Heated Seats Issue with Aftermarket Head Unit

Hi - first time posting on this forum. I was unable to find a thread using the search that covered this topic, so if one already exists, I apologize.

I have a 2017 Dodge Ram Big Horn with heated seats and steering wheel, and it came with the UConnect 5.0 deck. From the day I ordered the car in, I planned to replace this with an aftermarket head unit (vs. paying thousands more for what I view as a sub-par UConnect unit). I purchased all the parts I thought i needed:

- Axxess LC-CHRC-01 Chrysler 13-UP Chime Retention Interface
- Metra Axxess ASWC-1 Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface
- Metra 40-EU10 VW /BMW/Euro Car to Male Motorola Vehicle Antenna Adapter

WIth these in hand, I proceeded to install my head unit - and everything worked great! *UNTIL* winter approached. I then found out that my heated seats and steering wheel heater no longer function. Without having the presence of mind, I took it to the dealer for diagnosis - who told me that the cause was the aftermarket head unit (and charged me $150 for this privilege). They informed me that the signal from the buttons on the dash through to the heated seats control flowed *through* the audio head unit, and you could not replace these head units with aftermarket ones without breaking this connection.

I didn't believe them at first - but after swapping the factory UConnect back in quickly, the issue IMMEDIATELY went away.

Here we get to my question:

- Does anyone have experience using an aftermarket head unit in a Big Horn with heated seats?
- If so did you retain your functionality?
- If so - what wiring harness did you use?

I am totally open to re-buying a new harness - but I really don't want to go back to UConnect. I had it in my Jorney before this car and I REALLY hate it. As a last resort, I would consider installing the UConnect 8.4, if I had no other option.

Post a picture of your factory deck to assist. Not sure if your situation requires an iDataLink 'Maestro' interface and compatible radio if coming from an Ra2/UC 5.0. Hopefully one of the folks that have done this will respond.

M² Mods - From my non Flammable S7!

You need to swap the first 2 axxess items you listed with the idatalink maestro. Your head unit also needs to support “car features”. What head unit are you using?

If you like your setup and can live without the wheel how about adding aftermarket heated seats?

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

Sorry for the delay in reply, its been a busy week

Mpgrimm2 said:

Post a picture of your factory deck to assist. Not sure if your situation requires an iDataLink 'Maestro' interface and compatible radio if coming from an Ra2/UC 5.0. Hopefully one of the folks that have done this will respond.

M² Mods - From my non Flammable S7!

Click to expand...

Here you go

Jimmy07 said:

You need to swap the first 2 axxess items you listed with the idatalink maestro. Your head unit also needs to support “car features”. What head unit are you using?

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The problem is I know my head unit - its a Joying Android unit - does not support the iDataLink. Do I need to get a new head unit? If I did, would it work *for sure*? I don't want to go buy a new head unit and iDataLink and find it doesn't solve the issue.

nationalminer84 said:

If you like your setup and can live without the wheel how about adding aftermarket heated seats?

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Its an idea but would really like the factory look...

No one knows if the iDataMaestro combined with a new head unit will preserve heated seats???

From other posts I have seen, if you select an iDataLink'Maestro' compatible radio you should retain all your factory options. Use the iDataLink website to compare some they don't all have the same abilities.

M² Mods.

No offense but that radio you put is not much of an upgrade if any.

get the idatalink piece and a capable radio and you will be better off. You can get one that supports android auto to mirror your screen.

baum said:

No offense but that radio you put is not much of an upgrade if any.

get the idatalink piece and a capable radio and you will be better off. You can get one that supports android auto to mirror your screen.

Click to expand...

Sorry but I vehemently disagree with you

Pioneer/Alpine/Kenwood units are so extremely limited compared to native Android units.

brunes007 said:

Sorry but I vehemently disagree with you

Pioneer/Alpine/Kenwood units are so extremely limited compared to native Android units.

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To each its their own. those cheap companies try to add "bells and whistles" to compete with the big brands. There is a reason why its an under $200 radio. and i would be willing to bet most of the people on this board would agree. Especially those like me who are currently or have worked in the car audio business.

the sound quality alone an major brand will walk circles around that cheap radio.

but i guess if your looking for a radio that you can play candy crush on then yes that one is perfect!

baum said:

To each its their own. those cheap companies try to add "bells and whistles" to compete with the big brands. There is a reason why its an under $200 radio. and i would be willing to bet most of the people on this board would agree. Especially those like me who are currently or have worked in the car audio business.

the sound quality alone an major brand will walk circles around that cheap radio.

but i guess if your looking for a radio that you can play candy crush on then yes that one is perfect!

Click to expand...

There are no bells and whistles, it's stock Android so you just install whatever app you want. Being able to use TuneIn, Google Play music, google maps, Voice activated google assistant, and other such apps directly on the head unit without having to goof around with Android Auto and all it's limitations is a dream.

brunes007 said:

There are no bells and whistles, it's stock Android so you just install whatever app you want. Being able to use TuneIn, Google Play music, google maps, Voice activated google assistant, and other such apps directly on the head unit without having to goof around with Android Auto and all it's limitations is a dream.

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You may not have limitations - but what do you really gain for everyday use?

Get a Kenwood or Pioneer with Maestro - have more vehicle options than factory, better sound, and a much better unit than those Chinese Android POSs. I have installed many and they are slow and much like most android stuff, doesn't work sometimes. Get a Kenwood/Pioneer with Android Auto and it will cover anything you really need to use while driving. Everything you described above about Google apps are part of Android Auto and work great.

adrianp89 said:

You may not have limitations - but what do you really gain for everyday use?

Get a Kenwood or Pioneer with Maestro - have more vehicle options than factory, better sound, and a much better unit than those Chinese Android POSs. I have installed many and they are slow and much like most android stuff, doesn't work sometimes. Get a Kenwood/Pioneer with Android Auto and it will cover anything you really need to use while driving. Everything you described above about Google apps are part of Android Auto and work great.

Click to expand...

You seemed to have missed my "not having to goof around with Android auto. I don't want to have to get my phone out of my pocket and plug it in to use an app - I want things to "just work". If/When Android Auto works wirelessly, then I would give it a second look, but right now, I am very unimpressed - and yes I have used it many times, it is present in my other vehicle.

Guess that is one thing they have to catch up to Apple on lol. To each their own I guess, not sure the big deal about plugging a phone in. They all could use an extra charge during the day.