pgamboa

Well… decided to abandon this project since finding a Multi Flex Tailgate. Thanks to @GTPprix for the development work on getting this to work on my truck! I’ll have all the parts to sell (might sell on eBay or here to someone that wants to buy the entire kit for the power lift QT6). Link to the video - Multi Flex Tailgate Retrofit

Alright - so I’m an idiot. I ran the GMLAN wire and spliced it to my running board harness’ GMLAN signal. Module didn’t respond. Perplexed… I took the tailgate harness apart at the main connector and found that the GMLAN pin #20 had BACKED out of the connector! So when I plugged it back in, it wasn’t making a connection. UGH. After spending almost 2 hours running that new wire. LOL. So, if you have the GMLAN signal in the connection under the bed, that is what is needed to establish the communications from the module to the truck. So.. now the module responds with my factory wiring! Will work on BCM stuff now once i get with WAMS on that part of it.

Another update on this. After doing some additional testing, I found my connection/connector under the bed (chassis side) doesn’t have the GMLAN signal present and why the module wasn’t communicating. I did a test run with some wire and got it to finally communicate. Here is the schematic. K194 is the tailgate control module. From there, the connection under the bed is the X926. Pin 20 is there but doesn’t make it all the way back into the truck. My X138 connector, pin 11 is what I used for the running board connector. So I temped in the wire run there to get it back into the truck’s BCM. Once I did that, it responded. Still working with WAMS to get my BCM programmed for this tail gate. We previously programmed my BCM for the Multi-Flex tailgate. So it didn’t quite respond the way it’s supposed to. More to come!

Questing for @Rally6.2RST and @Aaaaaaaayush - do you no longer need the rods on the upper part that connect to that middle actuator close to the handle?

I’ll be attempting to do this to my 2021 Silverado LT - 1500. Found a Sierra tail gate on FB Marketplace for $150. Started taking it apart and finding the motor, driver/passenger lock actuators are the same parts but are superseded with new parts #s. Harness part # is different (86780814). The module label was scratched off so not sure what to expect there. For the hinges, did you guys have to drill that out? They look riveted. On my grey tailgate, I have bolts but the donor tailgate looks riveted.

https://harnessdr.com/product/2019-2022-silverado-sierra-center-console-conversion-harness/

https://harnessdr.com/product/2019-2022-silverado-sierra-center-console-conversion-harness/

Here is a harness to get the jump seat powered once you swap over. https://harnessdr.com/product/2014-2018-reverse-console-jump-seat-conversion-harness/

Excited about this one! Let’s go!!

I have started this project as I have had **some** free time. I've had the parts for some time sitting the garage. But finally able to get the Denali Seats installed into my 2021 Silverado LT along with the center console and rear heated seats. Driver seat memory is operational! Heat is retained, cooled not working (also waiting for WAMS for the release of BCM Programming). But being able to get power folding operational relies on Driver Memory Seat Module (MSM). Swapped out driver side and all but power fold worked. I can see the mirror trying to fold but limps in its attempt. Think these mirrors have junk motors in it. They are also Sierra mirrors and don't quite sit flush so I'll be on the lookout for Silverado mirrors. The door handle swap had some melted "rivet" type fasteners that I had to pop. So that sucked LOL. Passenger side - EXACTLY like @Rally6.2RST stated. So I'll be following his workaround for now to regain passenger window control. Key fob fold works, power mirrors adjust works, reverse tile, mirror memory, etc. works. Puddle lamps not working at the moment and don't know what drives the front spot light at the moment either. More to come. Thanks @Rally6.2RST for the support so far!

Man, I HOPE you can prove me wrong as there will me SO any others that want to do this. A few things here - check out this video from Goat Rope Garage - He explains the LIN (Local Interconnect Network) BUS system. The LIN BUS is what GM uses to communicate from the BCM (Body Control Module) to the heated/cooled seat module (located under the passenger seat). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ktajtBImgw&t=87s He has a couple more videos on his channel if you are interested in learning about it. He developed a way to use the OEM buttons, an aftermarket Canny Logic Controller, and aftermarket seat heat elements. I'm not a fan of doing anything outside of GM Factory methods. The heated/cooled seat is not your typical on/off since it operates on the LIN BUS. Your BCM HAS to be custom programmed to communicate to the heat/cooled module. Without this, there is NO way you can make it work OEM. If you figure out how to do it, please share your update here. I have personally tried 10 dealerships locally to me and have spent more $ than I wish to share publicly for all things BCM. I then learned about WAMS (www.WhiteAutoandMedia.com) and worked with them to get my custom BCM programmed for other retrofits. Luckily for me, I already had factory heated seats, so getting cooled was easy since my BCM was already programmed to communicate to my heat/cooled seat module. As for getting Seat Memory integrated in my truck, it was a BEAR. I had to depopulate ALL the non-memory wiring and add the memory wiring in favor of it. It was all trial and error. I spent a span of 6 weeks (over the course of 5 months) until I got it all figured out - BUT it also required custom BCM programming. I did the same steps for a close friend of mine @Viktorrocks15 and was able to get his truck with seat memory. But again, this required custom BCM programming, removing ALL non memory circuits in favor of memory. Over the course of 12 months, I was able to get a handful of trucks setup for heat/cooled, locally, at my house. Keep in mind, this was all done during the time with BCM programming was available. At the end of 2021, www.WhiteAutoandMedia.com suspended the offering of custom BCM Programming. Don't know if/when they'll release that offering again. As for swapping entire dash/cabin harnesses - this will introduce more errors than you'll gain (which is none) since all of this all starts with custom BCM programming. So if you go down this path swapping entire harnesses, you'll be chasing your tail for days/weeks (or in my case, months). If anyone reads this in its entirety, the cost I spent at dealers was 2x what you spent on the seats. There was SO much time & money wasted with having to leave my truck at the dealer with false hope as each dealer said they could do it, paid for their time, only to be told they couldn't do it. I understood the risks, accepted the costs, and drove away days later each time, with no change to my truck. If the above is not what you wanted to hear and feel you have wasted $1500 on your purchase, then I'd recoup as much as you can and sell the seats now while you can. If you are ok with just getting power to the new seats, and want to explore Goat Rope Garage's method, then go for it. But for now, you won't be able to get heat/cooled to work factory GM. If you somehow can get it done via your dealership network, props to you. Steak Dinner/Beer/Bourbon on me my friend. But you'll need to understand the path to get there IF they can custom program your BCM. Simply swapping the dash/cabin harness won't get you there. -pgamboa

Depends on year and what you currently have.