When I have a few moments on my computer without anything to do, I come on the forum and look for inspiration. Last Friday the thread about reupholstering seats drew me in when Seat Heaters were mentioned. Lady Shadetree's car has seat heaters, why doesn't my van? While searching online for heaters, lumbar support quickly caught my eye. Lady Shadetree has lumbar...
It didn't seem fair I reasoned, and it all is relatively inexpensive. It took less than an hour to discover, dream, plan and buy Heaters and Lumbar Support. Uh Supporters? Lumbar Air Bags? Whatever you call it, I need Lumbar! And I think it will really make my factory 2012 seats comfortable. I've always wished the Lumbar was more pronounced on them.
The parts arrived at my office on Monday. Today I finished up work in San Diego early and thought I would get some work started on installing them this afternoon. Driving North to Riverside it got darker and darker, pouring rain at my house. Guess I won't do any work then. I did pull out the switches to see how big they are. The heater switch is bigger with it's 5 position dial. The Lumbar is pretty small.
I have been debating where to put these switches so they are handy but unobtrusive. Looking at the dash I can't see where I could place the passenger side switches. The drivers side would be easy, but I want both sides to balance out.
Next option considered was the face of the console, just below the cup holders. Pulling the console off and looking underneath, it was apparent there would be a lot of plastic cutting to wedge them in there. Then I'd need some molex connectors inline so the console could still be removed when necessary.
Eliminating those options led to considering a small plaque on the side of the seat bottom, between the seat and the door, with both switches in it. Drivers and passenger would each be able to reach their own seat controls. My seats are manual so there's no switches down there now. I don't suppose we would need to see the switches to control them and that would keep them out of the way. I think this is the winner.
My other debate is how to place lumbar and heater on the same seat? Both are supposed to reside in the same space on the seat back as I bought the over-the-foam lumbar without thinking about this. The seat bottom is easy as it only gets the heater.
But the seat back is where I have to decide what to do;
A) Lumbar only at small of back, and Heater above it at shoulder blades?
Or
B) Lumbar placed on foam first, Heater placed over it, covering the entire height of the seat?
Or
C) Heater placed on foam first, entire height of seat, Lumbar placed on top of heater?
Or
D) I don't need heaters, I live in Southern California. Put the Heaters on my Jeep for when we go doorless in cold weather, and put just the Lumbar in the van?
What say you? Any ideas, comments or concerns?