How-to Install Check Corp Seat Heaters Nbs Silverado

[Kaptain]

After GM finally gave in and decided to install leather in my 07 NBS silverado I quickly ordered a set of seat heaters from Check Corp. I installed everything except the heating elements that go under the leather. If you are interested in heated seats contact Nathan at Check Corp, he has been a great help. I ordered the premium package with the momentary switches which have a high-med-low and off setting. The membrane switches are probably easier to install however I was going for the more factory look.

 

Now for the install.

Tools you will need:

Wire strippers/crimper

T50 torx for the seat belts

The seats have special nuts and bolts, I managed to get a regular socket on them with out any problems.

Screw drivers and pliers are also helpful

 

If you are going to install in the door, I found it helpful to have:

Fish tape

Electrical tape

51/64" drill bit for the switches, I used a dremel (go slow).

 

This is what is included with the kit.

 

First I assembled everything on the floor of my garage and hooked it up to a spare battery; instructions say not to use a battery charger.

I turned on each seat warmer to check operation. It's probably not a good idea to leave them on high for too long, it may compromise the paper on the back side of the adhesive. The cat was helping me out.

 

With power supplied, the little green light turns on.

 

Close up of the switches. Red is high, orange is medium, yellow is low.

 

I removed the drivers side door panel and speaker to run the wiring through the rubber door loom.

 

This is where the fish tape comes in handy. Getting the wire from the cab through the loom to the door was the most time consuming pain in the butt. Once you get the fish tape feed through the speaker hole, through the loom, and into the cab, secure the 4 wires to the fish tape with electrical tape. While pulling the wires through with the fish tape I used a set of pliers to stretch the rubber loom from the outside, this helped feed the wires through. A word of advise; avoid removing the plastic round pieces from the inside of the looms if you can, they are a real fight to get back in.

 

At this point I stopped working on the doors, I wanted to get all the wiring installed first so that I could test it inside the pick-up before closing everything up. So next step wast to remove the seats. With the negative battery cable disconnected and a few pumps of the brake petal I started removing both front seats. As you can see the seats require a different type of socket that I did not have. I managed to remove them with a normal socket. This is also where the t50 torx socket comes in for removing the seat belts. Don't forget each seat has at least one cable that needs to be disconnected before removing the seat. Also make sure the back doors are closed while removing the seats. I bumped into mine.

 

I must have forgotten to take a picture for this next part. Now with the switch wire through the door I ran the other end under the carpet to the drivers seat where the air bag unit is and plugged it into the brain of the seat heater kit. I also plugged the power cord into the brain, it has the red black and purple wires.

 

For the purple wire I purchased this extra wire harness which plugs in under the dash providing you with 12volt ignition power. So I ran the purple wire under the carpet to underneath the dash where I connected it to the extra connector.

[asilverblazer]

I found it easiest to disconnect the factory conduit from the door and jamb to run wires through it, is this what you did?

[cev103]

I know there is already a lengthy thread on the seat deabate, but I was curious as to how much effort did it take for them to give in and give you leather. I think I'm finally on board with getting rid of these cloth seats.

[Kaptain]

Included with the kit are 2 sets of cables that connect between the brain and the seat heaters. I grabbed the longest one to the passenger side. Again I used my fish tape to make things easier. I also pulled the red constant power wire and black ground wire with this cable. As you can see in the picture I pulled them all the way through the passenger side. Almost forgot, I pulled the other end of the cord that goes to the passenger side door switch as well.

 

I routed the black, red, and seat heater cord down the plastic door piece with the factory wiring and then back under the carpet to the center of the passenger seat. I crimped a 5/16 ring terminal onto the ground wire and grounded it to the body as seen in the following picture.

 

The red constant 12 volt wire continued under the carpet toward the center console. As you can see in the top of the following picture, I found a constant 12 volts using the wire that powers the cigarette lighter inside the lower center console.

 

At this point I took a few minutes to vacuum up my mess and also connected the final cord that goes from the drivers heating element to the brain. I bundled it up and zip tied it to keep it out of the way until the seats go back in.

 

Next I decided to tackle the rest of the drivers side door. But first I wanted to hook the negative battery back up, plug in both switches and seat heaters and test the system in the pickup. All systems were a go. My dash did say something about the air bag, not sure what it said but I figure it had to do with the fact that both seats were out.

With the negative battery cable unplugged again I started on the drivers side door panel. The instructions say to use a 51/64" drill bit for the momentary switches, I used a dremel since I did not have this size drill bit. You will see in the following pictures where I put the switch. This is the only place I could find that would work. Everywhere else would have been a tight fit for the wiring. Other idea I had was to solder all the wires onto the switch at a 90 degree angle giving me more clearance, it was easier to just install it where I did. My last resort was the triangle piece at the top of the door. I started with a 1/4" drill bit, then a 1/2" drill bit, finally dremeled the rest. I used a socket to draw a hole on the back side of the door panel to use as a guide.

 

With the door panel back on.

 

 

This is as far as I have gotten after 5 hours. The most time consuming parts was getting the wire through the drivers side door loom, I still need to do the passenger side.

The dealer is installing the heating elements while they install the leather seat covers so I will not have pictures of that. However they look fairly self explanatory, just peal and stick.

As for the passenger side door, I will complete it when I get my pickup back from the dealer. One thing I want to mention, the wires going to the passenger door look a little short and may need to lengthened in order to reach. I will post up when I get that door complete.

 

My opinions of this kit so far are good. Install was not the easiest, but that is because I went through the doors, this would have been alot easier had I put the switches in the dash somewhere; again I wanted a factory look.

 

Again I will post up when everything is complete.

[asilverblazer]

This is as far as I have gotten after 5 hours. The most time consuming parts was getting the wire through the drivers side door loom, I still need to do the passenger side.

 

That is why I just unhooked the loom from the door and jamb, far easier to get wires through it.

[Kaptain]

This is as far as I have gotten after 5 hours. The most time consuming parts was getting the wire through the drivers side door loom, I still need to do the passenger side.

 

That is why I just unhooked the loom from the door and jamb, far easier to get wires through it.

 

 

 

I unhooked both sides of the rubber loom from the door and the jam, I even removed both round retainer pieces. This did make it a but easier, however the round plastic retainers are a pain to get back into the rubber loom.

 

When I finish the passenger side I am going to see if I can unhook the wiring harness that leads to the door and see if I can pull it out. This would make things a whole lot easier. I wish I had thought of that before.

[Kaptain]

I know there is already a lengthy thread on the seat deabate, but I was curious as to how much effort did it take for them to give in and give you leather. I think I'm finally on board with getting rid of these cloth seats.

 

 

It took alot of patients and a years worth of time. If your dealer does not know anything about the lint situation, there is a lot to learn. I went through 3 sets of seat covers before GM finally gave the dealer the OK to install leather.

[gdpgmc]

Great DIY thread, keep it coming. I want to see you pull the leather back and install the pads.. I am most likely going to buy the Check seats (as soon as you finish yours!)

 

Just curious, why didn't you put the buttons in the slot right underneath the climate controls? Isn't that where they are located from the factory?

[asilverblazer]

When I finish the passenger side I am going to see if I can unhook the wiring harness that leads to the door and see if I can pull it out. This would make things a whole lot easier. I wish I had thought of that before.

 

Yes, the driver side plugs in below the parking brake pedal behind that panel near the floor. The passenger side plugs in bhind the dash end cap panel (Think opposite the drivers side fuse box), then you can feed those harnesses through the jamb, and only have to push wires straight through the loom, into the door. I bunched the loom up as far to one end as I could, taped my new wires to the harness then bunched the loom up as far asit would go the other way, over the new wires, usually just far enough to grab the end of my new wires.

[mkelly]

Just out of curiosity,

 

If you wanted the factory look why didnt you go with the factory kit?

[Kaptain]

Great DIY thread, keep it coming. I want to see you pull the leather back and install the pads.. I am most likely going to buy the Check seats (as soon as you finish yours!)

 

Just curious, why didn't you put the buttons in the slot right underneath the climate controls? Isn't that where they are located from the factory?

 

 

I didnt pull the leather back, I had the dealer do that parts since GM was paying for it so I wont have any pictures of me installing the pads. Sorry.

 

Most everything is finished now, got my pickup back an hour ago. The forgot the order the head rests, the front seat backs and the rear seat arm rest.

 

I dont know where exactly they are located factory. The slot underneath the climate controls where the traction control button is has a little pocket. No place to put a switch. I guess if you can order a plate to fill in the hole it would be a great place.

[Kaptain]

Just out of curiosity,

 

If you wanted the factory look why didnt you go with the factory kit?

 

 

Truth, I didnt know there was a factory kit last week. Now that I know, well Check Corp kit is $50 less. Does the factory kit have three heat settings? I also did not have to have the dealer activate anything.

 

Overall, had I known, I would have really considered the factory kit if it were easier to install. And it probably is.