This was something I've wanted to do for a long time, well with winter on the way, I finally bought and installed some seat heaters in my C5.

I got the dual element 2 seat premium kit with 3 temperature settings from Parts for your Car (forum vendor)

they have 3 different types of switches available for these kits, the standard rocker, or the single seat (so you can mount them apart) or dual seat membrane switch. I didn't see any pictures of the membrane switch on the web site but Brian e-mailed me some pictures of it and I though it looked great, so that's what I went with.

Brian at PFYC helped me out alot with my decision on which kit to get and how to install them, if you have any questions I'm sure he'd be happy to answer them. we traded e-mails back and forth for a couple of weeks before I bought them, he was very helpful and willing to answer all my questions.

The membrane switch has a good look and feel to it. but its designed to be installed and left, its not designed to be able to be removed once its mounted. its held in place with adhesive and will desintegrated if you try to remove it. this presented a problem for me since I wanted to mount it in the switchpanel that I build, and I built it to be able to be rebuilt to reconfigure or move switches around. so I decided to build my own mounting bracket for the membrane switch, one that I could mount and move later if I wanted to. the kit has a template included to help you cut and mount the switch, so I started with that and a small piece of 1/8" thick lexan, cut it to shape, used 2 screws for the mount and put the switch on this adapter











from that point all it takes is 2 holes for the screws and the rectangular slot in the switch panel to mount the new seat switch.

the rectangular slot was very easy to cut. just drill a series of holes the same width as the slot along it, then finish it up with a detail file.

then its on to the seats, use these instructions for taking them out and apart, thanks to stormrider for the link!
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...er_change.html

you have to remove the seats from the car but only partially follow the disassembly instructions. remove the center cuson from the seat back and take the leather covering apart just enough to expose the bottom of the cusion, this is where I mounted the seatback heating pad. I put it vertically and it fits perfectly on the C5's seats



the bottom cusion I decided not to have the heating element span the velcro area so this is where it ended up





wiring is pretty easy. the kit comes with a relay already in it. run the black wire to ground, the red wire to a 15A constnatly hot source (I used a fuse block I had already installed as my source, running that one wire through the P200 firewall gromet) and the purple wire to a switched ignition source, I picked the yellow wire on the accessory connector provided to us by GM. the relay harness plugs right into the controller box. the box itself is very small and easy to fit anywhere. I fit mine with some velcro to the side of the footwell next to the BCM right under the passenger's side kick panel. it fits perfectly there. the relay is also located there. this way if I ever have to service it it will be easy to get to.





the wiring harnesses for each seat are plenty long (6' and 9') and go right under the carpet and up through the factory holes for the stock power seat connectors. route the wiring from the seat so that it will easily plug in and install is pretty much done. here is what the controller looks like once its mounted in place.







mounting the switch took the longest because I took my time to do a good job. taking apart the seats its actually much easier than I thought it would be. there are only 3 wires you need to hook up, everythign else is plug and play, routing the harnesses is easy. this can be completed in less than one day taking your time.

the heaters themselves are great, they look like they are really high quality. the heating pads have adhesive on the back to mount to the seat cusion to prevent them from moving or bunching up over time. you can't feel the pads at all once installed. when you turn them on you can feel the heat within 30-60 seconds, and it continues to warm up from there. I got them mainly because they will give me some heat sooner than the car's heater will. I live so close to work that the car barely warms up by the time I get there. these seat heaters are awesome!

 

AH-SUM job! I've seen a few threads about people installing seat heaters, yours' was one of the best.... I'd like to do it to mine, but I don't have the patience!

 

That is a really slick installation. Nice work!

 

Looks like a nice job.
You're going to love them, I know mine are great.

 

Great job and a nice write up

Best mod I ever did

 

Nice work and good info.

Chuck

 

That is awesome, where did you get the kit from? My wife wants heated seats in her Jag.

 

Nice job. This is a Winter project that I am planning to do. Your info helps. Thanks.

 

you can find anything you want right here:
http://www.pfyc.com/pc/GN2009/VTINT/...nd+models.html

the page doesn't show the membrane switch like I got but you can pick that when you order if you want. I think it looks much better than the rocker for this type of application. it has a nice feel to it also and fits the look and feel of the rest of the car better. PFYC has a promotion going on right now so if you are interested be sure to take advantage of the pricing http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2158712

you can also get an even higher level kit that this one that includes massage also. I would have gone for that but I'd be afraid I would no longer have any motivation to get out of my C5 and go inside my house. its already bad enough as it is!

 

Beautiful craftsmanship and great write up

 

awesome writeup!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i am waiting for my set from PFYC too. i ordered the classic switch because i want to mount it in the center console.












i only ordered one kit, but i'll have room to add a 2nd switch if i ever decide to put in the passenger side.

 

great job and write up congrats and keep your butt warm

 

Very nice write-up. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

 

I've always liked the way those rocker switches look in an install like this. they seem to fit the car so well as if it were designed for it. I have F45 so this type of install wasn't an option for me, if I didn't I think I would have gone this route also. as much as I like the look, feel, and function of the membrane switch, I just don't think it would look right if it were mounted on the TC panel.

 

Excellent write up and a fantastic installation to boot.

 

great job & nice write up!