heated seats

saw these on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-seats-Universal-2-dial-Switch-carbon-fiber-Heated-Seat-Heater-Kit-5-Level-12V-/351610912724?hash=item51dda4bfd4:g:QKkAAOSwCQNWemuZ


I am thinking the pads themselves could be a direct replacement for the pads in my rivage?

They come with a similar switch to the one is a rivage so do work with a thermistor?

Can anyone tell me if I purchase them how easy it would be?  is it just a case of changing the plugs and wiring into the golf set up?

hoping one of the electrical gurus will see this (don't know how to tag people)

cheers
Tony

Well I don't know how yours are mounted, but the seat bottom seems a tad long. I would ask for the dimensions of the pads as if it is too long for the bottom bolster…..

The Seats if yours are sports have wires in the padding that have to be removed to get the covers off, and I don't know if they will interfere with the element when you go back  

I have a how to in the back on taking the covers off to repair the bolsters.  

But you would need the width to not be greater than the width of the flat bolster not the sides that come up.

My two thoughts.

Thanks for that. yes I would check the sizes.  I think the main thing I was asking is that original  vw pads have , I think, a thermistor built into the pads to control the temperature.  on the original pads there are 4 wires to the bottom pad (2 assumed to be the heated wire itself and 2 to the thermistor that works with the controller to control the temp) and 2 wires going to the back pad.

on closer inspection on the ones on ebay there are only 2 wires going to the pads so they must just have 5 heat settings controlled by the switch. and therefore not suitable..

has anyone got a wiring diagram for an vw seat pad.? wonder if I could get a thermistor (same type / take the one out of my pads) and wire into a standard 2 wire pad

if your old pads are knackered simply butcher them to get the thermistor out and fit to the new pads in a similar location. splice the rest of the old pad wires to the new ones and then they'll all plug in as per oem

thanks for the input rubjonny, was hoping you may see the post and comment

is there a surefire way to know if the under seat relay is kaput?  They are both clicking when the switch is turned on, but one does look a but manky.  I have just cleaned it with some electrical contact cleaner

you can test the voltage output, and to test your pads check for continuity across the live and earth pins (usually black and brown) on them. note both pads are connected in series so if either one has a break it'll stop the entire seat from heating up. its usually the base pads that go as they're under the most stress

if you look around the base at the rear you should find the 2 pin plug joining the base pad to the backrest pad, if you check for continuity at this plug that will tell you if the backrest pad is ok. if it is and no continuity at the main plug you know its the base pad thats gone.

it is possible to repair the pads by soldering in a bit of replacement wire to bridge the gaps, but it might be an ideal excuse to upgrade to modern carbon fibre pads

There was a company, Over on this side of the Pond, that had some kits that were cuttable.  Or you could trim them to fit the Cushions.  It was a few years ago I was searching…. But I decided that I could live without them and with a working heater core, and tight seals, I could "LIVE" without them.

But there are Chilly days that I ride with the Top down, that I think, heated seats would be fine now.  

I guess my attitude is from my Childhood, and running around in MG's and Bug-Eyes, where a working heater, and a good top were Oxymorons.