Drivers Side Heated Seat fixed with pictures

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

goblues38

FRF Addict
Joined
Oct 27, 2018
Posts
2,697
Reaction score
3,983
Location
STL
Like many, my Gen 2 drivers side heated seat died. 3.2 years and 42,*** miles, so no warranty help.

I bought the replacement heating element for $19. Plugged it in and confirmed it worked and the one in the seat did not. So time to get to work.

#1 - disconnect battery. No one wants to risk seat airbags being deployed.

51788386656_31f7205314_b.jpg

#2 - unbolt the seat and remove 2 big molex connectors. remove the seat. Not bad for 3 years worth of dropped French fries.

51787447497_cfa3afb399_b.jpg

#4 - I had a nice table with a blanket to work on. took my time, and got the bottom cushion off, I removed both plastic covers on the hinges and drivers seat controls when the seat was out of the truck.

51788768579_be99270159_b.jpg

#4b - here is the seat all broken down.

51788768554_de76a8ee3f_b.jpg

#5, now on to the good stuff. breaking the seat cushion down was not like the YouTube videos I saw. I went and bought a hog ring tool for nothing. our seats are held together with a plastic rod, not metal, and plastic Jesus clips embedded into the foam of the seat. you have to work them very carefully to get them to release. if you doit correctly, the seat leather will snap back on with no tools needed. I ri[[ed one outlying to figure it out and ended up super gluing it back in.

here you can see the plastic ribs and where my heating element melted right through it.

51787447517_1753d7b961_b.jpg

And here is the burned element itself....not sure how this doesn't catch the seat on fire.

51788386726_d0c46ec9da_b.jpg

#6 - new heating pad installed

51787447527_e1eaff377b_b.jpg

Here is how she looks right before putting it back in the truck.

51788768519_94fc949601_b.jpg

Put the seat back in the truck, and confirmed my buns are now toasty warm again. $19 and 2 hours of my time.
 
Last edited:

Therock88

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2021
Posts
183
Reaction score
294
Location
Office Chair
Nice Job! Thanks for posting! Always good to see what is going on under stuff :)

1.) Any pictures of these "Jesus clips" and how they work?
2.) Having owned 20+ Porsches, I could not help noticing the Cabriolet in the background. Appears to be a 944 S2 Cabrio or 968 Cabrio, but the differentiating pieces or not visible :) Also nice nostalgic piece of Porsche history.

DC
 
OP
OP
goblues38

goblues38

FRF Addict
Joined
Oct 27, 2018
Posts
2,697
Reaction score
3,983
Location
STL
Nice Job! Thanks for posting! Always good to see what is going on under stuff :)

1.) Any pictures of these "Jesus clips" and how they work?
2.) Having owned 20+ Porsches, I could not help noticing the Cabriolet in the background. Appears to be a 944 S2 Cabrio or 968 Cabrio, but the differentiating pieces or not visible :) Also nice nostalgic piece of Porsche history.

DC

"Jesus Clips" is a term we coined back in my car stereo days. Pull them apart and pray to Jesus the dont break. I didn't get a good photo of them because they are buried in the seat foam. You just have to massage them apart and pray to Jesus they dont break.

yes. 1990 944 s2 cab. 64,*** miles. My father in law bought it brand new in 1990, we put the car in storage 5 years ago when he was suffering from brain cancer. he passed last year and my wife and I got the car. Sent all summer bringing it back to life, and now it is just a weekend sunny day car for us. It is a pleasure to drive as that car is 100% analog.
 

John M BUNMAN

BUNMAN-Adventures, Rescue & Recovery
Joined
Sep 5, 2020
Posts
7,293
Reaction score
39,031
Location
Las Vegas NV
"Jesus Clips" is a term we coined back in my car stereo days. Pull them apart and pray to Jesus the dont break. I didn't get a good photo of them because they are buried in the seat foam. You just have to massage them apart and pray to Jesus they dont break.

yes. 1990 944 s2 cab. 64,*** miles. My father in law bought it brand new in 1990, we put the car in storage 5 years ago when he was suffering from brain cancer. he passed last year and my wife and I got the car. Sent all summer bringing it back to life, and now it is just a weekend sunny day car for us. It is a pleasure to drive as that car is 100% analog.
Sorry for your loss
 

Therock88

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2021
Posts
183
Reaction score
294
Location
Office Chair
"Jesus Clips" is a term we coined back in my car stereo days. Pull them apart and pray to Jesus the dont break. I didn't get a good photo of them because they are buried in the seat foam. You just have to massage them apart and pray to Jesus they dont break.

yes. 1990 944 s2 cab. 64,*** miles. My father in law bought it brand new in 1990, we put the car in storage 5 years ago when he was suffering from brain cancer. he passed last year and my wife and I got the car. Sent all summer bringing it back to life, and now it is just a weekend sunny day car for us. It is a pleasure to drive as that car is 100% analog.
Thanks. And very sorry to hear about your Father-in-Law. Great piece of memory to take care of and enjoy the 944.

DC
 

HOLLYWOOD 1

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2020
Posts
640
Reaction score
1,668
Location
2Sun AZ
Incredible job, well done! I'm curious, since you had the seat out, did you notice if there was wiring in place for the massage feature? Like a plug and play? I don't know why the regular F150s have it, and Raptors dont?
 
Top