[Mobiuscorpus]

Alright guys, I have a 2019 TH with no added options. It has the vinyl trimmed cloth seats. I have access to a totaled out 2017 model with the perforated leather, heat, and ventilation. It is getting towed away in the next couple days. Here’s my question: can I make the 2017 seats work in my 2019? I know they will physically fit, and I’m sure I could get the drivers power adjustments to function. But is it possible to activate the heat and vent functions? If so, what do I need other than the seats? I can see the connectors have more wires to accommodate the extra stuff, so is there an additional module and wire harness if need to pull out of the totaled vehicle? I’ll probably do the swap, even if I can’t get the extra features to work, just because I really like the leather.

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

My other concern is whether there were changes between 2017 and 2019 that might cause issues, like airbag occupant sensor design being changed?

 

[Shoulder]

Someone else might be able to give a more detailed explanation, but what I recall is those features such as the heated, and ventilated seats have to be programmed into the car for it to work, which would require a trip to the dealer regardless.

As far as plug n' play, I think most of the wiring is there, but perhaps there are additional modules for the heated, and ventilated seats.

Ventilated Seat Install

I have an 80th Anniversary Edition that came with heated seats and the 8.4" Infotainment Screen, but it did not come with the Ventilated Seats. I have located the 4 OEM seat cushion blowers (55057474AB and 55057475AB), but my question is install. Can I just plug these in and they will work? Do...

www.jeepcherokeeclub.com

This thread gives a little more detail, and I'm sure someone else can steer you in the right direction.

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

Trip to the dealer to add the sales codes and reprogram it isn’t an issue. I’m a body man at a Jeep dealer, and they’ve done that kind of stuff for me before, when I added remote start. As for the other stuff with modules and whatnot, that is my concern. That and wiring or firmware compatibility between the two model years, especially since one is pre-refresh, and one post.

 

[arudlang]

I too would swap to the better seats just for the improvement in seat material quality alone, and getting heat/cool to work will be a bonus. Aren't there airbags in the seats though? Sure hope those are 100% the same...

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

Definitely another concern.

 

[MikeR.]

I'm not sure if it will work or not, but don't forget to grab the door handle trim for the seat memory function, as well as the vent motors from the passenger side if you decide to try.

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

I'm not sure if it will work or not, but don't forget to grab the door handle trim for the seat memory function, as well as the vent motors from the passenger side if you decide to try.

Is the seat memory all built in to the trim panel controls? There’s no other module to get? Also, which passenger seat vent motors do you mean? Aren’t they all built into the seat?

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

Also, are there seat modules under the carpet or anywhere that I would likely need?

 

[MikeR.]

I don't know if there are more modules, I just know there is a keypad on the driver's door with 3 buttons. When looking at Rock Auto, it does look like there is a power seat module somewhere. From the look of the seat fans, you might be right that they probably do mount in the bottom of the seat. Might want to check when you pull them out.

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

For those who are interested, I pulled the seats today, and swapped them. The plugs on the wire harnesses are completely different shapes between model years, which didn’t surprise me at all. Over the next few days, I plan to unpin the plug on the seat and swap in my old seat plugs. At that point I should know whether all the wires are present to run the fans and heaters. Whether I’ll be able to get them working is another can of worms. Worst case scenario, I’ll have nice leather seats with the fold flat passenger seat (which I didn’t have before) and the split folding sliding rear bench, instead of the fixed split fold.

 

[arudlang]

The plugs on the wire harnesses are completely different shapes between model years

Including the airbags or do those seats not have them?

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

Including the airbags or do those seats not have them?

The seats do have airbags. There is only one large master plug that connects the seat to the vehicle. There isn’t a separate plug for the airbags.

 

[AtlCade69]

I would focus on getting the functionality back that was on the original seats in your TH, adding memory, ventilation, etc. that didn't come with yours may be a real pain...

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

I would focus on getting the functionality back that was on the original seats in your TH, adding memory, ventilation, etc. that didn't come with yours may be a real pain...

That’s my plan. First and foremost, I need the power restored to the adjusting motors on the drivers seat and the airbag and seatbelt connections restored so it’s safe and doesn’t scream at me for having my seatbelt unbuckled constantly. I may fab up a switch panel similar to what MFC sells and just add manual switches with relays to turn on the heat and cooling.

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

A quick update: the seats are in. I ended up having to buy the seat bottom and seat back harnesses for the driver seat for my model year Jeep. I remembered to save the bottom harness off my old passenger seat, and was able to splice a connector in to fit the different air bag connector in the seat back harness. Afterwards, my dealer had to do a proxie alignment to get it to recognize the new airbags and seat modules. Everything is now good with no codes. The power drivers seat functions properly. Unfortunately, when we tried to add the sales code and flash the system for the dealer heated seat option, it damn near bricked the system. It took my tech (I work at a Jeep dealer) the better part of 30 minutes to undo that, remove the sales code from the database, and restore the Jeep to working condition. So no factory controls currently for the heat and ventilation. At this point my plan is to buy the correct passenger seat harness so that both seats are fully correct. Then I will either buy AlphaOBD and see what I can make work, or I may just trace the power wires for the heaters and vent fans and run a custom switch panel with relays to operate them manually. I haven’t decided on that yet. Worst case scenario is that I now have very nice, functional, leather seats with a fold flat passenger seat (didn’t have that before) and the adjustable, sliding rear seats, but no heat/vent. Best case scenario, I may be able to figure this out and get the extra features working.

 

[AtlCade69]

Looks good!

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

Thank you! I’m very pleased so far. It’ll be a nice bonus if I can get the other features working.

 

[AtlCade69]

Thank you! I’m very pleased so far. It’ll be a nice bonus if I can get the other features working.

You might try comparing the part numbers for the '17 and '19 seat modules, they may have changed... I know the '19 lost the fold flat when ventilated, but gained passenger power adjustment.
I'm hoping you get this sorted out, to me the fold flat would be useful! You might want to do a careful gander on the seat module wiring, they are probably tied into one of the network busses which you might not have needed with the your factory ones. Jeep's wiring diagrams are a bit odd, you need to look at more than just the power diagrams, they have separate diagrams for the network busses.

Question does the '17 passenger have the storage compartment under the butt cushion?

 

[Mobiuscorpus]

That’s some good info and food for thought, thank you.

No, the 17 seat does not have the storage compartment. I’m under the impression that the ventilated models didn’t have it due to design and packaging. It would have been nice though.

The only thing I can’t easily change, that disappoints me so far, is that the passenger seat doesn’t have a map pocket on the back. I assume they don’t want you storing stuff on the back of a fold flat seat, lest you crush it or poke holes in the upholstery when you lay something on it. But my cloth seats had the pocket, and it’s where my 4 year old liked to store his sunglasses and toys.