[Euro] Modifying the drivers seat (std)

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05-09-2006, 06:43 PM
EuroDude

[Euro] Modifying the drivers seat (std)

Anyone else find the Euro Standard front seats uncomfortable?

1) The height adjustment only adjusts the rear part of the seat, so if you want to raise the seat, you end up leaning forward too much, which causes you to slide forward when braking.

2) The bottom part of the backrest is too bulgy, so you can't plant your butt and lower back into the back very well, and causes your back to arch too much.

3) There is lack of side butt support, resulting in sliding sidewards when cornering.

So basically what I would like to do is add some padding to the front part of the seat for my legs to rest and butt to stay in position when braking.

Plus I would like to rip out some of the padding in the lower back rest, or add padding up high so my back does not arch so much.

Plus I would like some more side shoulder and side butt support so I wont slide sideways while cornering.

But the problem is that the freakin SRS airbad is in the side of the seat, so it makes it hard to mod the seat, let alone replace the seat with an aftermarket bucket seat.

Can you buy various padding bits and pieces designed to create a bucket seat out of a stock seat?

Do you think its possible removing some of the lower padding without making a mess of the seat? How would I get in there? The whole seat seems very well stitched up...
05-09-2006, 06:53 PM
tony1234

Quote:

Originally Posted by EuroDude

Anyone else find the Euro Standard front seats uncomfortable?

1) The height adjustment only adjusts the rear part of the seat, so if you want to raise the seat, you end up leaning forward too much, which causes you to slide forward when braking.

2) The bottom part of the backrest is too bulgy, so you can't plant your butt and lower back into the back very well, and causes your back to arch too much.

3) There is lack of side butt support, resulting in sliding sidewards when cornering.

So basically what I would like to do is add some padding to the front part of the seat for my legs to rest and butt to stay in position when braking.

Plus I would like to rip out some of the padding in the lower back rest, or add padding up high so my back does not arch so much.

Plus I would like some more side shoulder and side butt support so I wont slide sideways while cornering.

But the problem is that the freakin SRS airbad is in the side of the seat, so it makes it hard to mod the seat, let alone replace the seat with an aftermarket bucket seat.

Can you buy various padding bits and pieces designed to create a bucket seat out of a stock seat?

Do you think its possible removing some of the lower padding without making a mess of the seat? How would I get in there? The whole seat seems very well stitched up...

You'd need to talk to a motor trimmer,(preferably one that puts leather in seats).I know one in Caringbah.Doyles.they do work for Tynans(Honda dealer in Sutherland):cool:
05-09-2006, 06:54 PM
aaronng

Have you tried adjusting the lumbar support? It's a lever on the left side of the driver's backrest.
05-09-2006, 07:00 PM
EuroDude

Yep ive tried adjusting the lumber support, but it doesnt help - you lose alot of upper back and sholder support.

A motor trimmer? I'll look into it.
05-09-2006, 07:13 PM
Chris_F

I'd be cautious of modifying these seats in any way. As you might or might not know, the seats in the euros have a number of sensors lining the seats that let it know when to activate and deactivate the airbag. If you've never witnessed this before... next time you have a passenger ask them sit on the far left of the seat and lean toward the window, more often than not a warning light will flash up on the dash saying the SRS airbag in the seat has been deactivated when they're sitting in that posistion.

You really don't want to alter how the sensors decide when to deactivate the airbag incase it deploys when you're in a awkward position on the chair.

IMO, you'd be better to replace the seat with a bucket seat and sacrifice the airbag as they've been known to do more damage than good when they don't function properly (which they might if you ad different paddings).
05-09-2006, 07:20 PM
EuroDude

I would only mod the drivers seat though, but yeah you are right about the sensors. Although I think the sensor is in the side shoulder rest area which means it should be safe to mod the lower areas - which is the most annoying area for me. lack of shoulder support, I can live with.

The problem is that its illegal to remove stock safety equipment, so I can't replace the seat.

I was thinking I could buy a seat cover (one that is Side Airbag compatible), and add the padding to the inside of the cover. That may be my only option.
05-09-2006, 07:36 PM
ALN

I would suggest just replace the seats (recaro etc) rather than modify your standard seat since the air bag is very sensitive.
I don't know replace the seats is illegal or not but at least you know for sure they will hold your body movement when cornering. About the air bag sensor cable you just disconnect it and bring to Honda dealer to reset the ecu to turn off the air bag light
05-09-2006, 07:53 PM
aaronng

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALN

I would suggest just replace the seats (recaro etc) rather than modify your standard seat since the air bag is very sensitive.
I don't know replace the seats is illegal or not but at least you know for sure they will hold your body movement when cornering. About the air bag sensor cable you just disconnect it and bring to Honda dealer to reset the ecu to turn off the air bag light

It is illegal because you are disabling safety equipment.
05-09-2006, 08:32 PM
Chris_F

Yea it's illegal. but I'd feel safer with an aftermarket seat than a modified stock one.

I personally don't mind the euro seats. They aren't buckets but I've sat in worse. In saying that I've always wanted to have a bucket seat because they feel so supportive (that makes them comfortable to me)

EuroDude, adding padding into the seat cover sounds a bit ghetto to me haha, and i don't think it'd support your weight very well around a corner at speeds that would cause you to slide.
05-09-2006, 09:01 PM
EuroDude

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_F

EuroDude, adding padding into the seat cover sounds a bit ghetto to me haha, and i don't think it'd support your weight very well around a corner at speeds that would cause you to slide.

lol true. I would need to make cotton sachet's with some shaped layers of foam in it, then seal the sachet and sew it into the cover.

Or maybe I can just jam some flat pieces of foam into the original seat lol, sounds messy though...

Surely there's a company that sells add-on bucket seat padding that you wrap around the stock seat... I'll have a look on eBay/google.
05-09-2006, 09:21 PM
EuroDude

Think Ive found something that will work, "Perfect chair memory foam"
http://www.everythingfurniture.com/pechmefoupkt.html
19-09-2006, 08:04 PM
ACCONDA

when i turn on my euro, the words "side airbag off" appears on the dash for a second,
does anyone elses euro do this, or does anyone know what this means or how to change it

thanx,
carmella
19-09-2006, 08:06 PM
EuroDude

A lot of the cluster lights come on (initialize) for a second when starting the car, thats normal. If the light is on while driving, then there is a problem.
19-09-2006, 08:24 PM
panda[cRx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_F

I'd be cautious of modifying these seats in any way. As you might or might not know, the seats in the euros have a number of sensors lining the seats that let it know when to activate and deactivate the airbag. If you've never witnessed this before... next time you have a passenger ask them sit on the far left of the seat and lean toward the window, more often than not a warning light will flash up on the dash saying the SRS airbag in the seat has been deactivated when they're sitting in that posistion.

You really don't want to alter how the sensors decide when to deactivate the airbag incase it deploys when you're in a awkward position on the chair.

IMO, you'd be better to replace the seat with a bucket seat and sacrifice the airbag as they've been known to do more damage than good when they don't function properly (which they might if you ad different paddings).

it's good to see a euro owner that actually knows about the sensors in the seats....HOWEVER the airbags won't deploy if the light is on. the srs light coming on from these sensors are also commonly activated by small kids and people putting things like boxes on the seats.

basically it's so it doesn't deploy and take out a kids neck, or deploy with like a an adult passenger slumped asleep (possibly causing neck injury)

edit: chris i just read your thread properly and it seems you know how they work, but i'll leave my post as is for others
19-09-2006, 08:32 PM
aaronng

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACCONDA

when i turn on my euro, the words "side airbag off" appears on the dash for a second,
does anyone elses euro do this, or does anyone know what this means or how to change it

thanx,
carmella

That's normal.
19-09-2006, 08:49 PM
Chris_F

Quote:

Originally Posted by panda[cRx]

it's good to see a euro owner that actually knows about the sensors in the seats....HOWEVER the airbags won't deploy if the light is on. the srs light coming on from these sensors are also commonly activated by small kids and people putting things like boxes on the seats.

basically it's so it doesn't deploy and take out a kids neck, or deploy with like a an adult passenger slumped asleep (possibly causing neck injury)

edit: chris i just read your thread properly and it seems you know how they work, but i'll leave my post as is for others

Yep thats it :thumbsup:

I was mainly worried that if people modify the side bolsters, or ad material to any part of the seat it may affect the operation of the sensor (i.e. the light doesn't come on when it should and vice versa)