Hi! I want to upgrade my 2008 SXT with the Mopar heated seats but without this new switches that came with the kit and would be located in front of the cup holders. The heated seats should be controlled at the OEM switch panel in the center console. I already ordered the new OEM switch panel with the heated seats switches.
I need to order the harness and the seat control unit. But for this I need the VIN of a Nitro (2008), that came with factory heated seats. Can someone please send me his 2008 R/T VIN? Or can someone help me with the part numbers for the parts I need to combine the Mopar heated seats kit with the OEM switch panel and computer?
I looked into doing it this way, also. I have yet to come up with an answer. The aftermarket Mopar heater kit is 3 way - low, medium, high. The factory kit is only 2 way - low or high. This tells me there might be a different resistor for each kit. No one has been able to answer this for me, so I do not know if a factory harness would work with the Mopar kit. That is why I have not ordered the Mopar kit yet, or the factory switch panel. If you can get the factory harness, let me know if it is compatible with the Mopar kit. Thank you.
After a week in a Dodge dealers garage I have to say ... it's not possible at all. The OEM heated seats system communicates over the CAN-bus which doesn't accept aftermarket solutions at all.
The Mopar kit is an autarchic system which only connects to the power at the cigar lighter. From the quality it's the worst you can get. Just look at the cheap and stupide looking switches, which are installed by drilling a hole into the center console in front of the shift knob and with an adhesive tape. I would never do this to my Nitro.
I ordered 2 versions of the OEM switch panel, one with and one without the heated seats and will try to bypass the OEM heater switches with the Mopar harness, without having any contact with the CAN-bus.
Dodge didn't think of owners who want to upgrade their Nitro with OEM stuff at all. My SXT has no harness or even plugs to connect a OEM heated seats kit or aftermarket kit with the car. I thought, regardless of the modell, there is one universal harness. But they built a different harness for each version and each option. Thats crazy.
After a week in a Dodge dealers garage I have to say ... it's not possible at all. The OEM heated seats system communicates over the CAN-bus which doesn't accept aftermarket solutions at all.
The Mopar kit is an autarchic system which only connects to the power at the cigar lighter. From the quality it's the worst you can get. Just look at the cheap and stupide looking switches, which are installed by drilling a hole into the center console in front of the shift knob and with an adhesive tape. I would never do this to my Nitro.
I ordered 2 versions of the OEM switch panel, one with and one without the heated seats and will try to bypass the OEM heater switches with the Mopar harness, without having any contact with the CAN-bus.
Dodge didn't think of owners who want to upgrade their Nitro with OEM stuff at all. My SXT has no harness or even plugs to connect a OEM heated seats kit or aftermarket kit with the car. I thought, regardless of the modell, there is one universal harness. But they built a different harness for each version and each option. Thats crazy.
This is exactly what I was thinking, after I posted. I didn't even think of the CAN-bus being an issue, but I did think that the 2 version of heaters (factory and Mopar) could be made by different companies and therefore, the harnesses and switches would not be compatible. I did see that Katzkin does offer a heated seat option, but I did not see a picture, etc. and they do seem to be rather expensive.
I am trying to upgrade my radio, but since it works through the CAN-bus also, I am very limited as to what will work, even though all of the radios look alike.
The switch panel with the seat heaters, I believe, has one power connection, with a printed circuit board inside. If this is the case, you'll have to figure out how to isolate the circuits within the switch. Keep me informed as you progress with this project.
Buy the Katzkin heated seats instead of the Mopar. Much better quality and really nice switches. I'm stuck now and really don't know how to finish the installation without using these Mopar switches.
Here is the OEM switch panel without the rear parking assistance button:
I found some interesting company, which seems to have the same heating kit as offered from Katzkin. The kits come with really nice looking switches. They write, that it's even possible to use the OEM heater switches. Shit on the Mopar kit!
Correctly installed into your car's seat, our Seat Heating Systems will radiate comfort and warmth, enhancing your driving experience for many years to come! Already have heater seats installed in the driver and passenger seats? You can even install our heater seat kits in the back seats as well! You have the choice of either using the switch that is include in our package or if you are electrically inclined you can even purchase and install the oem heater seat switch from your dealer.
Just found the production company of the Mopar Kit. It's Check Corp (Seatheater.com) and it seems that there really are different versions of the heater switch.
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