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The driver seat bottom
on my 2006 400 H was pretty beat up when I bought it. After looking at the two front seats I thought I could likely find a junkyard passenger seat and swap the leather from the passenger seat which is generally in good shape on to my driver seat. Checking my local wrecking yards from time to time, I noticed one had recently added a 400 H to its inventory list so I swung out to check it and it had a decent passenger seat and I purchased it for $60. Disassemble it only required a long Phillips screwdriver to remove the plastic surround and a pair of needle nose pliers to remove the four hog rings at the back of the seat bottom. A small Amount of trimming of the vinyl and foam underneath for the power seat switches is required, use your original seat cover as a template. Reassembly is reverse of the disassembly plug in two electrical leads and the four hog rings and tuck the side and front clips under the seat frame until they snap in place. replace the plastic trim around the bottom of the seat and you’re done. I May do the seat back as well however that will require probably $50-$100 worth of work from an automotive upholstery shop as there’s an airbag and an armrest on the seat back.
TIPS: be sure to disconnect the negative cable of your battery under the hood before attempting to remove your drivers seat. If you fail to do this you will have an airbag failure light on your dash after the next restart and of course it goes to say be sure to reconnect the seat connectors FIRST and THEN the battery ground before you try for a restart. A 14 mm 3/8 drive socket will take the seat out at your wrecking yard, I am a 70 year old out of shape man and had no difficulty lifting the seat out of the Lexus at the wrecking yard or out of mine in my driveway,…….remember to use your legs as much as possible.
Great job. Like you mentioned, 'bout the airbag & armrest, sounds like a uphostery shop is needed to match the back material as you mentioned thou.
Update: I cut the largest piece of the side trim off the old seat cover I removed (Its actually Vinyl) and then took the seat back from the junk yard passenger seat and the vinyl to a local upholstery shop to have the armrest hole covered. He told me it would be any easy job and quoted me "A 6 pack of Tecate" for the job,........I brought him a 12 pack. I will follow up with pictures when I get the seat back installed
10-27-21, 01:40 PM
Replacement driver’s seat leather for $60
