Collapsed driver's seat L200 + repair

[MikeNW]

2002 L200
203,000 miles

We noticed that the driver's seat had collapsed DOWN. Like we were suddenly sitting on the floor!

I took it out and found what has to be the world's worst way to build a seat. Big opening in the seat pan. The foam cushion held from falling by cheap, rotted nylon screen. Add to this all stamped steel is unpainted, with surface rust Just like the hidden dashboard and console parts in my SL. I guess it would have killed them to run it through a paint trough.

Plus the cheapo nylon twine that pulled the bottom of the upholstery closed, was broken, so I had to fish another twine through the sewn channel.

Here's my $6 repair. Overcut and stuffed a carpet sample in the opening. Then used fence wire to string across the opening. Hope it holds for another 12 years

[billysvue]

Oh man, you screwed it all up
and left out the cardboard.

Whateverworks, I say.

[pierrot]

The world would be a better place if all of our repairs would cost $6.00!

[pierrot]

My driver seat collapsed about a week ago. I'm going to try something like this repair for myself. That repair shown above won't ever need to be redone!

In the mean time, I placed a yoga exercise pillow underneath the seat and it's supporting it very well. The seat feels the same as it did before. So my wife and I went out to find another one, but alas, all yoga exercise pillows are not created equal. Ours is taller than anything we were able to find in the stores currently.

[MikeNW]

If I were to do this again, I would use thinner wire. The fence wire was very hard to work with
Later, I did the same thing to my S car.

[Baby's Ride]

Thank you so much for posting the photo of your fix! I followed it as a guide tonight to repair the driver's seat in my '03 L200. Here is a 1-min. time-lapse video of my repair: youtu.be/OIDJQQcFNvM. Sorry that it can't be a link, but I don't have the required number of posts under my belt, yet. Enjoy!

[PaulGraz]

Wow - just happened to mine too - thanks for the post - I'm going to try a similar fix!

[pierrot]

Originally Posted by PaulGraz

Wow - just happened to mine too - thanks for the post - I'm going to try a similar fix!

I purchased a thinner gauge wire for my repair and also wrapped it at least two times around each "anchor point." Additionally, I added some material underneath the cushion to bolster the seat some. It all worked, but as a result of that repair I occasionally get some light squeaks from beneath my driver seat. I'd suggest visiting at "pick 'n pull" wrecking yard if it has an L Series car there go and remove the fabric piece beneath the seat and use it instead. The yard won't charge you much for it. Buy two if you can!

[joc67]

Originally Posted by pierrot

I purchased a thinner gauge wire for my repair and also wrapped it at least two times around each "anchor point." Additionally, I added some material underneath the cushion to bolster the seat some. It all worked, but as a result of that repair I occasionally get some light squeaks from beneath my driver seat. I'd suggest visiting at "pick 'n pull" wrecking yard if it has an L Series car there go and remove the fabric piece beneath the seat and use it instead. The yard won't charge you much for it. Buy two if you can!

I used the existing mesh screen where center is molded to bridge with tough rubber it split clean dead center. I used hvac vent thin sheet metal cut out two piece 12" L x 2" with. I put one cut out metal under the rubber where split and the other over it and I drilled 5 holes to each side and riveted it it's holding fine. I put in 3 12" baseboard moldings to fill the little bit of slack.

[PaulGraz]

Sorry to bump an old thread - but I thought this was the best place for this question.

I've got the seat unbolted and ready to come out of the car - but I can't get the power connector off! I can unclip the whole thing from the seat - but i can't get the connector to separate so that I can remove the seat from the car!

There's obviously a trick to this that I'm just missing...

[PaulGraz]

Originally Posted by PaulGraz

Sorry to bump an old thread - but I thought this was the best place for this question.

I've got the seat unbolted and ready to come out of the car - but I can't get the power connector off! I can unclip the whole thing from the seat - but i can't get the connector to separate so that I can remove the seat from the car!

There's obviously a trick to this that I'm just missing...

Found the secret little pry spot on the bottom! Got it undone, seat repaired, and re-installed. Thanks to the previous posters for the guidance!

[havai]

about the suggestion to visit a pick 'n pull, last week I found one that had six (6!) L-series on their lot.... Alas, FIVE of them all had the exact same seat FAIL / split. The sixth is an L300 with a "power" leather seat, which raises a question: will an L-series power seat install and work on a non-power seat L-series? (same model year 2002) I'm especially curious, given the apparent electrical connection plug available underneath seat on my l100....

[02 LW300]

I believe all the harnesses have plugs for the options. The only thing I have had to add to my car is the wiring for the center mount rear view mirror lights. I think the seats are plug and play. I think the heated seat wiring in the dash also. If you get the seats take the center panel form the dash.

[powerx86]

Here is what I did and it worked. A bit more expensive but did not have to figure out the wire twisting and maybe a little stronger because what I am using.

I bought these at Lowes and S Hooks. Worked great and just tightened the nuts and re-installed seat. With the driver weighing in at 250 lbs - I knew this would be a strong solution.

This was done on my 2002 Saturn L200 with Electric Driver seat and works great! Now I can get rid of that stupid couch pillow.

[timl865]

I have the membranes to repair these seats. It's so easy. If anyone is looking to buy any let me know.

[pierrot]

An update to this old post of mine:

Originally Posted by pierrot

... I occasionally get some light squeaks from beneath my driver seat. I'd suggest visiting at "pick 'n pull" wrecking yard if it has an L Series car there go and remove the fabric piece beneath the seat and use it instead. The yard won't charge you much for it. Buy two if you can!

The squeaks eventually worked themselves out. I can't be certain, but I think that the squeaks disappeared in less than a year. Regardless, that noise had stopped a very long time ago. In the end, I have no complaints against my own repair choice as it did work out well after all.