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Adding Heated Steering Wheel but not seats - manual button ?

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Wpg_Ram

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Hey all, so I am doing the heated steering wheel add on right now, just waiting for the new wheel to arrive. As I was doing this I was poking through Ebay and accidentaily found a radio bezel with the heated steering wheel and seats buttons. My original plan was to just use it with the radio app from an OBD Genie but am now considering maybe going farther and adding in the trim ... But strangely I am now concerned with the heated seat buttons ... Anyone have any thoughts on what would happen if I did that swap and had the buttons but no heated seats? Would I get alot of strange errors or just dead buttons? My plan was to take the AlphaOBD and turn off the heated seats after I finished the install on eveyrthing.

Thanks for the advice!
 
My guess and understanding, if you don't enable the heated seats in the options then there buttons won't show up in the uconnect.
You would just have dead buttons on the bezel for the seats, unless you add those as well.
I too would like to add the heated wheel but may not add the heated seats until later.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
 
jdefoe0424 said:
My guess and understanding, if you don't enable the heated seats in the options then there buttons won't show up in the uconnect.
You would just have dead buttons on the bezel for the seats, unless you add those as well.
I too would like to add the heated wheel but may not add the heated seats until later.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I am very much hoping thats the case ... Found a different post that says you need the OBD Genie to add the app even if you enable it in AlphaOBD. So I spoke to OBD Genie and they assured me they can send a programmer with just the wheel app, so my only concern is the buttons from Ebay having the buttons and the wiring being all weird.
 
I believe all the code is already there, it's just adding the options and enabling stuff with AlfaOBD. I think you only need one or the other, not both, as they would both be doing to exact same thing.
Using their obd genie takes the option for your mistakes out of the equation during install.

That's just my thought though, maybe someone else will have more info about the two.
 
Wpg_Ram said:
I am very much hoping thats the case ... Found a different post that says you need the OBD Genie to add the app even if you enable it in AlphaOBD. So I spoke to OBD Genie and they assured me they can send a programmer with just the wheel app, so my only concern is the buttons from Ebay having the buttons and the wiring being all weird.
Click to expand...
They are wrong others have added them just by enabling in alfa they got both the radio controls and the center stack controls working
 
jdefoe0424 said:
I believe all the code is already there, it's just adding the options and enabling stuff with AlfaOBD. I think you only need one or the other, not both, as they would both be doing to exact same thing.
Using their obd genie takes the option for your mistakes out of the equation during install.

That's just my thought though, maybe someone else will have more info about the two.
Click to expand...
Oh that is very good to know ! I mean I already have the AlphaOBD & the Link+ and the bypass cable, so that totally makes me happy to not have to worry about buying something for just a one time use : ) thank you!
 
H3LZSN1P3R said:
They are wrong others have added them just by enabling in alfa they got both the radio controls and the center stack controls working
Click to expand...
Oh thats wicked good news ! If I can save a bit of cash, I am more than happy to do that :) And one less step to take is always welcomed :)
 
@ramblinChet
At a minimum, you need the new steering wheel and clock spring from the same truck. Then you will either need to have the 8.4" radio or figure out how to add the buttons(not sure if this can be done), I don't believe the heated seats/wheel were ever available with the 5" uconnect.
You will also need to purchase alfaobd and a bypass harness.
 
ramblinChet said:
Thank you for those details jdefoe0424 - I ordered my Tradesman with the 8.4" so it looks like a steering wheel and clock spring are all the hard components required. I though I had read about someone purchasing the small plastic panel with the buttons for the heated steering wheel and seats and just snapping that in. Maybe the harness is already there?

I guess the final question for me to answer would be if I am able to upgrade the vinyl Tradesman 40/20/40 bench seats to include the heated sections. Has anyone ever done this before?
Click to expand...
Yes, it would be easy to swap the radio bezel for one which includes the heated buttons. Should be able to find one with the manual HVAC controls which includes heated seats/wheel.

I think if anyone has done the heated seats, they have swapped the entire seat assembly. Not sure if the heated section can be installed separately or even ordered separate.
 
jdefoe0424 said:
@ramblinChet
At a minimum, you need the new steering wheel and clock spring from the same truck. Then you will either need to have the 8.4" radio or figure out how to add the buttons(not sure if this can be done), I don't believe the heated seats/wheel were ever available with the 5" uconnect.
You will also need to purchase alfaobd and a bypass harness.
Click to expand...
You need the heated seat module, also, to make the heated steering wheel work.
 
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