My wife got me the Rostra heated seat elements from Geno's for Christmas. I have the elements installed into the seat. My issue is how to get switched power to them. I have searched and I liked HOBrian's idea to put them in place of the cigarette lighter. The question I have is how do I get the front door sill off without breaking it? I'm probably just being a sally but I figure it's easier to ask then to break and have to buy another.

Any other ideas on where to mount the switches? I didn't see alot of threads with descriptions of where folks have mounted the switches.

Advice and suggestions welcome. Thanks!

 

Any pointers on getting the front door sill off? I searched but came up with nothing on the how, lots of people who talk about doing it. I'm going to assume that they just pop up and I need to put more muscle into it, but just wanted to make sure.

Thanks!

 

The plastic sill cover plate just clips in. Pull away from trucks body. Retaining clips are tough. Allways a chance plastic will break.

 

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...+panel+removal

 

I ran my wiring under the carpet up under the dash (Uses a lot less wire) and then mounted both switches in the little panel just opposite of the cig lighter on the passenger side. Newer trucks have the airbag switch there but mine was just a blank. At first I had drilled holes in the outer sections of the middle dash piece and it looked good too. When I bought a different dash piece I decided not to destroy it with holes so I went for the little panel instead...
What do your switches look like? I still have my dash piece with the holes in it and it is perfect otherwise....

 

Thanks for the help. I figure that the factory ran the power seat wires under the sill as well and I can just add the wire there. I'm going to pull the dash off today and will see if I can just run the wire under the carpet or if the sill is the better route. I just want it to be as clean as possible.

I have the little round switches for the elements. I too was planning on using the blank spot opposite the cigarette lighter but only for the passenger side switch. I was going to run with idea of using the cigarette lighter hole for the drivers side. I don't use the lighter and figure i can just use the hot wire from that and make that circuit the heated seat circuit instead of cigarette lighter circuit.

Very much appreciate the advice.

 

If it was me, I might be tempted to visit an autowrecker and find some switches that actually say "heated seat" or something, install them in the dash to look factory, and make the backlighting work. Just for a fun project.

 

Thanks for all the help. It took longer than I expected but I took my time and I think it turned out great! I followed dodgezilla's lead and ran the wires under the carpet. I only ran the switch wires there though. I ran the power down the sill. I put the switches themselves in the blank opposite the cigarette lighter under the passenger side vent. Thanks for the advise. I love how it looks.

The switches are marked with the heated seat icon and have a light to indicate if they are on. They aren't back lit but oh well, I can deal with that.

For the price, this seems like a great addition to the truck,

Thanks!

 

Sounds like a nice install. I might have to look at a set of seat heaters too. Enjoy.

 

Heated seats are nice! I have some in my Ford Focus commuter car too and they get so hot I can only leave them on for maybe 5 minutes or my butt starts to burn. LOL