If you have been hesitant to install aftermarket seat heaters because you thought the process was perhaps too complicated or you felt intimidated by automotive electrical, now might be the time to rethink this profit-building opportunity. Taken step by step, the installation is manageable and easy to understand especially when using today’s seat heater kits.

While the installation of any aftermarket seat heater kit is not necessarily complicated, you should be confident in your ability to remove and reinstall the seat, upholstery and trim pieces as well as work with advanced airbag and occupant detection systems, if they, too are equipped in the seats you’ll be working with.

The tools required are basic electrical and mechanical tools, and a pair of hog ring pliers.

Though several of today’s seat heater kits might employ similar parts, and the installation process might appear to parallel what is covered in this article, always follow kit manufacturers’ instructions and contact them if you have any questions.

For the purpose of this How-To, we are using the new Streamline HiLo from aftermarket manufacturer Check Corp., Troy, Mich.

Before: To show the basic steps of installing an aftermarket seat heater kit, we will be installing Check Corp.’s new Streamline HiLo kit in a new 2010 Ford Taurus.

Step 1.  Make sure you have the correct seat heater kit for the vehicle (Check kits, for example, are vehicle specific and should not be modified). To start, pre-wire all kit components on your workbench and test with a multi-meter for continuity. Do not use a battery charger as a power source; use a 12V DC source. Make sure you connect both heating elements if they are supplied in the kit.

Step 2.  Locate the vehicle’s fuse panel and using the multi-meter, identify a switched or keyed ignition 12V power source to prevent battery drain when the vehicle is off.

Step 3.  Undo the seat bolts while the power is still connected so the seat can be moved for access to all the bolts.

Step 4.  Disconnect and isolate the negative (ground) battery cable. Pump the brakes a few times and wait five minutes for the electrical system to discharge. It is important to do this before disconnecting any airbag connectors.

Step 5.  Carefully remove the seat from the vehicle. Use tape or padding to cover sharp edges to prevent damage to the interior. With the 2010 Taurus the shoulder harness remains connected, so the seat will have to be worked on using a table or platform placed next to the vehicle.

Step 6  Roll back the bottom and back seat covers by undoing the j-channels and seam clips.

Step 7.  With the seat covers rolled back, verify that the heating elements fit the back and cushion buns. Caution: Heating element assemblies should never be installed onto foam where an occupant detection sensor is visible on the top surface of the foam, even if the heating element would not touch the sensor.

Step 8.  Make sure the back element is going on the back bun and the bottom element is going on the cushion bun. Position the elements; then carefully and slowly remove the release paper by peeling back an edge. Adhere that edge to the bun, then peel back the rest of the release paper. Once the release paper is removed, firmly press the element onto the bun. Heating elements must not be folded into seat listing channels unless they have a preformed cut-out designed to accommodate the listing or against themselves. The release paper must be completely removed as it will burn if any portion is left on.

Step 9.  Run the connecting wire harness out the back of the seat and connect the bottom and back element wires.

Step 10.  Reattach the seat cover seam clips and j-channels. Do not install hog rings through the heating element. Seat listing wires should not lie directly on top of the heating elements — but if they need to, add some foam for protection.

Step 11.  The seat is now ready for reinstallation after you run the electrical wiring in the vehicle to connect to power.

Step 12.  Run the power wire under the carpet to the center under the seat frame and measure the wire to match the travel of the seat, the same as the power seat power harness.

Step 13.  Run the other end of the power wire along the rocker channel up under the dash.

Step 14. Locate the ground and attach a round connector to the black ground wire and connect it to the ground terminal. 

Step 15.  Measure the red power wire to the fuse box and snip off the excess. Attach the 7.5A inline fuse using a connector in the hardware package.

Step 16.  Attach a supplied fuse tap to the open end of the inline fuse harness wire and connect it to cold side of the chosen 12V fuse that has been removed from the fuse box. Check Corp. also has an optional Add-a-fuse for connection to the fuse box.

Step 17.  With the power wire connected to the cold side of the fuse, reinsert it into the fuse box where it came from and reseal the fuse box if required.

Step 18. Locate the position of the switch. This Check kit uses a round rocker Hi-Lo switch that requires a 15/16 inch hole. The 2010 Taurus has an ideal location on the top side of the front trim on the seat. We use a 3/4" step drill bit to make the exact hole size. After the hole is drilled, cut two small positioning notches in the hole edge to properly position the switch’s orientation.

Step 19.  Disconnect the switch from the switch harness and run the harness up through the hole. Connect the switch and firmly press it into place.

Step 20.  Under the seat, connect the element harness to the switch harness. Coil excess harness wire and use wire ties to secure it to the seat frame. Make sure the reclining or movement of the seat frame does not pull, fray or cut the wires. Reinstall the seat in the vehicle and connect the power harness and power seat harness. Reconnect the battery and test power seat functions to ensure that no strain is placed on any of the system’s wires.

After: The perfect installation is complete. The thin elements in Check’s Streamline kit do not show and the switch looks like it came from the factory. Sit in the seat and turn the system on. You should start feeling the warmth in the back and cushion that will soon comfort yet another satisfied customer.