Raising D3 driver's seat...

[Rockylizard]

Gday...

I have put off asking this for some time ..... but I JUST have to ask - sorry. I guess this is where a lot of you can fall about larfing. :D

I have D3 TDV6 Auto SE with manually adjustable driver seat ... that is, a little lever on the side for pulling up to raise ... and pushing down to lower.

I assume this is an 'air system' ... the lever pumps up some sort of apparatus to raise the seat.

My problem (and some would say I have many :() is that it seems to not hold the position I pump it up to (I am a little bloke and need to have it pumped up a fair bit).

Each morning when I start it up ... I usually have to pull on the lever 2 or 3 times to get it back to the height I had it the day before. We are travelling full time and it does not seem to go down for the day's driving. I have had my head under the seat a few times and cannot see anything that could be the mechanism.

Soooo ... after all that - is it an 'air system' and if so where do I check to seek a solution. If it is an 'air leak' what do I find and fix?

Cheers
John

[gghaggis]

The most common reason for this is that you slide over the lever every time you alight from the car and so the seat lowers. Easiest solution (but not the cheapest) - get side steps!

Cheers,

Gordon

[Rockylizard]

Gday...

Hadn't thought of that ;) .... guess those who have always said I have duck's disease would have realised it earlier :D

Each night when we unhitch the van, I am in and out, sometimes with it on off-road height due to the gutters in van parks etc .... so you just may be right.

I guess it ain't an 'air system' afterall ..... just an airhead system :D

cheers
John

[gghaggis]

You could probably cut a piece of dowling etc to fit under the handle so it doesn't compress?

Cheers,

Gordon

[Scouse]

RockyLizard, is your D3 still under new car warranty?

If so, help may be at hand.

[Bushwanderer]

Hi rockylizard,
I have heard that some people with this problem (seat lowering - not ducks disease ;)) have effected a repair by fitting a block of wood under the lever, to prevent it being inadvertently pushed down. This may be worth a try in order to isolate the cause.

Best wishes,
Peter

[BigJon]

I have a recollection that this was a known fault. I certainly had one customer with that exact issue.

Scouse might be able to throw some light on the subject.

[Rockylizard]

RockyLizard, is your D3 still under new car warranty?

If so, help may be at hand.

Gday...
Nah .... 2006 model (Dec 06 build) ... and bought 2nd hand back in May this year. Only '2nd hand dealer' warranty.
Was not even offered any 'extended warranty'
Cheers
John

[CaverD3]

Known issue.
Two causes:

1. Lard Arse pushing the adjuster down when getting in.

2. Faulty mechanism.

Place a large amount of weight on the seat overnight and see if it sinks, if it does you will need a a new mechanism or do this:

DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - FILO's sinking seat remedy with pics (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic56043.html)

[Scouse]

LR have a kit to retrofit an electric seat base to cars with this problem.

[Rockylizard]

Known issue.
Two causes:

1. Lard Arse pushing the adjuster down when getting in.

2. Faulty mechanism.

Place a large amount of weight on the seat overnight and see if it sinks, if it does you will need a a new mechanism or do this:

DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - FILO's sinking seat remedy with pics (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic56043.html)
Gday...

Fairly confident the problem is causal symptom numerated as 1 above.

However, not so much my Lard Arse but my height-challenged pins to raise the Lard Arse sufficiently high enough to not interact with the adjuster lever.
Can reduce the size of Lard Arse (with considerable effort) but have never been able to overcome the height-challenged pins. :D
Thanks all
Cheers
John

[djhampson]

but have never been able to overcome the height-challenged pins.

You could try what Hajnal Ban did. $40,000 surgery to have her leg strched by 8cm.
Hajnal Ban, of Logan council, defends surgery to lengthen legs (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/logan-councillor-defends-leglengthening-surgery-20090429-amek.html)

[Rockylizard]

Gday...

Hmmmm ......... we seem to have got off topic a little :)

But ... I understand that anatomically, the length of the legs relate to the length of other appendages .... so if I get me legs lengthened, would that lengthen the other appendage ? ? :angel:

Cheers
John

[DiscoWeb]

so if I get me legs lengthened, would that lengthen the other appendage ? ? :angel:

Cheers
John

It would look even smaller :wasntme:

[Dirty3]

Gday...
Each morning when I start it up ... I usually have to pull on the lever 2 or 3 times to get it back to the height I had it the day before. We are travelling full time and it does not seem to go down for the day's driving.


G'day John,

My D3 has exactly the same issue. I thought it was something I was doing, but every time you get back in car it needs re-adjusting. It keeps the height fine when driving. I might get LR to check it out when she goes for next service in November. On another similar line, has anyone heard of or been able to modify the seats so they can go back further?....I only need another inch and that would be great.
Cheers Neil.