Sagging driver's seat?

[Arapiles]

I've always found my D4's seats (HSE, electric) pretty comfortable on long days, but the left side of the driver's seat appears to have recently developed a sag, which gets uncomfortable pretty quickly.

I've done a search but can't find any specific references to it on Aulro - has anyone else had this issue come up or have any suggestions as to causes or fixes?

Thanks

[Tombie]

Either a support underneath has gone or the foam has given up.

You can buy the foam for about $65 and rebuild yourself.

[DieselLSE]

What Tombie said.
The seats are relatively easy to remove and disassemble. Replacing the foam on heated seats can be a bit tricky, but you may only need to bolster the sagging bit. But first, raise the seats and look underneath. A spring base support may have come adrift and it may simply be a case of clipping it back into place.

[BushDisco]

The other option (which I took a year or more back as a preventative measure) is to swap the driver and front passenger seat bases over. I have heated (alpine) but they are a direct swap.

Only issue is you no longer get the warning of feeling passenger not wearing seat belt when the vehicle starts moving. However I find that a positive feature when moving slowly around camp, wood runs etc where seat belt not strictly required.

For me the driver's side outer cushion was starting to soften but the passenger seat had little use (this was 20k ago at around 185k). Swapping them had the advantage also of reversing wear patterns.

[Arapiles]

Thanks all, I'm going to have a look under it tonight to see if there's anything obvious.

[PerthDisco]

The other option (which I took a year or more back as a preventative measure) is to swap the driver and front passenger seat bases over. I have heated (alpine) but they are a direct swap.

Only issue is you no longer get the warning of feeling passenger not wearing seat belt when the vehicle starts moving. However I find that a positive feature when moving slowly around camp, wood runs etc where seat belt not strictly required.

For me the driver's side outer cushion was starting to soften but the passenger seat had little use (this was 20k ago at around 185k). Swapping them had the advantage also of reversing wear patterns.

This is a great idea! How long does it take do you think to remove and swap bases? Mine is poverty pack with no electrics.

My drivers side is splitting at the entry side which would be hidden if on passenger side.

So the weight sensor on the passenger side cannot be swapped?

[BushDisco]

Doesn't take long to swap bases, 30 minutes tops to remove, swap and refit. That included vacuuming the +×÷÷= from underneath!!

Didn't attempt to swap sensor over as the leather is glued to foam and it didn't bother me. Electric heater sockets were a direct swap over.

[Aussie Jeepster]

Doesn't take long to swap bases, 30 minutes tops to remove, swap and refit. That included vacuuming the +×÷÷= from underneath!!

Didn't attempt to swap sensor over as the leather is glued to foam and it didn't bother me. Electric heater sockets were a direct swap over.

Do you need to remove the whole seat, or can the base be removed on its own?

[BushDisco]

The base can be removed easily by itself. 4 bolts or screws underneath each (can't remember which as it's been a couple of years).

[PerthDisco]

But I’m guessing you need to remove the whole assembly then remove base, swap and replace

[BushDisco]

Nope, just three front plastic trip to make it a bit easier to get at the underneath. It's a very easy procedure

[PerthDisco]

Nope, just three front plastic trip to make it a bit easier to get at the underneath. It's a very easy procedure

Got it!!
Simpler than I could have dreamed.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200619/ce161a2a350ee37d2847c62bef1cb153.jpg

[BushDisco]

Bingo!! Now I remember it was Torx head bolts ;)

[PerthDisco]

Looking at it closely the wiring disconnections have put this in too hard basket for now. Do those plastic wiring cable tie plugs simply pop out so you can release the cables from the base??

[BushDisco]

Hi PerthDisco, the wiring all un clips quite easily from memory, disconnect plugs and swap.

the trickiest part was removing the plastic panels at the front of the seats to gain access to torx bolts.

[PerthDisco]

Hi PerthDisco, the wiring all un clips quite easily from memory, disconnect plugs and swap.

the trickiest part was removing the plastic panels at the front of the seats to gain access to torx bolts.

I think the big junction connector needs to be moved to get access to the torx above it.

Only the passenger seat has the weight sensor. Do you need to bridge this to not constantly get the seatbelt warning?

P. S. I have already disabled the seatbelt warning bonging noise via the seatbelt in/ out 8 times trick.

[BushDisco]

I'll look under my seat bases later today but don't remember having to move or relocate any wiring junctions, just unplug.

For the passenger weight sensor once unplugged there are no warnings. Its job is to sense when a passenger sits down and doesn't clip seat belt. Once disconnected then to the vehicle it's like no one ever sits down in that seat so no warning.

[DiscoJeffster]

I'll look under my seat bases later today but don't remember having to move or relocate any wiring junctions, just unplug.

For the passenger weight sensor once unplugged there are no warnings. Its job is to sense when a passenger sits down and doesn't clip seat belt. Once disconnected then to the vehicle it's like no one ever sits down in that seat so no warning.

I’d be interested to understand the impact on the SRS system. The weight sensors can affect how the bag deploys in some vehicles

[BushDisco]

Interesting question, I'm unsure if the seat weight sensor is used to determine if the passenger air bag should or should not deploy in a crash.

If it is used then I'll figure out how to swap between bases. Im fairly sure the leather is glued to the foam and the sensor is also glued in but it's been a while since I swapped the bases so memory isn't fresh.

[BushDisco]

So after some research I believe that unless the vehicle was built for the north American (NAS) market then the passenger weight sensor in the seat base has no relevance to the determination of air bag firing for the passenger.

See this post - D4 my11/12
Discovery 4 SEAT BASE fix!! (https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaulro%2Ecom%2Fafvb%2 Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D260924&share_tid=260924&share_fid=669&share_type=t&link_source=app)

And this post (D3 specific).
DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Body weight sensor removed from D3 front seat ? (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic114655.html)

If anyone has specific evidence to the contrary please advise.

Thanks.

[PerthDisco]

So after some research I believe that unless the vehicle was built for the north American (NAS) market then the passenger weight sensor in the seat base has no relevance to the determination of air bag firing for the passenger.

See this post - D4 my11/12
Discovery 4 SEAT BASE fix!! (https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eaulro%2Ecom%2Fafvb%2 Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D260924&share_tid=260924&share_fid=669&share_type=t&link_source=app)

And this post (D3 specific).
DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Body weight sensor removed from D3 front seat ? (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic114655.html)

If anyone has specific evidence to the contrary please advise.

Thanks.

Yes the MY08 D3 pov spec seats are different and sans heater and fandangled ‘lectric movement and also no cover in the front as it has the pull bar for sliding adjustment.

There is one big plastic connector (the type that needs a small bolt to be undone to seperate) under each seat mounted under the torx screw. This can be removed from its mount tab via a spring clip.

Another wire disappears into the seat back. All wires are secured into the base underside with plugs but hard to know their purpose other than weight sensor wire.

Presume those one way plugs pull out with enough force?

Alternative could be to swap covers maybe?

[DiscoJeffster]

Yes the MY08 D3 pov spec seats are different and sans heater and fandangled ‘lectric movement and also no cover in the front as it has the pull bar for sliding adjustment.

There is one big plastic connector (the type that needs a small bolt to be undone to seperate) under each seat mounted under the torx screw. This can be removed from its mount tab via a spring clip.

Another wire disappears into the seat back. All wires are secured into the base underside with plugs but hard to know their purpose other than weight sensor wire.

Presume those one way plugs pull out with enough force?

Alternative could be to swap covers maybe?

One of the electrical connectors is for the internal side airbag that’s mounted in the seat.

[PerthDisco]

Either a support underneath has gone or the foam has given up.

You can buy the foam for about $65 and rebuild yourself.

Is that LR genuine price?

I’m more inclined to get the cracking vinyl side material reupholstered and fit a new foam on the drivers side at same time seat base is out.