As a new member two days ago after purchasing a 2001 XKR, I am blurry-eyed attempting to absorb as much of the forum as I can. One item that I am attempting to address is headrest operation. Reverend Sam's video (excellent) and other information has been outstanding. Because of the limited time and posts as a new member, I cannot open TSB 105-58 info in JimC64's post. Please clarify for me - Am I cutting cable in the procedure or am I cutting the sheathing around the cable to permit the cable to go deeper in the motor. I heard cut 12MM in the video.
Thank you

 

You cut about 1/2" off the sheathing (you would have a tough time cutting the cable, itself). I would suggest removing the piece maybe about 6" more or less from the end that plugs into the motor. After removing this piece you slide on the shrink tube, butt the cut ends of the remaining sheathing against each other, and do the shrink splice.

Doug

 

To clarify my video and Seismic's post, once you have the cable disconnected from the motor you can slide the entire cable sheath off of the center "drive shaft" piece and take it completely out of the car. I took mine into the kitchen and cut it on a cutting board using a straight-edge razor blade. And like Seismic said, cut it about 6 inches up from the motor end. At the other end the cable bends. You want the cut to be on a very straight section of the cable.

I think several of us have done this more than once because the splice didn't hold very well. As long as you've gone to the effort to remove the cable sheath, get some good shrink wrap, preferably with the sticky, glue stuff on the inside. And then wrap the outside of the shrink wrap with several layers of packaging tape to give it some stiffness. The shrink wrap itself isn't very strong.

 

Agreed Rev. But another tip is to lightly sand the sheathing the length of the shrink tubing on both sides of the cut so the adhesive on the shrink tubing will have a better surface to stick to. Use heavy duty adhesive lined shrink tubing.

 

Thank you, respondants. Followed your instructions to a "T" and now have a functioning headrest. I will say -taking the 4 bolts out and two electrical connections off and removing the seat to an open work area is the way to go - fewer contortions and a lot less pain. Approx. 45 minutes after seat removal.
Thanks again

 

Plus, then you can vacuum up all of the crumbs from under the seat! I found almost $2 in change down there that the previous owner left for me!