Seat Heaters, Has anyone tried installing seat heaters |
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Seat Heaters, Has anyone tried installing seat heaters |
WRX914 |
Oct 6 2005, 11:07 AM
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#1
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2.5 WRX STI hybrid powered beast Group: Members Posts: 782 Joined: 16-September 04 From: Las Vegas, NV Member No.: 2,771 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I have a WRX converted teener which means I have no heat in my car! Has anyone tried installing seat heaters in the stock 914 seat? Any advise on this subject is greatly appreciated. I do live in Vegas, so I don't need them to boil me, just keep my butt toasty!
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) |
double-a |
Oct 6 2005, 11:25 AM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 987 Joined: 15-September 03 From: vancouver, wa, usa Member No.: 1,162 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
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jsteele22 |
Oct 6 2005, 02:37 PM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 727 Joined: 24-August 05 From: Colorado Springs, CO Member No.: 4,653 |
Have you had a car w/ seat heaters before ? They are nice, but I don't know if I would count them as a substitute for heat (especially for defrost ...). The ones in my Saab go through a cycle (switch on, temp goes up to 96 F, switch off, cool down to some fairly low temp, switch on, etc.) So occasionally you notice a warming sensation, but mainly it just takes the edge off of the chill. Other styles may be different. Partly this is to cause less wear to the heater element, but also to save power. Any form of electric heat is terribly inefficient compared to combustion.
Another issue is that they break a lot. The heater is just a piece of copper wire that zig-zags all over the seat cushion. Every time you get in or out of the car, you flex it. If one tiny spot gets frayed, its resistance goes up, so it dissipates a larger share of the total heat, so it gets hotter, so its resistance goes up, etc., until you have a tiny char spot on your seat cushion and no more heat. On Saabs, anyway, this is a big problem. Repairable, yes, but a bit of a pain. Not to discourage you, but better to have a good idea what you are/aren't getting into. I'm just starting a Subaru swap on my 914, and I've thought (a tiny bit) about heat. Someone posted a link to an after-market mini heater core (pitched to RVs, boats, etc.) that I think was only around $100. Plus hoses. Don't know if I'll go this route, but having real heat would be a serious luxury. Maybe someone in 914world.com could organize a North Dakota Christmas Classic ? |
DougC |
Oct 6 2005, 02:47 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 949 Joined: 6-July 04 From: Dallas, TX Member No.: 2,307 |
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jsteele22 |
Oct 6 2005, 03:31 PM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 727 Joined: 24-August 05 From: Colorado Springs, CO Member No.: 4,653 |
DougC,
Nice link, looks like a quality product at a very competitive price. And I learned something new from their FAQ :
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WRX914 |
Oct 6 2005, 04:11 PM
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#6
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2.5 WRX STI hybrid powered beast Group: Members Posts: 782 Joined: 16-September 04 From: Las Vegas, NV Member No.: 2,771 Region Association: Southwest Region |
Doug,
Thanks, that product looks like just what I need. I think I will buy the top of the line kit (carbon fiber). I will let you all k now how it works for me. Keith (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/aktion035.gif) |
jim_hoyland |
Oct 6 2005, 05:08 PM
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#7
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Get that VIN ? Group: Members Posts: 9,319 Joined: 1-May 03 From: Sunset Beach, CA Member No.: 643 Region Association: Southern California |
If you could post a picture of the "hard" part, that would be cool. I'm looking at the same thing; even ordering from seatheater.com. Anything you can pass along would be very helpful.
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siverson |
Oct 6 2005, 05:32 PM
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#8
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Advanced Member Group: Benefactors Posts: 2,448 Joined: 5-May 03 From: San Diego, CA Member No.: 654 Region Association: Southern California |
I have and I love them. I got hooked on seat heaters when I first got my Audi (hey, it's gets COLD in San Diego), and it's perfect for the 914. This time of year, and even sometimes during the summer, it's great having the seat heaters on with the top off...
-Steve |
Mueller |
Oct 6 2005, 05:39 PM
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#9
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914 Freak! Group: Members Posts: 17,146 Joined: 4-January 03 From: Antioch, CA Member No.: 87 Region Association: None |
it seems pretty easy to just install a heater core inside the engine compartment and use the heating ducting that came with the car...this way you'll have a defroster as well........
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lotus_65 |
Oct 6 2005, 07:17 PM
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#10
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,608 Joined: 21-March 05 From: minneapolis, mn Member No.: 3,795 Region Association: Northstar Region |
oh, for crissakes! has it ever been below 20° in san diego, EVER? i'm guessin' you wear sandals all year long, right steve! yup, it's envy all right! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) |
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siverson |
Oct 6 2005, 07:27 PM
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#11
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Advanced Member Group: Benefactors Posts: 2,448 Joined: 5-May 03 From: San Diego, CA Member No.: 654 Region Association: Southern California |
No, you DEFINITELY can't wear sandals all year long, at least not if you want to keep the top off. During the winter, I'll wear shoes - and sometime even a long-sleeved shirt! - if I want to take the car out with out the top. Sure, I suppose if you wanted to keep the top on you could just wear sandals. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)
-Steve |
siverson |
Oct 6 2005, 07:35 PM
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#12
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Advanced Member Group: Benefactors Posts: 2,448 Joined: 5-May 03 From: San Diego, CA Member No.: 654 Region Association: Southern California |
I was curious, and evidentally no, not 20, but it was 25 on 1/7/1913. -Steve http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/climate/san-san-month.htm > JANUARY IS USUALLY THE COLDEST MONTH OF THE YEAR IN SAN DIEGO AND THE ONLY MONTH WHEN TEMPERATURES BELOW THE FREEZING POINT WERE EXPERIENCED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. ONLY ON 9 DAYS HAS A READING OF 32 DEGREES OR BELOW BEEN RECORDED SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1872 WITH THE ABSOLUTE LOW OF 25 DEGREES ON JANUARY 7, 1913. THE AVERAGE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH IS 48.9 DEGREES, THE AVERAGE MAXIMUM 65.9 DEGREES AND THE MEAN 57.4 DEGREES. DAYTIME READINGS OFTEN REACH 70 DEGREES AND OCCASIONALLY 80 DEGREES AND ON JANUARY 10 IN 1953 ROSE TO A HIGH OF 88 DEGREES. |
BMartin914 |
Oct 6 2005, 08:22 PM
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#13
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||| Group: Members Posts: 1,408 Joined: 30-May 04 From: Oregon Member No.: 2,128 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
So how would one go about installing these in a 914? The price seems pretty reasonable...enough to consider the idea.
I love cruising at night in late fall with the top off and the heat on (in the CO mountains). It's fantastic. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) |
lotus_65 |
Oct 6 2005, 08:41 PM
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#14
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,608 Joined: 21-March 05 From: minneapolis, mn Member No.: 3,795 Region Association: Northstar Region |
ok, OK! enough already! at least MY engine will last lots LONGER because I get to MOTHBALL IT for 8 months each YEAR! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif) AND i won't need los PONCHOS for any cheap UPHOLSTERY or anything, so i save LOTS there! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif) and i hear COASTAL ROADS are OVERRATED. i think i need my blankie. you can find me in the corner, weeping. |
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