Hi

I need to take my seats out to clean the carpets.

Can I just unbolt them and remove the electrical connections, or do I need to do something to make the airbags and seat belt socket safe.

Also, has anyone removed the carpets, it may be better to replace rather than clean them

Thanks
Andrew

 

You will most likely get away with just unplugging them, however you really should disconnect the battery for 2 mins first to be safe. An airbag or a belt tensioner going off in your face could cause a life changing injury, or end it entirely. For the sake of resetting your windows afterwards it is just not worth the risk.

You will also get DTCs stored if you unplug with the battery connected if that concerns you.

Please let us know how much loose change you find under them. I usually reclaim about Ł5 in lost parking change when cleaning under my seats.

To replace the carpets you need to remove the floor console sides (very easy to do with seats out) and the side trims. Each side is it's own moulded piece, about Ł400 a side pre 2016 and Ł300 a side after. The passenger-side fuse board panel is Ł50, and the reinforced driver moulding is Ł15. If they are so badly soiled you are considering replacements then you may as well take them out and try deep cleaning them.

 

Thanks Dave

How does the console side come off.

The carpets have some holes - before I bought it, so considering change to tidy it up.

The Performance eat has some marks in the the bit you put you bottom on squab (i Think) which I may also do, but I guess the leather cover will be expensive??

Regards
Andrew

 

Leather seat covers are expensive - the squab cover for non-R performance seats are Ł650, and for the R are slightly cheaper at Ł630. (All ex. VAT in the EU.) You may also face supply delays for leather pieces as they are often not stocked and your order will go in behind all the factory and repair orders. (Ask your supplier to VOR the parts to get priority, but you can still wait for up to 6 months.)

I have not replaced a seat cover on an F-Type, but have done a few on other cars and the process is usually the same - fiddly but not impossible. You will need a hog ring tool to reattach the new cover to the wires embedded in the foam. Do you have any photos of the marks? Unless the damage is severe it is usually possible to repair to a good standard (holes, scuffs and small rips can be repaired - mobile leather sofa repair outfits do that all the time.)

It is possible to repair holes in moulded carpet, even if the foam part has also worn through. Your local car upholstery restoration place will be able to do it for a lot less than the cost of replacing. (The foam is built up again and new carpet fibres bonded on top - you won't be able to tell the difference.)

The floor console sides are easy to remove with the seats out (much harder to do with them in because there is so little clearance space). I couldn't find the specific instructions for replacing the cabin carpets so I am unsure if the console itself needs to come out as the carpets are not carried across the tunnel on the F-Type. (Full instructions for the floor console are attached, but you may find you can remove the carpet part way through.) Those metal tangs/clips used for the side trims often fall off or remain attached to the frame so check each fixing point carefully when reinstalling them.

Note that the seat frame to floor bolts should really be replaced each time they are removed. I am unsure if that is due to the galvanic corrosion risk (barrier coating cut off by the thread) or if it would be sufficient to just use a bit of thread lock on replacement. Personally I would reuse those but you ought to be aware of the recommendation. Torque is 48nm or 35lb-ft.

 

Dave

whereabouts are you located, if not to far and you don't mind, it would be good for you to have a look and advise what you think the best approach is.

Thanks
Andrew

 

I am across the border in Devon. I will PM you.

 

Depending on which seats you have, you may also need a forklift...

 

This is to clean the carpets ??!????? wow I thought I was nuts !