Heated Steering Wheel - It can be done.

[RAMSTEEL]

Our third jeep and this one did not come with the cold weather option. We didn't order it (existing stock) and it was really not a deal-breaker as I figured I could always add it later. I knew if I could do the steering wheel that the heated seats would be super easy. On a Ford, it's way easier as the wiring harnesses are fully loaded so adding options is way easier. Jeep creates these sub harnesses for different trim levels. I'm sure it saves money but makes upgrading more challenging.

I'll post more details later but suffice to say it can be done, and frankly, it's easier than you think once you understand it's all CAN bus, wiring pin to pin, and power/ground.

BTW, the wiring diagrams on here are outdated, the biggest delay I had was finding XY301A connector because it has changed from MY 2020 to MY 2021. It's bigger and changed colors so it took me a few days to map each wire to ensure I was matching pin for pin. It's in the same location, but clearly, they've expanded the number of wires in that connector.

The short version of what you need:

Heated steering wheel - I got a used (literally brand new) leather Rubicon off a Gladiator because was $100 on eBay. Red marker to update the stitching color.

Clockspring with heated steering option and matched to whatever options you have. (rear wiper or not), etc. Again, eBay for $50 and this took a bit to find just the right part number for what I needed. I had a previous Rubicon that I knew would match so I used that part number for my search.

Dash wiring harness or make the necessary wires. I found a new one that was two versions behind my jeep but was fully optioned for everything - $129.00 - I was just interested in harvesting the correct color-coded wires and connectors. You could certainly use splices and disconnect terminals and make your own harness. The fused power F60 for the steering wheel goes to one connector (C4) on the comfort module and the remaining can bus wires to another (C1) it also requires power but you won't see that until you look at the heated seat diagram. Since I plan to wire the seats, I ran the power for both connectors.

I followed the wiring diagrams to a tee and wanted to repeat the factory install directly into the existing harness. Power for the wheel and seats are already wired to the XY301A connector, hence the fuses are there. The dash harness side of the connector does not have the power and this seemed to stop previous efforts.

Heated seats and steering comfort module - $49 - it will be used for the heats (next addition, I had the parts already) but I can confirm the heated steering wheel work completely independently of having added the heated seats.

And last, a new climate control or center stack module that matches you setup and adds the heated steering wheel and seat options - $50 eBay (lots for $100, just be patient)

So I have about $500 into this effort with pin removal tools and such but it was fun to learn the jeep wiring and CAN bus system. It's just a network for the jeep and the devices are automatically detected once they go live. It's actually pretty easy but just figuring out where stuff is and/or a change occurs, certainly makes it fun.

More to follow, but I just wanted to say "It can be done"

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[five9dak]

Bump, can we get a follow up on this?

 

[RAMSTEEL]

@five9dak do you have a specific question. I'm working on my heated seat install now so not likely to get a great write-up any time soon, but I'll try to answer your questions. I'm not going to post part numbers because things like the clockspring are specific to your Jeep (with or without hardtop, etc.) and require some research. I can post what I used if it helps others with a similar setup.

 

[five9dak]

No I was just curious because you ended the post with "more to follow." I am interested in the heated seat stuff as well. But not in any hurry. Thanks for what you have provided.

 

[RAMSTEEL]

The heated seats were/are the same process, but the harness is a bit more involved. The seat harnesses are premade and have a separate part number but the wiring from the climate control unit to the various connectors took a bit longer to remove from my donor harness.

The seats are just install the pads and switch the premade harness under the seat out from the existing one.

The hardest part is installing the harness you make from the donor. The wiring spreadsheet is key to understanding that portion. Once you get that harness ready to install, the rest is plug-and-play.

I just noticed I didn't post the latest spreadsheet, hopefully this one helps understand the individual wiring setups. LInes 97 on help show what it takes to make those items "talk".

View attachment Heat Wiring.xlsx

 

[Jeeepjeeepjeeep69]

I want to do this to my 21 rubicon 2dr w hardtop by chance is that the same model you have so I could get your part numbers lol

 

[RAMSTEEL]

Heated Steering Wheel	Any JL/JT with heat	$ 360.00	$ 100.00
Climate Control Stack	7BU54DX9AA	$ 300.00	$ 54.00
MODULE. STEERING COLUMN.	68526258AA	$ 384.00	$ 75.00
Heated Seats and Steering Wheel Module	68510873AA	$ 107.00	$ 49.80
Heated Seat Passenger Wiring Harness	68282851AF	$ 55.00	$ 37.00
Heated Seat Driver Wiring Harness	68310655AE	$ 47.55	$ 37.46
Seat Back Heated Pad x2	68294073AD	$ 150.00	$ 101.75
Seat Cushion Heated Pad x2	68294071AD	$ 156.20	$ 104.84

The first column on price is new MSRP, the second is used (eBay, MarketPlace, etc.) and that's how I sourced most of the parts and/or most discounted MSRP I could find.

Your mileage may vary, I spent months watching a bunch of eBay listings. The pads I bought new as well as the seat harnesses as are already installed in the seats. You won't find used pads, just entire seats. I have an extra set of pads and seat harnesses as I had some on back order that showed after I bought another set elsewhere. Happy to sell those and they are still in Mopar bags, only one pack has been opened. $250 plus shipping.

** Instrument Panel Wiring Harness Mopar 68413046AE fits 2019 Jeep Wrangler

This is not on the list and is the "donor" wiring harness I bought to extract the wires I needed to make the dash harness. I got it for $130 and it was brand new. There are many options (from 100 to 600.00) here and you just have to find a dash harness for any JL or JT 2018 or newer that has a heated steering wheel.

I resold my steering wheel and climate stack for $300 so there's some offset in the process.

It's tedious but honestly, it's 100% worth the time and effort to do the factory setup. I like projects

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

This tread makes me very happy that I opted for the cold weather group from the factory. It seems like quite a bargain given the cost of the parts and the time invested. I’m glad to know that technically adept and motivated folks can do it after the fact though.

 

[RAMSTEEL]

This tread makes me very happy that I opted for the cold weather group from the factory. It seems like quite a bargain given the cost of the parts and the time invested. I’m glad to know that technically adept and motivated folks can do it after the fact though.

Absolutely the way to go. The one we purchased was sourced in the south and didn't have it so we could either wait (order from factory) or go without out. The cool thing (no pun intended) was everyone said it couldn't be done or gave up. I've learned a ton about the Jeep in the process and it was actually fun to do. It's like any other mod when you finally get it done it's very satisfying.

I wish I had access to the wiring diagrams on the Mopar site as the ones posted here are out of date so you have to match pins visually in some cases.

 

[Teqsand]

@five9dak do you have a specific question. I'm working on my heated seat install now so not likely to get a great write-up any time soon, but I'll try to answer your questions. I'm not going to post part numbers because things like the clockspring are specific to your Jeep (with or without hardtop, etc.) and require some research. I can post what I used if it helps others with a similar setup.

Does this work on all trims? thinking about a sport that doesnt have heated wheel or seats, and use a phoenix testla style radio

 

[RAMSTEEL]

It works on any trim that has the option to add those options and I suspect a sport is no different than the others. The dash wiring harness is the key, without the donor harness and your willingness to extract the needed wires, it won't work. The radio has nothing to do with this option other than putting the additional graphical buttons on the head unit. You would us the new climate control until to turn on/off those features.

 

[TaiMc]

...

BIG ?

 

[RAMSTEEL]

BIG ?

LoL - Just hate when someone says it can't be done. Heck there's some guy that pulled a Jeep out of the water and restored it. Every single wire, module, etc. was checked. That's not only a big brain but big....well, balls

 

[Nitehawk92]

This tread makes me very happy that I opted for the cold weather group from the factory. It seems like quite a bargain given the cost of the parts and the time invested. I’m glad to know that technically adept and motivated folks can do it after the fact though.

For the Rubicon the Cold Weather package is only $895, and they spent between $600 - $700 for the used parts and then all the time to install. I too am glad that I configured my 2023 with the package from the factory.

 

[RAMSTEEL]

For the Rubicon the Cold Weather package is only $895, and they spent between $600 - $700 for the used parts and then all the time to install. I too am glad that I configured my 2023 with the package from the factory.

It was out of necessity as this was early Covid and options were being dropped on many vehicles. Not every Jeep is sold with heated seats and steering and you can add them after the fact. That's really the point. I also have sold the original parts so it's not costly as it sounds but you have to want to do this.

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