Perforated leather seat repair...

[MinisterofDOOM]

The driver seat in my LS has developed some ugly tears. I have NO IDEA where they come from. I don't have pants with rivets on the pockets or anything like that. Nonetheless, the seatbottom is shredded. I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for repair. The seats are perforated, and I'm not interested in covering the perforations. The seats are heated and cooled via a Peltier heat pump which, unlike coil seat heaters, relies on moving hot or cold air through the perforated leather (the result is noisier but much more effective while also being reversible). So if I cover the perforations I lose the heating/cooling function of the seat.

Here's a picture of the poor seat cushion. The support material under the leather is a spun-plastic mesh that permits airflow. It's undamaged and pretty tough stuff.


Ideally the repair won't be too noticeable. But in reality anything would look better than gigantic gashes in the leather.

[Ace2cool]

So basically what happened is a wolverine climbed into your car and shredded stuff up.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Or a headcrab. Damn things. Those front leg/arm/claw/thingers are sharp.

[Kompresshun]

http://www.leatherrepairkits.com/

I've been looking into this for my car. My drivers seat only had some minor cracking/wear though, but it seems like this can work for something like your damage to.

[float_6969]

Have you priced a new seat cover? My father-in-law got one for the MSP when he bought it because of a tear and it was only like $75. Granted it's only cloth, but it was a limited edition vehicle. Can't hurt to try.

[WDRacing]

They make some sweet seat covers these days. These fit your personality Chris!

[Bubba1]

The driver seat in my LS has developed some ugly tears. I have NO IDEA where they come from.

It could be the caustic after-effects of Taco Bell meal consumption weakening the leather over time.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Have you priced a new seat cover? My father-in-law got one for the MSP when he bought it because of a tear and it was only like $75. Granted it's only cloth, but it was a limited edition vehicle. Can't hurt to try.

You mean like new factory seat upholstery? Or are we talking a slip-over seat cover? Because I'm not remotely interested in the latter. Even one as pink and leafy as Brian's suggestion.

[EW]

Basically, not conditioning the leather results in it drying out and cracking/tearing. Sweating on the leather and then it drying out does not help either. I had perforated seats in a 1988 Lincoln LSC and they did the same thing.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I actually have taken very good care of this leather. I use some fancy-a** leather conditioner I got for free somewhere or other regularly. Makes the tears even more frustrating.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

The perforated leather in my Miata was a bit torn when I first bought it. I'm looking for a repair as well. I wouldn't mind just brand new upholstery... I feel like anything else would kinda be half-assing it.

[float_6969]

I'm talking about from the Dealer.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Hmm, I checked one of the larger online Mazda dealers and couldn't find anything.
Then I found this: http://us-dc2-order.store.yahoo.net/gom ... osySUHsw--
$869 for new upholstery (with heaters)!

[float_6969]

Holy crap! You might also check a local upholstery company. I think we had the wife's seat covers priced out at around $200 to have them re-done where the leather was cracking.

[leesredgt]

My seats in the MR2 were the same way. I just bought new covers and some hog rings and redid the seats my self. Wasn't to hard at all.

[elwesso]

How hard would it be to find some take-off seats from a wrecked LS? I figure that would be the easiest thing to do.

[MinisterofDOOM]

How hard would it be to find some take-off seats from a wrecked LS? I figure that would be the easiest thing to do.

That would be true if I had EVER seen a 2nd gen LS in a wrecking yard.

I actually need a whole driver seat, as there's some other stuff needing work (the headrest adjust is busted and locked up, and the platic panel on the rear of the seat hangs loose at the bottom). So I'd LOVE to find one at a wrecker. But no luck so far.

[Kompresshun]

Hit eBay. Just a brief search, searching for "05 Lincoln LS seat" brought back a few salvage units. I'm sure you can find one on there, as i've found a ton of interior pieces and even whole interiors on there before in great shape.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Good idea. I'll have to start checking ebay and salvage parts websites. My interior color is the most common one, which should work in my favor.

[audtatious]

I had a tear in a rear seat of the sedan and the Infiniti dealership had their "leather guy" replace the whole seat bottom for a hundred bux or something. Something caustic had gotten on the seat and eater the underlying leather up where the top section was really thin. Was weird.

[elwesso]

Another thing you could consider is that its possible you can turn a passenger seat into a drivers seat. I did that in my Q and only if you're really crafty you'd be able to tell the difference.

[Jesda]

I'd pay an upholstery shop or find a replacement seat bottom.

I've yet to find a lasting DIY repair other than patching wear spots by gluing on pieces of vinyl.