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Gen1 Seat covers

16K views 27 replies 15 participants last post by  jime  
#1 ·
Does anyone know if the passenger seat cover can be switched with the driver's cover? On my last Insight I took the covers off and laundered them (worked very well) but didn't think to check for symmetry. Has anyone tried this?

Rick Hall
Caledon, Ontario
 
#3 · (Edited)
A little old, I know... Seat covers for the upper half of the seats are symmetrical, interchangeable, as long as you don't mind having the back-side map pocket switched to the driver's seat rather than the passenger seat... The driver's side bolster is what usually wears fastest; this ends up being the passenger inside bolster.

Overall it's not the quick and speedy swap you'd like, yet it's not that difficult. I did it with the seats out of the car, though it's probably possible to do it with the seats left in the car (the only trouble will be getting to 2 'hog ring' fasteners underneath the seat toward back-side).

Unhook the back-side plastic bottom clip thing, unzip the back. The headrest is velcro-ed to the foam; lift the cover from the headrest and push the cover away from the foam, unseating the velcro. Then you'll have to remove about 15 metal hog ring fasteners. These fasteners secure the seat covers to a metal rod/thick wire that runs through the foam. I bent the rings and slipped the cover away from them, but you can probably just clip the rings. I thought I might reuse them, but didn't. I used plastic nylon zip ties to replace, which was quite easy...
 
#4 ·
Thanks EQ1, good information. I am going to be cleaning seat covers in the next few days. I have found that nothing beats a washing machine and they end up looking almost new. The big hassle with this job is the bull ring clips and after re and re with two seats your hands are pretty sore. I never thought about using nylon tie straps. That would really save time and trouble. Big question: will they be strong enough or will constant pulling eventually tear one or more of them? What do you think?
Thanks,

Rick Hall
 
#5 ·
Use hog rings for better hold and finish.

I have TWO passenger seat tops in my Insight. My original passenger side, and a used one I purchased and swapped onto my driver side seat top. Many wreckers have near mint passenger seats and you can use the top half to replace the worn driver top half.

Plus I have two pockets now :D Extra storage
 
#6 ·
There's no difference using zip ties vs. hog rings in terms of the "finish." You do need to turn the cut zip tie end downward. They're probably strong enough, but I haven't used them for any length of time, so I don't know for sure. They might squeak a little, the nylon against the metal, so a dab of superlube, syl-glid, or maybe just silicone spray might be in order. I noticed a squeak after the switch that I hadn't noticed before, but maybe it was there before...

Also, fyi, my foam was cracking in the crease between the bottom rest and the bolster, mainly on the driver side. I used Gorilla glue and it worked great. I sprayed the crack with some water, lightly, and then smeared some Gorilla glue in the crack - not TOO much (it kind of disappears and you want to put more on, but that's not necessary). The GG expands a bit, solid adhesion...
 
#7 ·
So spraying and dabbing chemicals on your cloth seat covers is a better finish? :confused:

Skip all that and use hog rings. The tool and a thousand rings are $25 shipped on eBay . . . .
 
#8 ·
Well, I didn't dab anything, it might not be necessary at all. But if you did dab, it'd be at the point where the zip tie touches the metal rod/wire, not on the fabric. That point is recessed in creases molded into the foam... There's a greater risk of rusty hog rings/wire bleeding through the material than there would be for a very small dab of - whatever - to bleed through, that's if you'd even notice a clear, light lubricant. But some of my hog rings were a little rusty (or maybe it's the wire they attach to), yet no bleed through to the material...
 
#9 ·
I washed my driver side seat last year - It came out great. Yes the hog rings are a pain and I replaced them with zip ties. I used small ones and have had no adverse effects as of yet. No need to use any 'lube' on them. I just turned the 'heads' away from where you sit to tuck them away really. I now have 3 more seats to complete this summer!
 
#10 ·
I just finished putting the covers back on. For the first one I reused the bull ring clips but for the second seat I tried mid-sized zip ties. I have to say that the zip tie method was much easier. I would estimate that the re-install took about half the time or less but that is compared to doing the bull rings without the proper tool- just pliers. I had removed the clips carefully thinking I might be reusing them but if I had simply cut them I would have saved time and trouble there too. I jounced around on it on the floor and had no squeak.

Thanks for the tip EQ1!
 

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#11 ·
I used zip ties on my Miata seats probably eight years ago, and haven't had any problems with squeaking or breaking yet. I think they've passed the test! They were much easier to deal with than hog rings. I'll never use those things again.

Sam
 
#12 ·
Just removed my seats, the covers, washed and dried them, and reinstalled. Took about four hours all together.

Even was able to reuse about 90% of the copper hog clips. They bend easily back to a shape you can reinstall them with the hog pliers.

Reinstalled the seat covers took about 30 minutes each. Must be methodical and take lots of notes undoing them, to reinstall them properly.

Will post pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57862681@N02/7015979567/

\http://www.flickr.com/photos/57862681@N02/7015980261/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57862681@N02/7015979323/

Remember the driver's seat has a wire attached, and both seats have the seat belt attached.... don't forget to reinstall both.
 
#13 ·
I am preparing to remove then reinstall seat covers in the near future, so I appreciate everyone posting their lessons learned.

Question for Docrings:

-What are those white tape strips pasted onto the foam? On the front upper foam cushion section and the longer horizontal one in the lumbar region on the back side.

-Did you hang dry the covers?

Question for all who have done this job before:

-Is there wiggle room to attach a 1/4" thick dense foam (or memory foam?) padding to the top of the bottom cushion and still be able to fit the cover over it without problems?

Thanks.
 
#14 ·
....Question for all who have done this job before:

-Is there wiggle room to attach a 1/4" thick dense foam (or memory foam?) padding to the top of the bottom cushion and still be able to fit the cover over it without problems?
From what I recall, I'd say yes, at least on the center portion of the seat (rather than the lower side bolsters). It'd probably have to be two pieces of extra foam, as there's a seam that runs across the seat's center. The seams along which you attach the rings or zip ties might not recess as much as before and/or the exact locations at which you attach might seem recessed more than before - as the sections fore and aft of each attachment point would likely be higher, poofier... Might be easier to use zip ties if you add foam, more/easier reach...
 
#15 ·
I also think there is room for some foam, there. As stated, there is a horizontal run of hog clips requiring a "two piece" solution. But, one might be able to put one piece on the seat and forgo those horizontal clips, if it was too tight.

The pieces of white tape are a mystery... but factory. Maybe there was a foam problem in production that required some smoothing tape (?).

I threw the covers in the dryer on permanent press. No shrinkage at all.
 
#17 ·
Freezin 4, to chime in, yes, there's room for 1/4" of additional foam on the middle portions of the seat and back rest. Not so much on the curved bolsters, though. Like the others in this thread I did the same work on my seats - removed the hog rings, put the covers in teh wash and dryer, switched seat backs to, and replaced everything with strong zip ties. No issues. Not a quick and easy job, but it's the best way to get your seats really clean again.

Don
 
#18 ·
Thanks to all for the answers. I have already raised the front posts of the seats by installing half inch thick hardwood squares. I will attempt to add some more height and cushion with some extra padding.
 
#19 · (Edited)
I know this is an old post but just thought I'd add my experience to it. Just bought a 2000 and the seat covers and carpet were a mess. Looked around here for how to get the seats out.

Pulled out both seats and removed the seat covers and threw them in the washing machine. Also dried them in the dryer. What a difference. The drivers seat looked like someone threw up on it.....not any more. It looks brand new. The drivers seat back bolster was worn and we swapped it for the passenger side. The fabric was not worn through but was missing the thin foam backing and the ribbed portion of the face fabric. My wife sews for a living so she put some fuseable knit interfacing on the inside of the seat cover where the material was thin. This adds another layer of material and will stabilize the area from pulling apart over time. We used tie wraps to hold the seat covers in place when we reassembled them. I don't see any issue using them over hog rings. We have hog rings here for upholstery work and the tie wraps are easier to use in our opinion.

We also have foam here so we upgraded the seats. We added 1" foam to the seat bottoms where your butt sits. Not under your thighs. We also added foam to the lower portion of the seat back in the lumbar area. We tried it out on each before we buttoned everything up and it feels much improved. There is room for 1" foam, but it helps to have an extra pair of hands to work everything into place. We used all the attaching points for the seat cover where the hog rings would go. I will try and post some pix of the seats done with the foam.

First pix is the seat with tie wraps ready for the extra foam and seat cover. Second is a shot front to back on the seat cushion with the factory foam. Third pix is the same angle with 1" foam added. Fourth is the 1" foam before the seat cover. Last is a side shot of the 1" foam thickness. When closing up the seat cover on the bottom of the seat back you have to hook 2 black "U" shaped channels inside each other. One comes from the front of the seat and the other comes down the back. The front part wraps under the seat back and is pulled through to the back. We found it is much easier to leave the zippers on the seat back undone about half way and the channels slide into each other much easier. Then close both zippers. Like I said earlier it helps to have another set of hands pushing stuff out of the way and pulling where you need it. Since my wife does this everyday it went really smooth. We both feel we could do a set from pulling them out of the car, removing covers, adding foam, put on seat covers,and back in the car in probably an hour and a half now. That does not count any time for washing the seat covers. It's really pretty easy. I hope my other repairs are this easy.

Looks like I will have to add some pix in another post. Couldn't figure out how to get them resized....Just got some help resizing using Office 2010...real easy.
 

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#22 · (Edited)
More Pictures

More pictures of the seat work. The first pix is of the pc of foam we added to the seat back. The second is of the tie wraps on the seat cover, not snugged up yet. Third is a tool we used to pull the clear plastic sleeves on the seat covers into place and to help remove them from the bar they attach to as shown in the next pix. Last pix is both finished seats. Installed drivers seat a little while ago and it feels MUCH better.
 

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#25 ·
Another data point; if you're thinking of using a Rug Doctor or similar upholstery cleaner to clean the seats without disassembling them.... forget it. My Insight is damp and barely cleaner than it started.

Take the time and trouble to pull the covers off and launder them.
 
#26 ·
Thanks for sharing your experiences and all the how-tos! And the photos! This is very helpful stuff. Unimog, it had not occurred to me to try your patchwork, but I have some good dense 1" foam left from another project and I will definitely try reinforcing the critical areas you have done for your seats. Why not, if I have to remove and launder the seat covers anyway?

** OFF TOPIC **

US owners: where did you get your citrus G1 Insights?! I would have loved to purchase citrus but they weren't available on Craigslist in the several months I was looking. My second choice was red, but I ended up with blue. It was the path of least resistance for me. But I love that citrus. Husband does not, but it's "my" vehicle and it's tiny and I am aiming for visibility. (And yes, I think it's pretty.)
 
#27 ·
** OFF TOPIC **

US owners: where did you get your citrus G1 Insights?! I would have loved to purchase citrus but they weren't available on Craigslist in the several months I was looking. My second choice was red, but I ended up with blue. It was the path of least resistance for me. But I love that citrus. Husband does not, but it's "my" vehicle and it's tiny and I am aiming for visibility. (And yes, I think it's pretty.)

Sitting in a buddy's yard, rotting in the sun. :)

(My wife wants to repaint it. Blue. Red. Anything but Citrus!)