Seat change

[Paul]

Due to my drivers seat splitting on the joint area between the side bolsters on the seat base and the side bolsters on the seat back ... a known place for potential wear problems ... I brought some very good condition second hand seats last year.

However, while I like to think I am fairly competent and can usually to most simple ... unbolt/remove/reverse process to refit ... kind of tasks I am wondering if anyone here can tell me of areas to look out for when it comes to changing the seats in an NSX.

I doubt that being a JDM will make any difference to the whole process ... but before I think of tackling the task on my own I thought it might be a good idea to ask here if anyone has done it before ... and therefore might be able to offer me some useful pointers or things to watch out for.

I have a CD workshop manual so will be using that as my guide ... and if anyone is interested in a set of seats ... in reasonably good nick, except the area described above on the drivers seat (RHD) ... I will be looking to sell them on once the job is complete ... they could be re-covered if someone is looking for such a project.

I'm looking to do this job at the end of April, or in Early May, if anyone feels like lending a hand then their help would be much appreciated ... I'm sure if you wanted to take the seats coming out away with you in return for helping remove them and fit the new ones ... I'm sure I could do you a good deal on the old seats.

[Kevin]

It's easy, and at least it's not oily.

Move the seats forward, remove the rear bolts. Move the seat back, undo the front bolts. Cover the sill with a thick towel. Move the seat backs upright, ie, the opposite of reclined. Lift up the seat, move it out, a bit and rest it down on the sill. Reach under the seat and unplug the cables. Don't just rip the seats out of the car!

Once unplugged, remove the seat completely. They are heavy, you know that already, but they seem heavier when reaching into the car.

[Paul]

Thanks Kevin ... once again your knowledge is much appreciated ... maybe all I'll really need then is to get some help lifting the old ones out and the new ones in ... I wonder if my fellow NSX owner in Basingstoke would like to lend a hand ... or should I say Amazingstoke ... L*:?:

[ctrlaltdelboy]

here's some pics of Kev and I doing said job (kind of)
http://nsxcb.co.uk/testvb/showthread.php?t=684

;)

[Lankstarr]

Paul,

I'll give you a hand one evening no worries. Maybe we could have a go at regreasing our windows whilst we're there.. mine is getting a bit sluggish in the cold and I don't want to be caught out come winter!

You got me number ;o)

L*

[Paul]

In the interests of sharing information ... I thought I'd post some shots and details of how I changed my seats ... old OEM coming out ... used but better condition second hand OEM going back in ...

Using the feedback above from Kevin, thanks chap, and the appropriate page from the NSX service manual I have on CD rom ... I managed to do the whole job myself ... so here goes ...

Tools required:
Medium sized flat blade screwdriver
Socket set with 14mm and 17mm sockets
Other useful items:
Threadlock compound (for applying back onto all bolts removed as they are re-fitted)
Grease (to ensure seat screws that move the seats back and forward are suitably lubricated)
Thick towel or cloth (used to cover door sill when removing and re-fitting seats)

Drivers seat ... just about showing split on side bolster joining ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/01.jpg

Move the seat all the way forward using both switches ... so the seat back becomes as upright as possible ... and you give yourself maximum room behind the seats to get at the bolts fixing the back of the seat down ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/02.jpg

Using medium sized flat bladed screwdriver ... remove the covers over the seat bolts ... then use 14mm socket to undo bolts ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/03.jpg

Having removed the rear bolts ... leave the seat back in the most upright position possible and move the seat as far back as possible using the switch controlling the seat base ... this will give the best access to the bolts fixing the front of the seat down ... using 14mm socket to undo the bolts ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/04.jpg

...

[Paul]

Having removed all four bolts securing the seat to the floor of the car ... cover the door sill to protect paint and trim for next steps ... I used an old double duvet cover folded over several times ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/05.jpg

Lift seat up and slightly out so the seat side rests on the door sill ... using medium sized flat bladed screwdriver remove cover over bolt securing the seat belt to the seat itself ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/06.jpg

The bolt now revealed that secures the seat belt to the seat can be removed ... using the 17mm socket ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/07.jpg

Next is one of the more tricky parts ... especially if you are tackling the job on your own ... tilt the top of the seat towards the middle of the car and slide the seat base over the door sill a little more ... check under the seat and slide it as far over the door sill as possible so you can undo the white clip securing the cable after it has come up from the floor of the car ... then undo the grey plug so the cable coming up from the floor is removed from the seat so the seat can be removed from the car ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/08.jpg

...

[Paul]

When removing the seats I tilted the headrest in towards the centre of the car ... then twisted the seat so the front of the seat comes out through the door first ... then the rest should follow fairly easily ... be careful here though as the seat rails under the bottom of the seat could easily damage door trim ... or paintwork round the door opening ... once both seats are out ... your NSX should look something like this ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/09.jpg

Using some suitable grease ... apply to screws beneath the seat that allow the seat to move backwards and forwards when in the car ... if using an aerosol ... be very careful when spraying and press as gently as possible to avoid too much grease from being over-sprayed onto the seat base and seat rails ... alternatively you could put some paper/card/cloth behind the screws to keep the grease from being sprayed onto the seat base or seat rails ... I was just very careful and then wiped off any over sprayed grease with some kitchen towel ... going from this ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/10.jpg

To this ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/11.jpg

Apply some threadlock to the thread of all the bolts before you fix the seat back into the car ... also apply some to the bolt that secured the seat belt to the seat ... putting the seats back is basically a case of reversing the steps followed to remove them ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/12.jpg

...

[Paul]

As you put the seat back into the car ... plug the cable from the floor of the car back onto the seat base ... then secure the seat belt back onto the seat ... then position the seat back into the car so the bolts that secure the seat to the floor can be put back ... initially only do them up loosely ... starting with the bolts fixing the front of the seat down first ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/13.jpg

Then slide the seat forward so you can replace the bolts that secure the back of the seat to the floor ... once all four bolts have been successfully located I tightened up the bolts at the rear fully first ... then tighten up the bolts securing the front of the seat last ... don't forget to replace the covers over the seat bolts holding the back of the seat down ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/14.jpg

Once both seats are fitted ... your NSX should look something like this ...
http://www.pauls4wheels.co.uk/images/NSX/SeatChange/15.jpg

I'll be trying to maintain my webspace so the above images continue to be visible ... but if the images in the above four posts fail to be visible ... let me know and I'll upload the photos directly into the posts.

Hopefully the above posts will prove useful to someone else ... as long as you have the appropriate tools ... are reasonable at doing simple DIY type jobs yourself ... this process is a doddle to be honest.

[NSXGB]

Did you buy newer seats, or did you get them re-trimmed?

[ctrlaltdelboy]

... old OEM coming out ... used but better condition second hand OEM going back in ...
...

does this answer your question?

[NSXGB]

does this answer your question?


....sorry, living up to my avatar....