Heated Seats Retrofit

[JacksVRS]

On 08/02/2023 at 16:32, Aston_Bodger said:

Hi Jack,

 

Take the bulbs out and scan again, it could be the bulbs you are using?, just a thought, as mine are normal bulbs and never had that problem.

 

Trevor

Think I know the problem now. The terminal on the end of the lead for the loom is too small. Seen a few others complain about it. I think I need this terminal? Did notice the terminal was turning on me in the input of the socket as if the port on the socket was way too big.

[Aston_Bodger]

Hi Jack,

 

That's a bit of a bugger, like I said I got mine from Eddie_NL, and it fit first time, without problems.

 

Looks like that's the one, hopefully this one will work?

 

Reason I said about the LED bulbs, they cause all sorts of problems, if fitted to CAN circuits, not sure about interior lights, but they do dim.

 

Trevor

[JacksVRS]

3 minutes ago, Aston_Bodger said:

Hi Jack,

 

That's a bit of a bugger, like I said I got mine from Eddie_NL, and it fit first time, without problems.

 

Looks like that's the one, hopefully this one will work?

 

Reason I said about the LED bulbs, they cause all sorts of problems, if fitted to CAN circuits, not sure about interior lights, but they do dim.

 

Trevor

Hi Trevor,

 

Had a go again, got the plug into the pin perfectly and it fitted right and clipped in. Checked all the bulbs and they seem perfect (all halogens). Still same fault. Only thing it could be now is the splice into the cable for the rears maybe? Lost now at this stage. Connector B pin 7 so really can’t understand at this stage what the issue could be apart from that wire splice!

 

Yea the LEDs are CANbus checked in the footwells but not the other interior ones. I’ve all halogens and I can even get them to flicker or go on!

 

Thanks

Jack

Edited 9 February, 2023 by JacksVRS

[Aston_Bodger]

Hi Jack,

 

This is a strange one to say the least, it could be the splices causing the problems, high resistance for example, are they soldered or crimped?

 

Trevor

[JacksVRS]

Just now, Aston_Bodger said:

Hi Jack,

 

This is a strange one to say the least, it could be the splices causing the problems, high resistance for example, are they soldered or crimped?

 

Trevor

Hi Trevor,

 

I tried just the fronts also but same error. For the splice I followed kufatecs guide and bared a bit of the wire on the front footwell loom and wrapped the end of the rear footwell loom live into the front bare wire. Tbf I did think it was the issue but when the fronts not working on its own and giving the same error I don’t know and lost at this point!😂 heated seats are nice tho😎👌

 

Thanks

Jack

[Aston_Bodger]

Hi Jack,

 

That is a strange one, maybe something has gone wrong in the unit, and as a result it's throwing the fault code?

 

At least the seats are working.

 

Trevor

[JacksVRS]

1 hour ago, Aston_Bodger said:

Hi Jack,

 

That is a strange one, maybe something has gone wrong in the unit, and as a result it's throwing the fault code?

 

At least the seats are working.

 

Trevor

Hi Trevor,

 

Yep the heated seats were my biggest priority! To be honest I think my CECM isn’t capable of footwell lights and believe even when I have them activated it’s not putting a signal to the pin.

 

My option is to take the wire and splice them into the wire of the interior lights before it goes into the CECM that way there’s no error checking for LEDs and they’ll act OEM. Seems like the only solution at this point and I can use LEDs and they’ll replicate oem behaviour.

 

Thanks

Jack

[Aston_Bodger]

Hi Jack,

 

Mine come on with the interior lights, and go off at the same time, not sure why they put it on a separate circuit, just extra work to me making the loom.

 

Trevor

[JacksVRS]

2 hours ago, Aston_Bodger said:

Hi Jack,

 

Mine come on with the interior lights, and go off at the same time, not sure why they put it on a separate circuit, just extra work to me making the loom.

 

Trevor

Hi Trevor,

 

Haven’t looked at them since but my plan will be to splice into the wire that goes into pin 11 for the interior lights on that connector of the CECM. Only option now really for me. Seems weird I got a poor spec CECM considering I’ve most options bar heated seats, front sensors, and Nav with sound system.

 

Thanks,

Jack

[STU3Y]

Hi guys,

Been reading this thread, and got to say it's great to seen people helping each other out. 

 

It's threads like these that encourage me to give things a go. 

 

Sadly the forum has not been much help for me so far when it comes to responses.

 

I have a 2017 Octavia Vrs Fl. I have ordered the kufatec looms and skoda seat pads with heated seat control panel. 

 

I am very nervous to try this, both for taking the seat covers off and even more so the wiring.

 

I would be very grateful of some help when I start this, especially if anyone has any pics of wire routes etc. 

 

I need my car on a daily basis for school runs etc so can't have it apart for ages. 

 

Would i be best taking the seats out one at a time and fitting pads first then doing wiring last?

 

Is it necessary for the seats to be out to run the wires?

 

Kind regards 

 

Stuart

Edited 1 March by STU3Y

[JacksVRS]

11 hours ago, STU3Y said:

Hi guys,

Been reading this thread, and got to say it's great to seen people helping each other out. 

 

It's threads like these that encourage me to give things a go. 

 

Sadly the forum has not been much help for me so far when it comes to responses.

 

I have a 2017 Octavia Vrs Fl. I have ordered the kufatec looms and skoda seat pads with heated seat control panel. 

 

I am very nervous to try this, both for taking the seat covers off and even more so the wiring.

 

I would be very grateful of some help when I start this, especially if anyone has any pics of wire routes etc. 

 

I need my car on a daily basis for school runs etc so can't have it apart for ages. 

 

Would i be best taking the seats out one at a time and fitting pads first then doing wiring last?

 

Is it necessary for the seats to be out to run the wires?

 

Kind regards 

 

Stuart

Hello Stuart,

 

To start, it took me near two full days to get it done. Hardest part if I’m honest was taking the seats apart and rebuilding them. I had a reason to take them apart hence why I done the heating fitment. I had a faulty driver backrest adjustment. Another reason I done it was because there was a lack of any black edition full leather VRS heated seats in existence, my set might be the only one to exist that’s heating in a 2008 PFL VRS.

 

In your situation and to avoid some work, I’d be looking out for factory heated seats from a breaker’s yard whether it be cloth/suede or full leather heated seats as their far more common in MK3 VRSs’ than the availability of heated seats across the entire MK2/2.5 range of cars. This will save an absolute bulk of the job and save money where you’ll only need the kufatec loom to get it working. (The 50-100% job or halfway there route).

 

If your for doing it yourself (the 0-100

% or start to finish retrofit) then your parts gathering exercise ain’t over yet. Along with the kufatec loom, climatronic panel and heated pads you’re going to need a heated seat loom for under each seat that connects to the kufatec loom (well I did for the mk2 retrofit I’d say the mk3 will be no different). The heated seat loom acts as the intermediary between the kufatec loom and connecting all the heated seat pads on each seat together. Will be needed for both seats. Next part needed is a heated seat control unit which connects into one of the heated seat looms under the seat. In your case on the drivers seat loom from what I read in the wiring diagrams. As far as everything else I think you have the rest of the bits.

 

Biggest thing you’ll need for the 0-100% job is patience and concentration. As the saying goes measure twice cut once and double check every step before moving on. As for wiring both seats will need to come out anyways for stripping and the kufatec loom will need to be ran under the carpet (Kufatec instructions) between the BCM, fuse boxes and climate control unit. Here’s some wiring diagrams for reference which I believe are for your model of car.

 

Its definitely nerve wrecking when you sit and think about it but sitting doing it step be step it becomes easier. Definitely where your doing it in a mk3 id be more inclined to go the 50-100 route as you’ve more of a chance of getting already fitted heated pads in the seats from the factory than I did and all you’d need to do is the wiring. Oh and be careful with the seat material if you’re stripping them as they tend to rip easy under pressure. Hope this helps a bit and I hope you get it done!

 

Thanks

Jack

Edited 2 March by JacksVRS

[STU3Y]

Hi Jack,

 

Thanks for the reply. You are the first person to actually offer some support. 

 

I have considered buying replacement seats and then selling mine but there just aren't any decent ones around, and they seem to be about 400-600 quid even with damage or holes in.

 

Plus most are leather and from all the pictures I've seen the skoda leather is not very good and sags quickly to loks terrible compared to the leather seats.

 

I have the basic fabric ones with the diamond sitch, and alcantara side bolsters, but they are mint so decided to give the pads a go as they are about £85 a seat.

 

I have read every thread I can on them, but most are for Mk2 which seems different, especially as it has cecm over bcm, plus it has connections to control unit and I don't think Mk3 needs that.

 

The best thread I can find and is very detailed is on the Seat forum, but it seems to have all the same wiring. 

https://www.seatcupra.net/forums/resources/retrofit-heated-seats-a-complete-how-to.22/

 

I have the kufatec loom

https://www.kufatec.com/en/skoda/octavia/octavia-5e/seat-heating-cable-set-for-skoda-octavia-5e-43340

 

And the seat looms from kufatec

https://www.kufatec.com/en/skoda/octavia/octavia-5e/cable-set-seat-heating-heating-mats-for-skoda-octavia-5e-49047

 

With regards to the control unit under the seat, i have not seen this mentioned by anyone in a. Mk3 install, but some of them were replacing seats, so i am not sure sure this is needed or not, and if so where to get one. 

 

When I contacted kufatec, they only mentioned the looms above and a coding dongle. 

 

I must admit it is not a job a am looking forward to but is the cheapest way for me to get oem heated seats.

 

 

 

Edited 2 March by STU3Y

[STU3Y]

OK so today i installed the wiring and control panel. 

 

I am still waiting for the seats pads to arrive.

 

Once I installed the new control panel with heated seats buttons, I tested the buttons and they lit up as expected and displayed the seat levels on the infotainment display.

 

There was also an option for heated steering wheel.

 

I noticed that the sync buttom my new panel seemed to be operating like a left hand drive (passenger one controlled both dials). 

 

I assume my unit was from LHD. I changed the setting to RHD, but didn't do anything. Randomly I plugged the old unit back in and coded RHD again, then plugged the new one in and it seemed to solve the issue. Don't ask me how?.

 

The problem I have now is, after the sync started working the heated seat level no longer displays in the infotainment screen. 

 

Any ideas?

[JacksVRS]

53 minutes ago, STU3Y said:

OK so today i installed the wiring and control panel. 

 

I am still waiting for the seats pads to arrive.

 

Once I installed the new control panel with heated seats buttons, I tested the buttons and they lit up as expected and displayed the seat levels on the infotainment display.

 

There was also an option for heated steering wheel.

 

I noticed that the sync buttom my new panel seemed to be operating like a left hand drive (passenger one controlled both dials). 

 

I assume my unit was from LHD. I changed the setting to RHD, but didn't do anything. Randomly I plugged the old unit back in and coded RHD again, then plugged the new one in and it seemed to solve the issue. Don't ask me how?.

 

The problem I have now is, after the sync started working the heated seat level no longer displays in the infotainment screen. 

 

Any ideas?

Hi Stuart,

 

Sounds like you may not need the heated seat control unit as those seat looms were the ones I was on about and the looms for the MK3 don’t appear to have plug for it so it would be one less thing to worry about!

 

I presume when they say coding Dongle I presume vcds to activate it. Yep the MK3 like the MK2.5 will use a BCM and not CECM like mine (older prefacelift mk2). In their technical diagrams it’s called the J519. The climate control unit dependent on type (dual or single zone) is diagram matched accordingly so J255 for dual zone. 
 

As for connecting the new climatronic unit in, it’s a weird one but does definitely sound like a LHD unit. The heated seats buttons will light up etc but may not send a signal until they are wired up and coded in. I have a sneaky suspicion that even though you’ve coded the unit to be RHD I’ve heard in cases this doesn’t solve the problems associated with the control modules. Where it’s working somewhat, it Sounds like it may have got the coding from your old unit and deactivated the heated seats?  Or it’s the problem that I think it is where the unit has been hard coded to have LHD functions etc. this hard coding is denoted by the HW number and SW number on the back, more so the SW number. I got door control modules to retrofit electric folding mirrors and I had to get RHD door control modules as the drivers door control module had more pins than the passanger one. The difference was denoted in the SW number. Or it could be you could switch the two small plugs on the back of the unit? VW/Audi/Skoda stuff is very temperamental and dependent on part numbers. Just rereading when you said it had a heated steering wheel option, which is a pretty rare option for any Octavia and I don’t think it’s even an option any VRS apart from MK4, it sounds like you have a LHD L&K climatronic unit.

 

In regards seat and car quality, without and avoiding offending anyone with newer models, I’ve driven and detailed the newer VRS models (2.5/3/3.5 but not mk4 but if the MK8 Golf is anything to go by pretty awful quality) the quality has gone progressively down hill hence why I never upgraded. I got the seats from a blackline limited edition vrs mk2.5, while the leather quality of the seats was brilliant (in line with Audis etc) the doorcards (from same car) were of worse plastic and leather quality than my own so I sold them on. My car is on 203k miles with no sign of wear on any part of the interior and the seats have well over 120k miles and they look like new (tbf I’ve treated them throughly to proper cleans and coatings). I’ve worked with the mk2.5 with the white/suede and it was of worser quality and feeling than the PFL Mk2 white/suede seats I sold on from mine. Scratchy plastics on the tops of the back doorcards on the mk2.5 FL were the big giveaway versus the softer plastics on my own PFL Mk2. Just my best honest opinion as I also think the MK3 is a good looking car.

 

Don’t know if any of that helped but hopefully you get the seats fitted out okay! 
Can always report back here with any issues and we’ll try to help or work through it even with platform differences.

Edited 3 March by JacksVRS

[STU3Y]

It's a baffle to me. I'm guessing will just have to wait for my heated pads to arrive. Then I can plug them in and see if they work. Of they do then i just have to get thek installed.

 

As mentioned, the sync now seems to be working fine, it's just the infotainment no longer displays the heated seat level. One person has suggested this only shows when coded with a heated wheel.

 

With regards to the unit, they both have the same SW number

[STU3Y]

Got it all sorted in the end 

See my update on this thread

 

[STU3Y]

Ideally would like to know the factory heated seat temperatures for each level.

 

Mine are set at 22.5, 36.5 and 53.5

 

[JacksVRS]

3 minutes ago, STU3Y said:

Ideally would like to know the factory heated seat temperatures for each level.

 

Mine are set at 22.5, 36.5 and 53.5

 

Sorry man missed your last post got lost in my emails! FairPlay good guide though it. I see they didn’t stop using them old s*it hog ties. Probably the most annoying part of the whole thing. Good ya got it going!

 

In regards temperatures, I never messed with that to be honest. I had originally used a standard prefacelift climate control unit (5 seat settings) and the heated seats at level 5 were warm. I then upgraded to a Facelift climate control unit (3 seat settings) and level 3 is a lot warmer on that unit than level 5 on the older unit! So could be the coding not sure. My CECM was never happy with me fitting the heated seats but it still works but always has a permanent DTC about enabling the heated seats lol. But everything works perfect but if I want the code to go I’d have to upgrade the CECM.

[STU3Y]

23 minutes ago, JacksVRS said:

Sorry man missed your last post got lost in my emails! FairPlay good guide though it. I see they didn’t stop using them old s*it hog ties. Probably the most annoying part of the whole thing. Good ya got it going!

 

In regards temperatures, I never messed with that to be honest. I had originally used a standard prefacelift climate control unit (5 seat settings) and the heated seats at level 5 were warm. I then upgraded to a Facelift climate control unit (3 seat settings) and level 3 is a lot warmer on that unit than level 5 on the older unit! So could be the coding not sure. My CECM was never happy with me fitting the heated seats but it still works but always has a permanent DTC about enabling the heated seats lol. But everything works perfect but if I want the code to go I’d have to upgrade the CECM.

 

Mine had the same error. You just need to change the coding to not installed. Error gone and not returned 

Edited 21 March by STU3Y