Can I Install Heated Seats in My '02?

[rogerl]

Hi Guys:

Anyone ever do this?

If so, what is the cost of parts and how would I do it??

Best regards - Roger

[5bird7]

Re: Can I Install Heated Seats in My '02?

DavidA did it 8 years ago on his 02. There have been a few others that have done it. The heated seat kit was from Rostra as I recall. Directions are on this site and on mine.

[5bird7]

Re: Can I Install Heated Seats in My '02?

Here's the instructions with photos from Chris Wilson:
http://www.portholeauthority.com/the...eatheater.html

[Lindy]

Re: Can I Install Heated Seats in My '02?

This may not be of help, but the previous owner of my '02 had em installed shortly after purchase, I think he said that the Ford dealer did the install. Regretfully I didn't ask him for that paperwork when he turned over the car's maintenance records to me. They are a nifty luxury in late fall and early Spring, or on that rare occaision that the Winter roads are washed clean and dry.

[taflocks]

Re: Can I Install Heated Seats in My '02?

piece of cake. i did my bird in a hour each seat. you remove seat from car peel up the seat cover from the seat, hog ring the heaters in and put the covers back on. worst part was running the wires to the fuse block.

[Lindy]

Re: Can I Install Heated Seats in My '02?

Hey Roger,

Here are several pics of how the switches for the heated seats are mounted in my '02. Heated seats are a defenite plus luxury in the Northern climate. Good look with it if you decide to go ahead and upgrade!

-Lindy

[Sealy]

Re: Can I Install Heated Seats in My '02?

That's where I mounted mine when I did an install on an Escape many years ago. The only thing I'll mention is I would occasionally hit them gettig in - and mounted there they are out of sight. I'd be sitting in traffic, AC running full, and still be feeling hot - then it would dawn on me.

With a couple of spices and a little work, they could be mounted in the stock location and not look out of place.

[Lindy]

Re: Can I Install Heated Seats in My '02?

Sealy, I never had that problem as of yet. IMHO the side-mount is more in keeping with "OEM" for an '02 T-Bird, if it be the case that one is such a stickler about these things, because that is how the upgrade was professionally recommended and done, but your idea is likely do-able as well. I presume that the dealer who installed the upgrade for the previous owner of my '02 used a template or had upgrade parts ordered from Ford, with the switch hole pre-cut. However, on my '05 there are two switch-knobs on the lower front of the console, each side has a 'hi' and 'lo' setting, while on my '02 there is but one setting which is quite sufficient. The different configurations, between the '02 and '05 et.al., make for an interesting variety nonetheless.

[rogerl]

Re: Can I Install Heated Seats in My '02?

Thanks for posting the pics Lindy; I appreciate it - Roger

[Sealy]

Re: Can I Install Heated Seats in My '02?

Sealy, I never had that problem as of yet.

You, obviously, egress and ingress much more gracefully than I. Good point on the that's where Ford put the upgrade. My '04 is the same as the '05. Important point is that we have it and all our parts are warm and toasty.

[5bird7]

Re: Can I Install Heated Seats in My '02?

Sealy, I never had that problem as of yet. IMHO the side-mount is more in keeping with "OEM" for an '02 T-Bird, if it be the case that one is such a stickler about these things, because that is how the upgrade was professionally recommended and done, but your idea is likely do-able as well. I presume that the dealer who installed the upgrade for the previous owner of my '02 used a template or had upgrade parts ordered from Ford, with the switch hole pre-cut. However, on my '05 there are two switch-knobs on the lower front of the console, each side has a 'hi' and 'lo' setting, while on my '02 there is but one setting which is quite sufficient. The different configurations, between the '02 and '05 et.al., make for an interesting variety nonetheless.

Lindy,
Most likely the dealer that installed the one in your 02 used the Rostra kit and followed it's instructions for mounting as many owners would buy an aftermarket product and get their dealer to install the product. However, if your buttons look like the ones in your 05, then maybe it was installed after the 03s came out??