Front Seat Backrest
FRONT SEAT BACKRESTDisassembly
WARNING:
- Always wear safety glasses when repairing an air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) vehicle and when handling an air bag module. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.
- Carry a live side air bag module with the air bag and tear seam pointed away from your body. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.
- Do not set a live side air bag module down on the cover tear seam. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.
- After deployment, the air bag surface can contain deposits of sodium hydroxide, a product of the gas generant combustion that is irritating to the skin. Wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.
- Never probe the connectors on the air bag module. Doing so can result in air bag deployment, which can result in personal injury.
- Side air bag modules with damaged covers must be replaced.
- Front seat back trim covers installed on seats equipped with side air bags cannot be repaired, they are to be replaced. Cleaning is permissible.
- To reduce the risk of personal injury, do not use any memory saver devices.
NOTE:
- The air bag warning lamp illuminates when the RCM fuse is removed and the ignition switch is ON. This is normal operation and does not indicate a supplemental restraint system (SRS) fault.
- If a side air bag deployment took place the seat back pad, trim cover, and side air bag module must be replaced. The seat back frame should be replaced if necessary.
- If a seat equipped with a supplemental restraint system (SRS) component is being serviced, the supplemental restraint system (SRS) must be depowered.
- The SRS must be fully operational and free of faults before releasing the vehicle to the customer.
- Driver seat shown, passenger seat similar.
All vehicles
1. Depower the supplemental restraint system (SRS).
2. Remove the front seat.
3. Remove the front seat cushion.
4. Remove the front seat backrest.
5. Remove the head restraint.
6. Remove the head restraint guides.
- Using a suitable screwdriver, tip the inserted end toward the guide, depress the locking tang and remove the guide.
Three-door
7. Remove the backrest release lever.
All vehicles
8. Separate the trim cover J-clip.
9. Roll the trim cover and assembly aid bag up the backrest to access the lower ends of the tensioning rods.
10. Detach the lower ends of the tensioning rods from the foam pad.
11. Roll the trim cover and assembly aid bag up the backrest to access the upper ends of the tensioning rods.
12. Detach the upper ends of the tensioning rods from the backrest foam pad.
13. Roll the trim cover and assembly aid bag up the backrest to access the upper end of the backrest frame.
14. Remove the hog rings.
15. At the back of the backrest, release the trim cover J-clip.
Vehicles with side air bags
16. WARNING: Do not reuse the plastic retaining rivets. Always use the new rivets from the service kit. Failure to follow this warning could impair the air bag deployment and may result in personal injury.
Remove and discard the side air bag module deployment chute J-clip rivet.
17. WARNING: Do not attempt to separate the plastic retaining strips in any other way than that detailed. Failure to follow this warning could impair the air bag deployment and may result in personal injury.
Slide apart the plastic J-clips securing the side air bag deployment chute.
All vehicles
18. CAUTION: Make sure the exact position of the anti-squeak mat on the frame is noted.
Remove the trim cover.
19. Remove the tensioning rods from the backrest cover if a new backrest cover is to be used.
20. Remove the foam pad and heater mat (if equipped) from the frame.
Heated seats
21. CAUTION: Remove the paper strips covering the adhesive before adhering the heater mat to the foam pad. Otherwise damage to the seat can occur.
NOTE: A new heated seat mat can be attached to a foam pad where an old heated seat mat was removed. A used heated seat mat should not be reattached to any foam pad.
If a new heated seat element is to be installed to the existing foam pad, carefully separate and remove the backrest heated seat element from the foam pad.
Vehicles with side air bags
22. Remove the nuts, side air bag module and liner.
Assembly
Vehicles with side air bags
1. Align the holes in the side air bag module liner to the mounting holes in the backrest frame.
2. WARNING:
- Before installing the side air bag module, check it for damage and foreign objects. If the air bag module is damaged, replace it. If any foreign objects are found, remove them. Failure to do so may result in personal injury, in the event of an air bag deployment.
- If the air bag cover has separated or the air bag material has been exposed, install a new side air bag module. Do not attempt to repair the air bag module. Failure to do so may result in personal injury in the event of an air bag deployment.
- Inspect the mounting surfaces of the side air bag module and the seat back frame mounting area for any foreign objects, before installing the side air bag module. If any foreign objects are found, remove them. Failure to do so may result in personal injury, in the event of an air bag deployment.
Position the side air bag module studs through the liner and backrest frame and install the nuts.
- Make sure the side air bag module studs go through the holes in the liner and then through the backrest frame holes.
All vehicles
3. WARNING:
- Inspect the side air bag deployment chute and the side air bag cavity in the seat back pad for any foreign objects. If any foreign objects are found, remove them. Failure to do so may result in personal injury in the event of an air bag deployment.
- Make sure the backrest pad is correctly placed around the side air bag module. Failure to follow this warning could impair air bag deployment and may result in personal injury.
Install the foam pad onto the backrest frame.
Heated seats
4. CAUTION: Remove the paper strips covering the adhesive before adhering the heater mat to the foam pad. Otherwise damage to the seat can occur.
NOTE: If a new backrest pad is being installed, a hole must be drilled in the pad to facilitate the wiring harness.
If necessary, install the heater mat.
All seats
5. Align the trim cover and assembly aid bag to the backrest frame and foam pad and roll it down into position.
Vehicles with side air bags
6. WARNING: Inspect the side air bag deployment chute and the side air bag cavity in the seat back pad for any foreign objects. If any foreign objects are found, remove them. Failure to do so may result in personal injury in the event of an air bag deployment.
Position the inboard end of the air bag deployment chute and clip through the foam pad.
7. WARNING: Check the air bag deployment chute and J-clips for damage. The air bag deployment chute and J-clips must not be repaired. If there is any damage to the deployment chute or J-clips, a new seat back trim cover and deployment chute must be installed as a unit.
Wrap the outboard end of the deployment chute around the outboard end of the side air bag module. Slide together and attach the two side air bag module deployment chute J-clips.
8. WARNING: Do not reuse the plastic retaining rivet. Always use the new rivet from the service kit. Failure to follow this warning could impair the air bag deployment and may result in personal injury.
Install the side air bag module deployment chute retainer.
- Assemble the plastic rivet into the deployment chute J-clips.
All vehicles
9. Install the tensioning rods into the backrest cover if a new backrest cover is to be installed.
10. Attach the trim cover J-clip to the back of the backrest frame.
11. Attach the upper ends of the tensioning rods to the backrest.
12. NOTE: Use hog ring pliers to close the hog rings. Do not use any other tool. The hog rings must be closed to overlap as illustrated.
Position the trim cover to install the hog rings.
13. Install the hog rings.
14. Roll the trim cover and assembly aid bag down the backrest to the lower end of the spring frame.
15. Attach the lower ends of the tensioning rods to the backrest.
16. Roll the trim cover down the backrest and attach the trim cover J-clips.
Three-door
17. Install the backrest release lever.
All vehicles
18. Install the head restraint guides.
19. Install the head restraint.
20. Install the front seat backrest.
21. Install the front seat cushion.
22. Install the front seat.
23. Repower the supplemental restraint system (SRS).