Heated seats keep dying!

[DJ3033]

I'm running TWO heated seat setups from a single 12v power source in my 2020 Sport S that taps into the 12v cigarette lighter. I'm in serious need of help.


I'm using this adapter that taps into the 12v cigarette lighter as the 12v power source. https://www.quadratec.com/p/stinger-offroad/accessory-power-t-harness-wrangler-jl-jk-ch-12pwrh

The heated seat kits are the Dorman 628-040 universal. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002U6IL9O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Problem: I think the heated seat relays KEEP dying. I've replaced the relays twice now. At first, the heated seats work great, but within about 5-10 minute of use the LED lights built into the switch start malfunctioning, and then we hear one of the relays start clicking when turning on. Before they fail completely, we note that when we switch on one of the heated seats, the LED in the other switch also flickers for a fraction of a second. Almost like the change in voltage in one heated seat relay affects the other one, even though they're isolated except for them coming from the same power source.

I'm not an electrician or an expert on this, and have run out of ideas. Please help. I thought I wired them exactly how everyone else did and didn't see how this would be problematic. How do you guys wire dual seat warmers to your JL?


Setup looks like this: (Quadratec 12v cigarette lighter adapter -> feeds power directly to 2 heated seat units spliced together)

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[DJ3033]

I think I'm just going to run the seat heater kits to separate fuse taps in the fuse box. Are these two fuse locations ok for only receiving power when in ACC mode or engine is running? I don't want the
heated seats to be accidentally left ON and drain the batteries while car is off and parked.

 

[jeepster345]

I think I'm just going to run the seat heater kits to separate fuse taps in the fuse box. Are these two fuse locations ok for only receiving power when in ACC mode or engine is running? I don't want the
heated seats to be accidentally left ON and drain the batteries while car is off and parked.

Yeah you sould definitely be running them to separate fuses. That’s too much draw on just that one fuse alone. I have the same heated seat kits, and they draw around 10 amps. I have one fuse tap hooked into the Driver heated seat fuse, and one tapped into the cigarette lighter fuse. Both of those are ignition fuses.

 

[DJ3033]

We are thinking of installing a single fuse tap with a 20amp fuse to the fuse #45 in the fuse box, connected to 2x positive (2x) wires running all the way through the firewall, into the console area, where we can plug into our two heated seat kits positive terminals. We can then run the heated seat kit negative wires into the floor ground terminals bolts. Does this sound like a safe plan?

Or should we also run ground wires from the heat seat kits all the way through the firewall back to the battery ground/ ground near the battery on the frame?

 

[jeepster345]

We are thinking of installing a single fuse tap with a 20amp fuse to the fuse #45 in the fuse box, connected to 2x positive (2x) wires running all the way through the firewall, into the console area, where we can plug into our two heated seat kits positive terminals. We can then run the heated seat kit negative wires into the floor ground terminals bolts. Does this sound like a safe plan?

Or should we also run ground wires from the heat seat kits all the way through the firewall back to the battery ground/ ground near the battery on the frame?

Personally, I wouldn’t run both seats off the same fuse tap. Like I said, I ran mine off of two separate fuses. I’m sure it would be fine, but something in me doesn’t like the idea of running so much equipment off of one fuse, even with the larger secondary tap, that’s already running the original equipment.

As for the grounds, it’s fine to run them to the the ground spots in the footwell.

 

[DJ3033]

Sounds good. I’ll do two separate fuse taps. #45 in the fuse box, and #52 (I’ll have to confirm #52 fuse is only on with accessory or engine running.)

 

[jludave]

I’ll have to confirm #52 fuse is only on with accessory or engine running.

It is. I tapped into that fuse for my headlight halos.

 

[DJ3033]

I also noticed there was 2 fuse available already marked for heated seats, according to this diagram. Are these functional and available for use in the JLs without the heated seat(cold weather) package?

So question is...

Fuse #45 and #52?

Or

#57 and #58?

 

[jludave]

Are these functional and available for use in the JLs without the heated seat(cold weather) package?

I don’t believe those fuses are installed without heated seats. Pop open the hood and check.

 

[DJ3033]

I don’t believe those fuses are installed without heated seats. Pop open the hood and check.

It looks like I have it in my 2020 sport s. ???? I might test them to see if they’re functional.

 

[DJ3033]

Thanks for all the help everyone. Heated seat wiring re-done with quality 14 awg, all the way to fuse #52 and #58 for each heat seat unit. #45 fuse wouldn’t work with the direction of the fuse tap (too large for that space), and #57 was too close to #58 and physically impossible to install two fuse taps next to each other, also an issue of fuse taps being too big and in the way. Ground wires also routed to the ground terminals on the body next to the battery. So far working great and no issues.

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