Opinions wanted about seat replacement.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

Hi everyone again.

I am seeking your opinions about whether to get the front passenger seat back replaced or not.

The problem is that there is a dimple in the left bolster of the front passenger seat (ie. the side with the SRS side airbag). The dimple is about the size of an elbow, like someone pressed too hard and the foam didn't come back up. The dimple is facing the passenger, not outside towards the door.

C&P in Heidelberg, Melb. offered to replace the whole back cushion, ie. not the head rest and not the part you sit on. They have to send it off somewhere to get it done because of the whole airbag issue, ie. they have take off the fabric, take out the airbag, replace the cushion, but the airbag back in, then put the fabric back on. Only the cushion is replaced. The frame, airbag, fabric cover stays.

My concern is that can a dealer (or who they send it to) do a proper job with the airbag as well as reassembling the seat? My last experience with a Toyota dealer replacing a shattered window was bad and the door has been creaking and rattling ever since.

I am worried that the seat will come back creaking, or the fabric not fully fitting and moving around. Or even worse, the airbag not opening in a crash.

Are my worries real? or do I worry too much? I'd like to trust the Honda factory in Japan more than a local workshop but that's just me. Please correct me if I am wrong.

If it was your car, would you replace it?

Thanks very much for all your inputs.

[EuroDude]

Can u show us a pic?

[yfin]

Is this being done under warranty?

I wouldn't be worried about the dealer doing something like that. Pulling apart the dash and door is more of a worry with rattles. The seats seem to be pretty good inthe Euro in terms of noise and it is not too hard to apply grease etc if there is a sqeak or two.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

I'll try to take a pic tomorrow but without feeling it, you won't know it's there. It's definitely there if you sit on the seat. You have to push the fabric down to see it. Otherwise the fabric just stretches over the dimple and can't see it.

(Also the seat is black so even harder to photo any dimple).

I'm more concern about the airbag being fiddled.

Thanks.

[aaronng]

As long as the connector is plugged back in, it's fine. The reason why unqualified techs shouldn't mess with the seats is because of the chance of the airbags deploying accidentally.

[curik]

replace them with recaros

[ACTI0NMAN-1]

replace them with recaros

i think he still wants the safety of side airbags

[curik]

haha i was just kidding.

[EuroDude]

lol its illegal to replace the seats with non SRS ones :(

The car is still warranty and you are entitled to get it repaired since its basically a manufacturing defect. If the dealer buggers it up, go back and ask them to replace the seat with a new one.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

Hi everyone.. I tried taking pics today. My camera can't see the dimple, even with one hand pressing down the fabric and the other taking the pic.

After listening to everyone, I think I will put some faith in C&P and get it replaced. Hope all goes well. (touch wood) :)

Thanks a bunch everyone!!

[euro77]

if this is done under warranty, then go for it, you have nothing to lose (except probably you'll be without the car while they fix it). If they screw up, they'll have to fix it up until all good.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

I got my seat replaced today. I must say the upholsterer that C&P use is very good!! seat looks like new.

They had to reset my airbags. one of the service guy was really enthusiastic and touched the seat sensor when it was resetting) LOL!! the tech yelled at him LOLz.. i hope that didn't stuff up the calibration and it will still work!!

They also had to reset my "idle profile" (ECU).. strange... my Dad's car battery died and was replaced.. i never heard of anything about reseting "idle profile" because they disconnected batter.. apparently they have to do that so that the car will not be "rough" at idle.. anyone want to comment on that?

Cheers.

[ACTI0NMAN-1]

all they do is run the car for 5-10min without any accessories on. just a basic reset of the ecu. some people take out a resistor, and some prefer to take out/ disconnect the battery for 2 hrs, then reconnect. I know with DA9's it tends to smooth out a bouncing tach. So i do it every time i clean the air filter.


I got my seat replaced today. I must say the upholsterer that C&P use is very good!! seat looks like new.

They had to reset my airbags. one of the service guy was really enthusiastic and touched the seat sensor when it was resetting) LOL!! the tech yelled at him LOLz.. i hope that didn't stuff up the calibration and it will still work!!

They also had to reset my "idle profile" (ECU).. strange... my Dad's car battery died and was replaced.. i never heard of anything about reseting "idle profile" because they disconnected batter.. apparently they have to do that so that the car will not be "rough" at idle.. anyone want to comment on that?

Cheers.

[^__^ SM ^__^]

Hi. Thanks for reply. :)

Does "accessory" include my ipod transmitter? because it was in the aux power connector in the centre armrest so i dont' think the tech took it out when he was doing the idle profile. would this impact on the idle run?

Thanks.