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Seat swap?

5870 Views 26 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  AtlCade69, 
M
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.
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M
My other concern is whether there were changes between 2017 and 2019 that might cause issues, like airbag occupant sensor design being changed?
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M
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.
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M
Definitely another concern.
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M
MikeR. said:
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.
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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?
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M
Also, are there seat modules under the carpet or anywhere that I would likely need?
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M
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.
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M
arudlang said:
Including the airbags or do those seats not have them?
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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.
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M
AtlCade69 said:
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...
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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.
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M
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.
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M
Thank you! I’m very pleased so far. It’ll be a nice bonus if I can get the other features working.
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M
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.
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M
🤨 Hrmph. 😂
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M
Definitely next on the list.
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M
Unfortunately, no. I never tried getting the heat or air to work, and I actually traded in the KL last week on a Wrangler.
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