Passanger seat ---> Driver seat?

Ok just stay with me on this one.

I have an Audi with heated front seats. The Passenger seat heats up fine. The driver seat is always cold :(

Good News though, I have an extra set of seats. Bad news, the extra drivers seat is warn more than my current drivers seat. Good news though, the extra passenger seat looks brand new (for something that was made in 1991)

Here is my idea:

I am gong to replace the current drivers seat with the extra one I have (to get a functioning seat warmer). Why not move the seat cushion and seat back over from the passenger seat to make a nice drivers seat and then install that?

They "appear" symmetric, this should work, shouldn't it?

*edit: Damn I need to fix the title to spell passenger correctly :(

Pull the covers off both driver's seats and swap over the heating mat from the working seat to the non-working seat. Check basic electricals first though, like fuses and electrical continuity on the non-working seat. The Wife's CPO XC90 was delivered with the driver's seat heater not working, the fuse was missing - nice inspection, huh?

pigeon wrote: Pull the covers off both driver's seats and swap over the heating mat from the working seat to the non-working seat. Check basic electricals first though, like fuses and electrical continuity on the non-working seat. The Wife's CPO XC90 was delivered with the driver's seat heater not working, the fuse was missing - nice inspection, huh?

Yes, one fuse controls the power to both heated seats (according to the diagram on the cover of the fuse box).

The current driver's seat is warn as well and if I am tearing things apart I think I would get the nicest possible combination.

I swapped seats from side to side in my camaro because the passenger seat looked and felt great but the drivers seat was bent from a larger previous owner flopping into it. The only way you would know is if you looked at the small cut from the button to flip the seat forward.

Start taking them apart and find your best combination.

Get yourself some hogring pliers. They make upholstery work so much easier. It's as if they were meant for that kind of thing.

Woody wrote: Get yourself some hogring pliers. They make upholstery work so much easier. It's as if they were meant for that kind of thing.

Thanks,

I have a friend who has the tool, but I might hit up harbor Freight and get my own (one time use) tool.

Would you be swapping over the controls? Cause unless I'm being stupid (and it's entirely possible this early) swapping the passenger seat to the drivers side would put all the make the seat not suck controls on the inside, next to the console.

mndsm wrote: Would you be swapping over the controls? Cause unless I'm being stupid (and it's entirely possible this early) swapping the passenger seat to the drivers side would put all the make the seat not suck controls on the inside, next to the console.

yes, I would use the frame and controls from the drivers seat.

Hm. In that event, I suspect the easiest way to check would be part #'s. See if the local Audi service monkey can pull em for you, and see what it would be to order JUST a seat- no frame/base. Their computer should tell em the part #'s, and then just compare. Or do what I'd do, and try it anyhow, get frustrated halfway through, and go play videogames.

mndsm wrote: Hm. In that event, I suspect the easiest way to check would be part #'s. See if the local Audi service monkey can pull em for you, and see what it would be to order JUST a seat- no frame/base. Their computer should tell em the part #'s, and then just compare. Or do what I'd do, and try it anyhow, get frustrated halfway through, and go play videogames.

I have two extra complete seats (drivers and passengers). The plan is to make one nice drivers seat.

I would almost guarantee that the right and left part numbers will be different. I haven't seen symetrical front seat cushions in years,and I made thousands every day. However, take a close look at the differences and you may be able to swap in the passenger foam with a little cutting and gluing. Swapping the upholstery will probably be a touch more difficult. Just be aware of the differences and see if you can use the passenger seating surfaces and the driver's side facings. You should be able to sew this on a household machine.The side facings will probably be vinyl, while the seating surfaces are leather.

I can tell you on my '91 MR2, passenger seat upholstery will go on the driver seat with very little work.

Woody wrote: Get yourself some hogring pliers. They make upholstery work so much easier. It's as if they were meant for that kind of thing.

Small zip-ties work well in place of those guys too.

I started my last upholstery job with zip ties. They don't even come close to the ease of using the hogring pliers.

I was able to make the swap tonight. I bought some hog nose pliers at harbor freight, but didn't need them. The leather was held in place to the frame with little plastic darts. I didn't break any of them.

I only took pics halfway through. Here is both seats disassembled.

And here is where I cut the foam for the controls to fit:

The seat bottom:

reassembled using the frame of the drivers side and the seat cushion and back of the passenger side. All cables run for the 400 electric motors.

Tee only thing is the cut leather where the passenger controls were, but that will be up against the center console so it may not show.

The whole thing took about 3 hours. Most of that was a learning curve, if I were to do it again, I bet I could do it in under an hour.

I will remove the seat from the car and try this one out, if it flat out just doesn't work, I will just put back the one that is already there right now.

Use the hole as an ah-E36 M3 moment handhold.
Or make a cubby for the stash.
Oh I know, make a panel for the ejector seat control.

I had a passenger seat on the driver's side on my Lada Niva - seemed to work just find but controls where slightly odd being on the wrong side.

Hey Eric, are you Yip's friend? I saw the Quattro he has now, it's pretty sweet. Too bad it's bent like crazy. Good work on the seats.

Steven