to re-connect the wires.

I'll take a look at yours next week then.

WAS : A2 TDI SE 2001 Ebony Black Pearl (The Little Tank!)
NOW : A2 TDi 90 Sport, OpenSky, winter pack, ISOfix, all-round fogs, climate control, all-round electric windows, Blaupunkt Woodstock DAB54, genuine HID xenons and red leather! Not to mention CCC Tech chipping (118bhp), K&N air filter, all round tinting, all-black headlining and retro-fitted cruise control and GALA.(The NEW Tank).http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b163/skipton01/A215.jpg

[hollyrescue]

Skipton. I've had another look, I can't detect any wires from the back rest, and can't remember if it heats. The wires from the seat squab seem to emerge from somewhere near the centre of the metal seat pan into a black connector. You may be better looking next week, it would be difficult to get a pic cos the camera would only be inches away and the flash would probably drown it.. If there is anything else I can look for let me know.
Sorry for the delay, my broadband went down.

[Skipton01]

Cheers for that - don't worry about the delay - I was out anyway.

I think that the backrest wire emerges under the airbag unit, but I'm not too sure about where the seat one comes out.

As you say, I'll take a look nect week.

WAS : A2 TDI SE 2001 Ebony Black Pearl (The Little Tank!)
NOW : A2 TDi 90 Sport, OpenSky, winter pack, ISOfix, all-round fogs, climate control, all-round electric windows, Blaupunkt Woodstock DAB54, genuine HID xenons and red leather! Not to mention CCC Tech chipping (118bhp), K&N air filter, all round tinting, all-black headlining and retro-fitted cruise control and GALA.(The NEW Tank).http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b163/skipton01/A215.jpg

[ianjohnsonws14]

Mike

When I asked the question a couple of years ago the answer I got was that the element was part of the seat cover but that there were two covers - one with heater and one without. To fit the heater I needed a new cover.
The answer to our retrofit was to change the car and SWMBO has it on from September to April!

I have them in the Honda and had them in the previous Passat and would not be without them.

Anddy - you can get afternmarket kits (see http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/seatheatac.html - there are others around) but it involves taking the cover off the seat to fit the heating element and I felt that was beyond my capability and could not find a local trimming company who would do it.

Regards

Ian

1.4 Petrol Special Edition, Ebony Black, grey leather, heated seats, climate, opensky, five spoke alloys for SWMBO (Replaced a 2002 1.4 Petrol SE) Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 iCDTi for me.

[Skipton01]

Cheers for that Ian. I've had similar contradictory advice from my dealer - he says that he doesn't know for sure, but would be surprised if the covers had heater elements built in, when I specced the car without the heat option.

He cannot explain why there is only one part number for red leather covers, which incorporates the element, nor why the workshop manual explicitly says that the connecting cable should be cut off prior to fitment.

I'll have a further delve!

WAS : A2 TDI SE 2001 Ebony Black Pearl (The Little Tank!)
NOW : A2 TDi 90 Sport, OpenSky, winter pack, ISOfix, all-round fogs, climate control, all-round electric windows, Blaupunkt Woodstock DAB54, genuine HID xenons and red leather! Not to mention CCC Tech chipping (118bhp), K&N air filter, all round tinting, all-black headlining and retro-fitted cruise control and GALA.(The NEW Tank).http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b163/skipton01/A215.jpg

[ianjohnsonws14]

Mike

It may be that the separate parts apply to cloth seats since our last A2 had the std SE black cloth (pain in the neck to keep clean) and the advice came from Martin at VAG parts when I asked what the price was for the parts to fit them - not the dealer. The leather seats may all come with the element incorporated if most people going for leather have the heaters as well. I would be very wary of re-soldering if the wires have been cut as these are high current devices and a poor contact will intoduce a fire risk - but they will normally ony be on when you are sitting on them!

More links for those condidering after market kits, still not found the one I was considering as it had trimmable panels, not all do. You also need to consider the effect on airbags and how the seat cover fixings will interfere with it - I have not seen an A2 seat in bits but experience with prototype seats for trains (that were deemed too expensive) each row of stitching accross the seat base will probably correspond to a fixing which the element has to accomodate.
http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/afc***athea.html
http://www.duettomotors.com/general/gen_seatheaters.htm
http://www.webastoshowroom.com/seatcomfort/seatheat.htm

Ian

1.4 Petrol Special Edition, Ebony Black, grey leather, heated seats, climate, opensky, five spoke alloys for SWMBO (Replaced a 2002 1.4 Petrol SE) Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 iCDTi for me.

[Skipton01]

I was thinking the same re leather v. cloth.

I think I'll have to bite the bullet and remove a cover. I hear what you are saying about re-connecting leads, but be assured that my soldering skills are up to scratch.

With regard to the side airbag, this will not be affected, as it is an entirely separate part from the seat and cover.

I'll let you know how I get on, but it won't be soon - I'm away for a week on leave and then straight into hospital to have my knee sorted.

WAS : A2 TDI SE 2001 Ebony Black Pearl (The Little Tank!)
NOW : A2 TDi 90 Sport, OpenSky, winter pack, ISOfix, all-round fogs, climate control, all-round electric windows, Blaupunkt Woodstock DAB54, genuine HID xenons and red leather! Not to mention CCC Tech chipping (118bhp), K&N air filter, all round tinting, all-black headlining and retro-fitted cruise control and GALA.(The NEW Tank).http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b163/skipton01/A215.jpg

[ianjohnsonws14]

Mike

Had a rummage around whilst cleaning the seats on Saturday (Autoglym works well and the beige Honda seats, which were looking very grubby, came up a treat after 52k miles). Just need to wash the outside now - about 6k miles since I did it!

Two connectors under the seat as HR describes, have mailed you a photo or two. There appear to be two small bundles of wires into the backrest (cloth wrapped), they run up behind the plastic moulding on the outer side of the seat (opposite side to the recline lever and same side as the airbag) and can be seen at the hinge point with a torch. From what I can see the leads to the seat base enter through the bottom rather than the back of the cushion.

Hope this helps

Ian

[Skipton01]

Thanks Ian, I've already noted these wires and their omission from my car.

I think what I'll have to do is remove a backrest cover and take a look. If the worst comes to the worst, I'll just have to pay a specialist to refix everything.

Thanks for the photos anyway - much appreciated.

[Skipton01]

Well, I removed the backrest yesterday and guess what - no heater pad!

It seems that factory installed covers are different to spare part covers in this regard.

I'm already investigating other avenues by which I can get heat pads in there.

Hey ho, at least I know how to get the covers on and off now without damage or cutting the stitching.

Must be the masochist in me that makes me contemplate fitting heated seats in this weather!

Cheers,

Mike

[fbi]

Hi Mike,
have you retro-fitted heated elements in your seats ?
I'm asking because I have a new complete kit from Waeco lying arounf from some time (I'd been planning to fit it in the TF but I rarely use this car in the winter...), but of course I want to "plug" it to original A2 switches.
I know it has been done by some German chaps, but my knowledge of German is too poor to understand enough on the German A2 forum (btw I'm native French speaking)

I have seen this, I don't know if it would be useful for the project...
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120197963019
Also need the switches and the climate surround with holes in it.

Thanks ;o)

[erstens]

I know it has been done by some German chaps, but my knowledge of German is too poor to understand enough on the German A2 forum (btw I'm native French speaking)


We also have a pictured guide for that! (Waeco with original Audi switches).

But I used the original two step switches and have the switches here:

[richard-]

Good idea and it looks neat, better than a dual socket fitting into your one lighter socket

[erstens]

Well, I removed the backrest yesterday and guess what - no heater pad!

It seems that factory installed covers are different to spare part covers in this regard.


The older seat covers: They only have heater elements when ordered. The new cover version: There are always the heater elements in there. For the new version, they are sewed in the cover. The old version has them on the cushon.

[fbi]

We also have a pictured guide for that! (Waeco with original Audi switches).
That's great !
Still need my dictionnary for over 50% of the words, but the pictures do help alot :)
Anyway, that look like a big job, though... but challenging :)
Question : does the whole climate unit has to changed in order to attach the rotary switches, or is it only a case of changing the surround, and keeping the climate control unit ?

[spike]

Hi fbi
You can't buy the front CC panel separately so the whole unit would need changing to get the rotary switches.

Ccheers Spike

[fbi]

Hi fbi
You can't buy the front CC panel separately so the whole unit would need changing to get the rotary switches.
Thanks for the answer...
I've seen an A3 (old shape) CC unit that seems to be the same as the A2. Is this right ?

[ULP]

If I'm understanding this correctly, you are talking about the heated seat switches that are normally next to the climate control?

If so, there is no need to change the climate control panel because cars without climate control but with heated seats have the switches as part of the little cubby-hole that sits under the climate control, they are on either side of the cubby.

For retro-fit on cars with climate I'd get one of these.

[fbi]

thanks for that information. (indeed I'm talking about those switches that are on both sides of the cc unit)
I've never seen an A2 without climate control but with heated seats. Do you have by chance a picture of that cubby hole with switches on the sides ?

[erstens]

I've seen that one. Must have a look for a picture...

[ULP]

I've never seen an A2 without climate control but with heated seats. Do you have by chance a picture of that cubby hole with switches on the sides ?

Your wish is my command - black leather in a Dolphin Grey car with no climate control. Nice...

http://www.supercar.co.uk/HighResImage.aspx?OfficeId=1&DefaultImage=audi&Id=501978664&UC=2&View=2

[fbi]

Thanks for the picture :)
I think I still prefer to try to source a 2nd hand climate control unit with switches for the heated seats, and then sell my climate control unit without switches.
Here are the pictures of the aforementioned 2001 Audi A3 climate control unit :
Do you think it's the same as in the A2 ? To me it looks like....
http://i13.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/e6/e7/e58c_1.JPG
http://i23.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/e6/e7/f4f9_1.JPG

[Skipton01]

There may be electrical differences that are not obvious, so one solution would be to remove the faceplate from the A3 unit and put it into the A2, as the buttons are in the right place.

You'll need a tiny T8 torx driver to do this and be careful.

Cheers,

Mike

[fbi]

Well, I bought a 2nd hand complete climate control unit with the rotary switches. I will first fit it, and in a few month, I will undertake the big part of the job (putting the heating elements in the seats).
Question : how do I remove this unit ?
First, the surround of the cubby hole, and then it just slides ?

[Skipton01]

It is easiest if you remove the radio and then push the climate panel from the back. As you have the replacement unit, you will be able to see the positioning of the 4 retaining clips.

Cheers,

Mike

[Xiter]

It is easiest if you remove the radio and then push the climate panel from the back. As you have the replacement unit, you will be able to see the positioning of the 4 retaining clips.

Cheers,

Mike

Be careful because it has a nasty habit of coming out with the speed of a bullet once the clips let go :)