Hey guys,

I'm converting my cloth interior to red/black leather interior. I saw the info for removing the panels and that will help alot.


I need now to know if the cloth RX-8 driver seat and the leather driver seat switch will be easy or difficult. What I mean is that the leather seat is heated and power. Is there a hook up on the cloth interior for these or will it require electrical work too?

Where are the heated seat controls? I don't really need heated seats, so not too worried about it, but if its easy to get it going, why not?

Any info will be helpful.

Thanks,

Derek

 

I belive the wires are there for the heated seats. all you have to do is plug them in.. and the controlls for the heated seats are on the center concel.. You can buy a heated seat concel or just put the switches in

 

This could be a nice little DIY if you pursue this project...

 

I have cloth...under the center console (where the nav and heated seats switches would be) there are two plugs that are not connect to anything, they are just plugged into a silver plastic mount. Remove shift **** and slide the cup holder lid back and pull the center cover straight up. It is held in place by plastic clips. Between the shift lever and cup holders you will see the plugs I am talking about.

Verify this:
They are probably for the switches. It would have probably cost Mazda more money to make two different wiring harnesses, so they just leave the plugs there not being used in non leather models.

 

Yes those are the plugs for the Heated seats!

 

cool Thanks guys! This means it will be easy to get the power seats going anyways and then I can get the console or switch whenever I find a solid deal on one (in other words I can wait it out :p )

-Derek

 

Switches are between the center console storage area and gear shift.

 

Please post up a DIY when you do the install.. I have been waiting to do the samething when some seats are forsale around chitown

 

And how often is the center console with the switches available anyway?

 

You can Check out Partsgroup.com or PM G3tR3DDY2GR3DDY he might have what your looking for

 

I'm switching to Shinka tan leather heated/power seats this weekend (coming from non-power cloth)...the heater stuff sounds easy, I already have an extra center console with switches, so I am in luck there... but what about the power seats? I thought I remember somebody telling me that the main power bus comes off of the power window line since you need a heavy gauge wire to drive all the seat motors.... are there power connectors under the driver's seat ready to go for this too, like the heat wires? It would be nice to plug n' play! But my buddy has the shop manual in case I gotta do some splicing... Any info would be appreciated...

 

Plug and Play worked perfect for me.

 

Cool, but can you confirm to me 100% that we are talking on the same page?

I have an '05 GT with cloth seats, and I am changing them all out for leather power and heated seats from an '05 Shinka. I have the center heated seats switch panel too, but I am more concerned with the power seat controls.... you were actually able to find a connector under the seat that is for the power seat motors also? And BTW, I was wrong in my last post, I was told the main line for the seat motors comes from the power door lock solenoids, not the power window motor...but that's neither here nor there if there is indeed connectors for everything already in place... thanks
-C

 

its confirmed i did mine the plugs for the power seats are there too its ALL plug and play ...

 

AWESOME - THANKS FOR THE CONFIRM GUYS - I will report back after the install...with photos hopefully

 

Mine is an 04 sport...I don't know what my seats came out of (think an 05 but not for sure).

There are connectors from the seat bracket to the seat cushions

There are connectors from the seat bracket to the floor of the RX8

I played connect the dots and everything matched up and worked by default. I had zero problems. It was plug n play 100%.

 

sorry guys, no luck with my plug n play install.... There were NO heavy gauge wires in the harness for the seat plug, and the seat failed to move once plugged in... So I had to put the cloth seat back in and drive to The Shack (as they now call it) to get some 12 gauge and splicers. It all works now, but everything took 2 times longer than planned. I took some crappy iPhone pictures, although I doubt I will do a full DIY and just post them here instead. Haven't installed the heated seat switch panel yet, so I can't comment if that part is going to work or not... With 105 degrees every day, I'm in no hurry to get them working yet. Bottom line, my factory connector had 6 small gauge wires and the Shinka power seat had those 6, plus 3 more small gauge, and two additional large gauge (seat power +,-) wires. So apparently not all years/cars are created equal...

 

ok guys im looking to buy an RX8 and ive been holding out for a good deal with the black/red leather interior but ive been waiting for months now and cant seem to find what iwant so im wondering how hard / expensive the Leather swap is from the cloth? The seats and door panel inserts are they expensive ? it seems like most people in this thread had it plug and play besides chamberlin

 

I have the wiring diagrams now, so nothing will be too hard.... don't worry about it too much.... I will post some pics this weekend hopefully.