> I have done the repair on my '86 5ktq. All you have to do is release the
> wire that goes around the bottom of the leather at the back of the seat. I
> took the seat out of the car to do it the first time, and left the wire
> loose so future repairs would be easier. You DO NOT have to cut any
> stitching to do the repair.
I'm sitting here drinking a St. Pauli Girl, quite pleased with my self since I just
finished a successful repair of the seat heater element in the '87 5KCSTQ.
Thanks to the archives, and all others who have contributed on this subject. I just
saved myself $350 that the dealer wanted, and will have warm buns this winter.
I found that removing the seat from the car was a big help. The most challenging part of
doing this the first time is figuring out how the seat back is removed, how the leather
attaches to the back of the seat, how to loosen the wire in the bottom seat cover seam,
and wrestling with those darn upholstery clips in the seat bottom.
Hints:
This is for leather, power seats.
1) The seat back is fastened by a screw and a pin with a metal retaining clip on each
side. The outside screw also holds on the trim. On the inside the retaining clip is
hidden by a plastic trim piece which is heat fused by two pins. I broke the front
weld (plastic) spot to get to the retaining clip. Once the screws and clips are
removed, the seat back can be spread to slip off the metal pins on the seat bottom.
The wires for the seat back leading from the power controls to the servo in the seat
back can be left attached while you work.
2)Leather is attached to the back edge of the seat bottom by a strip of wood which slips
in a groove in the seat bottom. It is held in place by taut-ness.
3) The wire in the bottom seam of the leather is simply wrapped around an 'ear' at each
corner of the back of the seat bottom. You cannot unwrap it unless you first remove the
seat back.
4) I found that a small, needle nose vise grip used in conjuction with another set of
needle nose pliers worked quite well in removing those darn upholstery clips in the seat
bottom.
Hope you fine this helpful
jazman