Heated Seats

[Simon_P]

Hi All,

I've been thinking about putting heated seats in the elan for about 10 years. Finally I have stopped thinking about it and bought the kits.

I've read the how to and I'm clear on what I'm doing - Just 2 questions

1. Is the mobile phone wiring still the way to go, or has someone had a better idea. I don't have the factory fit S2 alarm either
2. Where is a good place to put the switches in an S2? I don't really want to cut holes in the dash.

Thoughts?

Simon

[Specky]

A couple of quick questions:-

Do you have A/C?

Have you acquired the early Vauxhall Senator heated seat switches?

I'm thinking just positioning them in the same place as the M200, L/H side next to the steering wheel.

TTFN

[Specky]

These switches?

image.jpg

[Simon_P]

Thanks

Yes - A/C fitted
No - Switches
But I do have a couple of senator switches for other projects - that may go there one day. At the moment I have my alarm touch key in one of the blanks (not that I ever use it). Easiest is probably to put that somewhere else and put them there while I lhink about it

Are the senator switches 1 or 2 position?

[Specky]

A/C fitted.... That ties up one of three blanks...

Alarm fitted to another... That ties up another...Scratches head....

There is another Senator/Carlton switch, these are half the size of normal switches, but I would guess a little modification to the switch aperture would be required.

I believe the switches above are just on or off, mine are in storage so I'm unable to check...

TTFN

[dapinky]

Funnily enough, I've been looking at this project during the past week - and the best I've come up with so far is this kit on ebay.

I like the fact that there are 5 heat settings, and both seats are on seperate controls in one switch - so I only need one space to be utilised.....

..... but at the moment, I don't have a space

I have the ECU switcher in one, alarm controls in another, and the 3rd is earmarked for the fan override switch....

....I was thinking of mounting it in the centre console, by the mirror switch - or sticking the alarm LED/control buttons (Clifford 650) somewhere else

[KevB]

I like that switch Dave, its a really nice compact design, and the whole kit looks good as well. I am looking at getting Honda s2000 seats but not sure if they already come with seat heaters, anyone know?

Kevin

[dapinky]

I like that switch Dave, its a really nice compact design, and the whole kit looks good as well. I am looking at getting Honda s2000 seats but not sure if they already come with seat heaters, anyone know?

Kevin

Kev,

I know the answer to that one - 'cos that's what I'm fitting them to!

(except I haven't actually got the seats yet - a bit of a time-waster on ebay who wouldn't post, then he would allow a courier, then he wouldn't, then he wouldn't send me any more pictures.... you know the sort.... and I wasn't going to drive all the way to merseyside to find they wern't as pictured, so I'm still looking.

(The ones i was looking at were the type with the solid headrests, so the later typre may or may not have heaters, but i would expect them not to)

[Rice crispy]

I've got the s2000 seats with the open headrests and they haven't got heaters. Quite a few s2000 owners have missed the seats using cable ties instead of hog rings, but you can get the pliers on eBay and the rings will be available. I've been thinking about doing this as well as my daily has them and they do add comfort

[lotos]

These switches?

image.jpg

Where can I get a set of those? I'd love to add heat to my seats.

[rip]

1. Is the mobile phone wiring still the way to go,

Mobile phone wiring? I didn't know it existed.

Each of my seat heaters is controlled by a small, round rocker switch. I have mounted these in the centre console just in front of the storage compartment. This is not ideal because I sometimes knock them on/off with my elbow which is a typical Lotus compromise.
It is necessary for them to be here because the connector for the switch is beneath the storage compartment so I can easily unplug them to remove the console.
The console itself is quite soft so the holes I had to drill were very neat & the switches do not look out of place at all.
You can see them in this thread

On the the wiring: The Elan is custom made for these because the battery is nearby. Most of my wiring is under the roof stowage compartment. I took a relay feed from backlight for the window switches & ran this back to the battery compartment.
I ran a feed from the battery's live terminal via a fuse to the relay & ran a separate feed to each of the heater harnesses (each one fused).

[Specky]

They're getting like the preverbial hens teeth now, and quite a few are modified to a different colour bulb or LED. The Carlton/Senator went through several variations of switches so be careful on which ones you search for.

...And the illumination is white not red, they cost about the same as an Élan hazard switch... So anything from a fiver upto about fifty pounds

I'll have a quick look in the usual places and let you know if anyone has them in stock.

A possible idea

Use a similar switch from an Élan. Mechanically remove the paint from the top section (micromesh or one of those girlie nail polishing/nail files things springs to mind). Then make/apply a decal to be use only as a mask, then spray the top section, when dry remove the decal... Et volia a red heated seat emblem.

However IIRC the little plastic red inserts on an élan switch are smaller than a white insert on a GM heated seat switch, the only piece of "authentic red plastic" which would fit (after a rework) is from the hazard switch, but there is quite a few broken ones knocking a round.

Swings and roundabouts...

I see what I can find...

TTFN

[Specky]

The M200 heated seat switches... Just a shame she didn't actually have heated seats....

[Specky]

Just found this old photo of one of my switches... I have no idea why it's next to a prototype bonnet stay but hey-ho...

[maz_r]

What you really want folks, is one of these:

photo (1).JPG

Good luck finding one - took me over 3 years, but maybe I wasn't looking in the right places.....

[tb10]

Hi Martyn,

Did you get my PM about trying to wire up the electrics in my SLK seats?

regards

John

[maz_r]

Yes I did, but you spelled my name wrong, so I ignored you

The actual truth is of course much simpler - I forgot

PM sent (well, will be sent very shortly)

[Specky]

What you really want folks, is one of these:

photo (1).JPG

Good luck finding one - took me over 3 years, but maybe I wasn't looking in the right places.....

That's was my plan B, (I've got one those as well) but the toggle switches are shorter than a standard switch. My plan was to put the switch in the centre of the bank of three (no A/C)... OCD strikes again... Doh!

TTFN

[tb10]

Yes I did, but you spelled my name wrong, so I ignored you

I realised after I posted my reply! I was dealing with a 'Martyn' this morning - sorry Martin (public apology)

Regards

John

[lotos]

What you really want folks, is one of these:

Good luck finding one - took me over 3 years, but maybe I wasn't looking in the right places.....

What's it from? Any part number I can use?