I’m thinking of changing my seats to a pair of heated leather my question is if I purchase a pair is the wireing in the seat or will I have to purchase this also I know I need switches and will I already have the connection for these behind my dash so I’m looking for advice on what is involved in fitting them and what parts I will need and is it straight forward I know that when I fitted my front fogs the wireing blocks were already there so I’m hoping this will be the same thanks
I’m not sure on pre-wired seats, however I may well be selling my black leather heated seats if I change the racing seats, switches can be sold too so bear it in mind
Just fitted leather seats to my mk3 2006 I have no switches for them to work them to get them heated so I’m looking for advice on what’s involved to get them working and what parts are needed and any other advice on doing this job thanks
Anybody know
Hi, well, heated seats were available as an option on all models so hopefully you may find the switch plugs and wires taped to the loom behind the ciggy console panel, and plugs under the seats, or those colour wires showing already in the existing seat plugs. The brochure suggests they were only available with climate control option though so it may be that part of the loom isn’t there.
Whatever, I found the US wiring diagram and have put on the extra bits of info which may (if the wire colours are the same for UK) tell you what plugs and wires to look for, hope it helps,
Just thinking further,
you don’t say which seats they are but if they’re airbag seats there may be airbag wires under there too (which the 1.8 didn’t have) so tread carefully if they’re still in the seats.
Hi I have a similar problem when I brought my five it came with leather seat in, when I took them out to my surprise all the heating elements were in the seats, and all the wiring is there. When I took the ciggy console panel off I found all the switch plugs and wires attached to it from behind it , so if I connect two switches up it should work ? I’ve ask a lot of people this question and nobody could be sure. The only way to know is to ask somebody to lend you a switch and see. New switches cost 31 pounds each so if they don’t work a costly mistake. So if someone out there as got one, could they lend it to me please, thanks.
Not sure what year you are attempting to install them in, but over the years, I’ve done a number of heated seat retro fits.
1990-1997 the wiring diagram shows an extra accessory plug on the same circuit as the cigarette lighter. This plug located just behind the dash and the cigarette lighter unit has been used twice personally without ever an issue (I do not smoke, so no chance of an overdraw situation).
1999-2005 has several unused, pre wired accessory circuits behind the dash, usually solid yellow in color
Switches for the 90-2005’s can be swapped out for blank trim plates. I have found the factory cruise control switch is a simple on/off, and can handle the draw of the heated seat components easily. A simple swipe of the switch plate with some non acetone nail polish remover will remove the verbiage, and keep things looking “factory fresh”.
On the 2006 and above, the cars are factory wired for the factory style heated seats as some dealers offer this as an afterthought once you have purchased the car. All you will need to purchase are the dash switches (and the seats of course), the rest is all plug and play. Only additional item you may need is an extra fuse/relay as not all of the cars had them installed at the factory. prewired yes, but some relays have gone missing.
Hope you find this helpful.
Sincerely,
Bill S.
I’ve read the replies I do have a mk3 2006 1.8 with option pack I’ve just fitted leather seats with airbags so as you have said above the wireing should be there ready behind the cigarette lighter is this correct next question is do I need wireing to go from my white block under my seat to the heated Seats switch or should that be there somewhere also next job will be to find out how to fit these switches also do I remove the radio and console if so a guide on this and tools to remove radio thanks
I just took a look under my seats I have a yellow thick wire connected into the white block I then also managed to look up at the back of my cigarette lighter from the drivers side footwell and can see two blocks beside the back of the lighter one block is black other is white they are connected to the panel so maybe these should fit the switches ?? Not 100% sure on this maybe I need to purchase two switches and cut the panel to fit them in and then connect the blocks can anybody tell then if I need additional loom then to the seat or they should already be wired in from the dash ? Last not least I hope they are heated seats last owner said they were ? Lol
Another question is that these switches cost quiet a bit and I see on e bay mazda rx8 ones look the same just the seat picture is other way around but is the fitting the same as these are a lot cheaper ?
There’s do need to cut the switch hole out in the panel just ring autolink up and buy one , they are easy to change doing mind Thursday.
Hi SIM like you it would be good to borrow a switch to see if they work just to see if everything else is there fitted
Hi Darran, here’s the white plug under my seat. It has airbag and heater and the wire colours look like green, blue, pink?, brown, blue/red.
The yellow sleeve goes from the plug into the seat. The black convoluted sleeve goes towards the centre console,
That pic is of the right hand seat and the green wire may tally with the circuit for the right seat heater.
Have a look to see if your right seat has it, and a green/red wire for the left seat like the circuit above shows. (I couldn’t open my left door to check as it’s in the garage.)
Hi rich I shall get a picture of both sides later when I get home thanks
Hi rich here’s what it looks like under my seats I’m I in luck
Happy days, looks like you’ve got the heater wires already installed 
I’ve just checked my RH seat wires against the circuit diagram and the brn/wht and blu/red in the pic are the airbag ones (which explains why yours hasn’t got them) so if you have the heater switch plugs behind the ciggy panel all looks good!
Thanks rich just got to try and get switches now I see the rx8 ones on e bay look the same not sure if they are but they are a lot cheaper
sorry to bring this back, how did you get on doing this ? I’m looking at buying a set of leather seats with the heater elements installed to put in my mk3 with cloth seats. is it just a case of unplugging the cloth ones and plugging the leather ones? and how do i go about installing the switches for the heated seats?