Dealer repairing saggy seats

[GXP terror]

I have done upholstery work before. They are loose on installation. When I reupholstered my miata when I had it, everything was tight. Heat may shrink leather very slightly.. but then again leather stretches more then it shrinks.

[AWhatstice?]

Originally Posted by turbomangt I went on record with the dealer, so when it gets warm if it doesn't improve we will go to plan B.

Here's my plan B - Removed Drivers seat (4 bolts, one electrical snap connection. Didin't mess with seat belt. It's very long and pulls out far enougn that I could work on the seat next to the car after I pulled the seat out). Bought twin bed mattress cover from Wal-Mart ($11). Cut it into a 12" x 36" strip, folded it over twice, and stuffed it behind the padding springs under the seat (springs were a little tough to hook/unhook, but some rope and a screw driver worked well as a spring tension relief device). took about 1/2 hour. Sorry, no before pics, but you all know what our drivers seat looks like after a few weeks...here are the after pics:





Real happy with the results - I actually sit about 1/2 inch higher

[bones]

Its not streched to tight is it??? I'm wondering how the seams will hold up when sat on. It looks very like a very nice job.

[cunning]

thinking that most things expand when they are warmer, and contract when cold. never heard of leather doing the opposite but i could be wrong.

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by AWhatstice? Here's my plan B - Removed Drivers seat (4 bolts, one electrical snap connection. Didin't mess with seat belt. It's very long and pulls out far enougn that I could work on the seat next to the car after I pulled the seat out). Bought twin bed mattress cover from Wal-Mart ($11). Cut it into a 12" x 36" strip, folded it over twice, and stuffed it behind the padding springs under the seat (springs were a little tough to hook/unhook, but some rope and a screw driver worked well as a spring tension relief device). took about 1/2 hour. Sorry, no before pics, but you all know what our drivers seat looks like after a few weeks...here are the after pics: ... Real happy with the results - I actually sit about 1/2 inch higher

AWhatstice,

I've got to get you to show me exactly how to do this, the next time we are face to face. I'f y'all make it out for the Plains and Canyons run, we'll have y'all over and ply you with Burgers and wine.

--Chemist

[MSG_McKee]

Originally Posted by johnnyangelb I am looking at purchasing a GXP in the next few months. Do you think it would be worth the money to just get cloth seats and have them custom upholstered in good leather?

I like the ebony seats with the red stitching, so I might attempt to do what AWhatstice? did .... if mine get any more saggy. I love the leather seats .... other than the sagging.

[arwredhead1]

Originally Posted by turbomangt I drove my directly to the interior shop yesterday ( the one my dealer uses) to get a first hand opinion of the saggy seats. The owner of the shop said to wait till the weather gets warm, leather shrinks when it gets warm, it might adjust itself. we will see. Gary

My seats lived through summer in North Carolina and they are saggy and look awful (as I recently posted.)

Please let us know how it works out. thanks for posting this hepful thread!

[Backstage]

Ticking??

What Ticking?

[IBDRINKEN]

[turbomangt]

NOW THAt IS WHAT I CALL A GREAT FIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mike Voll]

Originally Posted by turbomangt NOW THAt IS WHAT I CALL A GREAT FIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AGREE

[JUSTICE]

Originally Posted by Backstage Ticking?? What Ticking?

The ticking noise the SIDI makes which is supposedly normal but is probably the most annoying thing to me about the car. It can be loud, especially when driving at low speed with the stereo off.

Gary, since you mentioned the ticking and seat to the dealer, did you by any chance mention the clunk, since I think I remember you saying that you had the clunk as well?

[AWhatstice?]

Originally Posted by bones Its not streched to tight is it??? I'm wondering how the seams will hold up when sat on. It looks very like a very nice job.

Thank you all. Time will tell on the stitching. I don't think it's stretched too tight. I'm thinking the springs on the underside of the seat allow the leather and padding to 'give' when I'm sitting in it. I'll post pics in a week or two, after some 20 or more hours of driving. We'll compare now to then.

[Financial]

Some people enjoy cars that don't tick

I am not one of them. I prefer my GXP's ticking noise over regular silence as it is a very unique sound that no other car makes unless it also uses direct injection. I also enjoy the aggressive BOV and the wonderful noise it makes whenever I let up on the throttle even by the slightest amount.

The following manufacturers all have gasoline direct injection engines they use in their cars: Volkswagen, Audi, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Ford, BMW, Saab, Saturn and GM. For more information, check your friendly wikipedia.

[MSG_McKee]

BTT, If most paople have sagging leather seats in their Solstice and the fix by Awhatstice? holds up ..... then that would be at the top of my list of "mod" classes to attend at Nationals. I believe the fix was less than an hour in length and cost very little. Just a thought ....