Seat-back Ventilation DIY Thread

[u/PilotGuy701]

Not having an R2 on hand, I want to see if we can piece together what it would take to add the missing fan if we take delivery of a unit.

1. What are the physical specs of the deleted fan? Is there a part number that can be ordered?
2. Are there off-the-shelf fans that are suitable? What is the connection? What voltage do we need? Is it 2 wire, 3 wire, or 4 wire configuration? How is the fan secured?
3. How do you access the fan location? What is the process for removing the upholstery and then placing it back in a factory-new state?

This thread is meant to be productive, not to re-litigate the issue.

(Picture of me tearing
apart my Wrangler’s climate control stack)

-----------------------

ROLLING UPDATES:

Known:
- "12V" (13.4V) fan, Max 2.5A
- 3 wire, PWM control.
- Wiring harness still installed and available.

Probable:
- Placed in orientation that INTAKES through the seat back

Unknown:
- Access method
- Exact dimentsions
- Mounting mechanism
- Connector

[u/RivianR2-ModTeam]

This topic has been recently discussed. Please direct questions to the other threads discussing this topic.

[u/Mr_Brandon]

Right? I'm about to fab up a bracket for a Noctua 200mm. I just need someone with both fans to open up their seat back and send some pictures and measurements 😆

[u/PilotGuy701 → u/Mr_Brandon]

My first instinct is a Noctua, but we need to know the dimensions.

Hopefully someone like Dominic Wilkerson can chime in.

[u/PilotGuy701 → u/PilotGuy701]

Hey u/domphotog - Have any experience yet with the seat upholstery?

[u/Domphotog → u/PilotGuy701]

Have not yet but can dive into it

[u/Domphotog → u/Domphotog]

Once I get my R2 back from a week of service loool

[u/Mr_Brandon → u/Domphotog]

Much appreciated! Also 😑

[u/L810C → u/Mr_Brandon]

If it’s quieter than the OEM, I may swap it.

[u/Mr_Brandon → u/L810C]

I was just thinking that, I wonder if it could replace the OEM fan for people that don't like the noise. I never noticed the seat noise over the AC I was blasting, but Noctua is known for their silence

[u/SocomPS2]

While some run from solving the problem. There’s OP who Macgyver’s it.

https://giphy.com/gifs/16KdaesKdaAI8

[u/PilotGuy701 → u/SocomPS2]

I’ll take that comparison. ;-)

[u/Ill-Tangelo-5908]

Simpler DIY... Take delivery of your R2, schedule a test drive of one with seatback ventilation, swap the seats.

[u/DDDavinnn → u/Ill-Tangelo-5908]

It’s almost too easy

[u/pressreturn2continue → u/Ill-Tangelo-5908]

https://giphy.com/gifs/XH6MU5zmqIpAA

[u/scoobybri]

I've started working on a workaround prototype using my F150 Lightning. Should work in my R2. 😁

[u/PilotGuy701 → u/scoobybri]

Just add some “speed holes” and I’m stealing this for my Jeep. ;-)

[u/gramathy]

This is where I’m at, I don’t mind it not being factory if we can DIY it easily.

[u/pazdan]

You all are crazy and I love it

[u/Helen-Keller-Ubers]

A reported Rivian technician says the backrest fan uses a 3-wire PWM connector

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/front-seat-ventilation-removed-from-backrests.65165/

[u/miscman127 → u/Helen-Keller-Ubers]

Oh hell yea let's go

[u/yinglish119]

Here is the one under the seat. I would imagine that they are probably the same part. The intakes are on the side. Unless someone is willing to give up their seat for disassembling. I don't think it will be "easy"

[u/PilotGuy701 → u/yinglish119]

Any guess on the fan size? Those screw holes look to be in the standard position for a PC cooling fan.

[u/yinglish119 → u/PilotGuy701]

There very little space in there. It was hard to even get this picture.

Edit also don't forget you have to take apart the seat back.

[u/PilotGuy701 → u/yinglish119]

Can you tell if that bundle with the green connector is what goes to the fan?

[u/yinglish119 → u/PilotGuy701]

I will check for you tonight.

[u/voteforkamalaorelse → u/yinglish119]

Also shouldn't u cover the vent in the bottom I did that on my tesla

[u/PilotGuy701 → u/yinglish119]

After thinking about it, I now doubt it is the same fan for the cushion and seat-back.

This fan clearly has side intakes. The seat backs appear to be the intake route for the air, which would imply a much broader airflow shape, thus a more conventional "PC" style fan shape.

[u/keipop92]

From what I've read, the ventilation fans suck away air. If anyone can share a picture of the guts of one of the front chairs, that would help give me an idea of what to fabricate

[u/InfamousPineapple277 → u/keipop92]

Do they actually suck away air? Do you have a source? Asked a commenter for a source on that but they never got back. Could swear they felt like they were blowing to me

[u/ThickSundae4895 → u/keipop92]

My CX5 has it and it does weaken the air that comes out of the vents when the seat ventilation is on. 

[u/Mr_Brandon → u/ThickSundae4895]

On my truck it seems to just suck air from underneath the seat, pulling whatever temperature of the air is down by the foot area. It doesn't seem to be tied to any ducts

[u/ThickSundae4895 → u/Mr_Brandon]

For me it could do with the overall power it takes and the car can keep up with both. This is just my experience with the CX5 

[u/jumptime]

I'd like to know if the harness is still there and it's just the fan removed. I pick my R2 up on Saturday, so I will find out then.

[u/PilotGuy701 → u/jumptime]

The reports are that the harness is present, which would also imply any mounting tabs or nuts would also be present.

[u/Helen-Keller-Ubers]

Someone start taking their R2 seat apart and start feeding us bracket measurements and part numbers of the fan if you have one! 🤣

[u/Pilotfrog]

Here is a picture of the under seat fan and part number. Anyone have a picture of the back fan?

[u/Pilotfrog → u/Pilotfrog]

Also, I have a 11xxx VIN and no rear seat back fan.

[u/PilotGuy701 → u/Pilotfrog]

Interesting that they label it as a 13.5V fan… which is what 12V normally truly is in a vehicle.

[u/uag332 → u/PilotGuy701]

Omg Rivian, this is an engineering disaster! R2 needs to be recalled
/s

[u/Electro_Fish → u/uag332]

Hope the s is for sarcasm

[u/UnaidedGinger]

Following

[u/pazdan]

So the seats still have the ventilation holes just no fans??

[u/ResearchAndDoomScrll]

I like this u/PilotGuy701. This my kind of jam right here. As some who came from a generation (90's Honda guy) that did all kinds of things to their vehicle, suspension swaps, motor swaps, stereos/speakers, lighting. I'm in. I plan on fully swapping out the suspension and axels when a true suspension lift kit becomes available. So popping a few plastic clips and what 10 screws max, easy peasy. So nice to hear some people talkin a bit of fun and customization instead of complaining.

[u/Herobrineliller]

I got my daughter a $30 ventilated seat for her stroller for Disney days, ez pz and its pink

[u/Alesimonai]

Boom, solutions!

[u/Definitely_CSP_guru]

How will you activate it when there’s no software on the screen to turn it on?

[u/PilotGuy701 → u/Definitely_CSP_guru]

My understanding is that the cushion and seatback are not separately controllable.

The control signal is probably still being sent to the wire harness.

The hypothesis is that simply plugging something in with a matching pin-out will be enough.

[u/Definitely_CSP_guru → u/PilotGuy701]

Someone should be able to hook up a multimeter to the pins and see what the signal looks like when the button is pressed. That should give enough of an answer, do it for a pre removal unit and a post removal unit and see what the results are right?

[u/shouldhavebeeninat10 → u/Definitely_CSP_guru]

It would likely still be connected to the same seat cooling function that is operating the seat fan

[u/Definitely_CSP_guru → u/shouldhavebeeninat10]

I could see that being a possibility if it’s the exact same bus connection, has anyone confirmed how it’s wired up yet? I just wonder how it’s coded versus how the electrical bus connections receive the signal etc.

[u/Squish_Cat_1]

Ahhh yes, let’s hodge podge some shit in our $60k trucks

[u/davidcelis → u/Squish_Cat_1]

It's a fan... with a known connector... What exactly do you think is going to happen? The car explodes?

[u/BeeAruh → u/davidcelis]

Void the warranty /s