Heated Seats in VX

[bumblebee]

Does anyone have a VX with heated seats? There is one selling on E-bay that has them. Item number: 160079265604

VIN Number: jaccn57x117d00137

"It is also equipt with heated seats, PW, PDL, cruise control, AM/FM cassette with 5 disk CD changer."

[etlsport]

i only know of one vx with heated seats, the owner of which is a member on this board.. and it was a very long involved install, you should email the seller about it and ask for photos of the switch for the seats or something (the vx also came stock with a 6 cd changer.. you should ask if thats a typo, or if theres an aftermarket changer in there)

[Grand_Canyon_VXer]

my 2000 came w/ heated seats and 6 disk changer... which has been a pain in the *****; when I was doing a lot of 4 wheeling.

[Zorak]

Pretty sure no VX ever came factory equipped with heated seats....and that one on ebay does not make any mention of them. Could be someone mistook the heated mirror switch on the console for a seat heater switch?

Maybe the 6 disc CD changer has a disc in it that won't eject, making it a 5 disc CD changer ;)

[alanbradley]

It may be that the Japanese spec VXs came with heated seats as standard and the person has transplanted them...

**rushes off to find out - somehow**

:thumbup:

A

[kpaske]

my 2000 came w/ heated seats and 6 disk changer... which has been a pain in the *****; when I was doing a lot of 4 wheeling.Re: Heated seats: Can you show us some pics? Does it look OEM or was this an aftermarket add-on?

[Joe_Black]

JDM seats are fabric, and AFIAK the US never got factory heated seats. The Recaro seat in the VX is common to several other vehicles and is available aftermarket as well. Seat and lumbar heating, lumbar adjustment and ventilation are options offered by Recaro for the seat model.

The Axiom has similar seats to the VX and bi-level heating is a factory option, so that would be a simple upgrade to the VX for those in chillier climes or plagued by poor tushie circulation.

Rostra makes an aftermarket seat heater kit that is basically OEM components sold as a consumer installed kit. The biggest issue in installing it yourself is removing and replacing the seat covers, which can be a real challenge if you're not familiar with automotive upholstery. Most upholstery shops will install these for you or assist with the covers for a nominal fee.

Rostra Comfort-Heat (http://www.rostra.com/seat-heater.htm)

[etlsport]

hey joe do you know if the switches from the axiom heated seats would fit into a blank spot on the vx dash or console? or a trooper model w/ heated seats that i could steal some factory heated seat switches from? sunday im headed out to three ginormous u pull it lots in search of a rodeo dash.. (or a VX.. but im not holding my breath)

[Joe_Black]

We just sold our '04 Axiom so I can't go measure, but as I recall they appeared to fit the standard Isuzu switch bezel. So they'd likely fit in the center console or dash empties.

[etlsport]

woo hoo!

[kpaske]

Damnit Joe, where were you the last time this thread topic came up?! ;Db;

Wow, so you think Axiom seats would be plug and play? Obviously you'd have to wire up the switches and power, but you think they would bolt right up? Do you know what color and fabric choices were available and what years would fit?

That might just be a better option than recovering existing VX seats (and possibly adding in an aftermarket heater), which is what we discussed in the other thread.

P.S. - Joe, I need your help with my Diesel VX Parts List!

[Joe_Black]

LOL :p Kyle, let me know some times you've got available and I'll ring you up for some mentally-imbalanced "brainstorming" sessions. I've got some Isuzu 4JG2 diesel parts books and the Isuzu shop manuals for the diesel versions of the Trooper, Rodeo and Amigo.

To swap in Axiom seats you'd have to swap the lower rail, but the rest should be plug-n-play. If you want it to look really sharp go junkyard shopping for a Trooper Limited and fish out its heated seat harness so you'll have all OEM wiring and connectors too. Of course a donor Axiom would have this too.

[kpaske]

What kind of seats did the Trooper Limited come with?

Thanks Joe, I'll shoot you an e-mail about the diesel vx project. Nothing like a little public nagging to give you a kick in the butt, eh? ;Db;

Once we do our brainstorming, I'll create a new thread with the details of the project, as I know there are several other people who've expressed an interest in this.

Woohoo, I'm excited!! ;Db;;Db;;Db;

[colmhd]

I think you need to read the ebay link again
"..all this time we thought we had heated seats..."
electric mirrors...Cheese!!!!!

[JHarris1385]

Wow this VX was just right down the road from IndianaVX and about an hour away from me. INVX had no clue, cuase I did not.

[Joe_Black]

What kind of seats did the Trooper Limited come with?
Just regular Trooper seats in leather, so you'd have to really take a good look at them if thinking of using in the VX. Trooper seats have a few inches of lift as opposed to our seats which pretty much sit on the floor. If Tad is looking at this thread he may be able to shed a little more light on this. Even though I've had a number of Troopers the seats were rarely out and I just don't recall much about their frames.

[darkl4805]

So I've had heated seats now for 4 weeks and it was the best investment next to the lift that I've done to the VX.

After 2 weeks of debating between buying Isuzu heated seat buttons or installing the oem Rostra buttons I decided on placing the oem Rostra buttons in front of the e-brake. It's perfect placement and looks like it's stock (see picture below). The only downside is that the oem Rostra buttons do not light up. You will receive a Green or Orange light depending on if you have them flipped to High or Low, but the white outline of the seat on the button does not illuminate.

It's an easy install but very time consuming.
http://www.mothermary.com/vx/recaro_disassembly/img/heater_buttons_tiny.JPG (http://www.mothermary.com/vx/recaro_disassembly/img/heater_buttons_large.JPG)
http://www.mothermary.com/vx/recaro_disassembly/img/heater_buttons_tiny_2.JPG (http://www.mothermary.com/vx/recaro_disassembly/img/heater_buttons_large_2.JPG)

Seat Disassembly Instructions:
http://www.mothermary.com/vx/recaro_disassembly/

[Ldub]

Well Done !

Nice install & write up...thanks for sharing.

[kpaske]

Seat Disassembly Instructions:
http://www.mothermary.com/vx/recaro_disassembly/
Awesome write up. Thanks for contributing!!