Squeaky Seats in Winter

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ChiPri @ Jan 29 2007, 10:48 AM) [snapback]382363[/snapback]</div>

I have the same car - but zero squeaks. However, I don't know how cold where you are gets. I am on the beach and my vote may not count...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ChiPri @ Jan 29 2007, 04:07 PM) [snapback]382389[/snapback]</div>

Well, we live in Chicago too and have noticed zero squeaks. You don't have a styrofoam coffee cup stuck under there do you?

 

Leather often squeaks, which is one of the reasons I didn't get it. The squeaking depends on a number of factors, including what you are wearing. Cold weather makes it worse.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ChiPri @ Jan 30 2007, 01:49 AM) [snapback]382677[/snapback]</div>

We opted for the quiet leather . . . no squeeks in CA cold ... 40 degrees ... nor in MT cold ... sub zero on occasions. Shmear a little Leather goup from the Tannery ... or any other manufacturer ... that's what we use for our other hybrid that DOES have the squeeky leather.

 

Seriously, I am guessing that you are not complaining about the leather rubbing on your clothing. You are probably talking about the springs and inner foam somehow doing it.

I recommend you take it into Toyota under warranty. I had an unrelated minor upholstery issue with my back seat.... and the dealer sent me to the local upholstery shop and they took care of it right away (at Toyota cost).

Anyway, an upholstery shop will know what to do about it - even if means oiling all the little spring connections underneath.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ChiPri @ Jan 29 2007, 01:48 PM) [snapback]382363[/snapback]</div>

I have a 2006 with cloth seats, and yes, they squeak when the temperatures are below freezing. I find it pretty irritating, but can't seem to locate the precise part that's causing the squeak. It definitely sounds like plastic flexing, though, so I'm not sure what the fix would be even if the offender were located.

 

I also have a 2006 with cloth seats and they do squeak when it is below freezing. I notice it more in the passenger side than the driver side. It sounds like it is coming underneath the seat in the back. And yes I did check under the seat for obvious sources like plastic cups, etc. The squeak goes away once the interior warms up.

 

My passenger seat is doing this also, mostly when it is cold. But when I push on the seat or its side the squeek stops. It returns when I don't push on it. I'm thinking the side plastic part is the reason but can't get it off to find out. Anyone know how to get this part off the seat?

 

I did find that one of the yellow clips was off the middle of that plastic side seat cover. There is only one of these yellow clips on each cover. I put it back on and so far the squeeking has stopped.

I also found out to get the plastic cover off all the way requires breaking a clip (it's not a yellow one) at the seat back end. Apparently there is also a screw holding that end of the cover on, so with this clip broken it won't matter the cover still stays in place.

 

<_< One question: Do you have "port installed" or "factory installed" leather? My 2007 Touring Edition Package 6 has "factory installed" leather. The port installed offered "Liquicell Comfort" which was a thin pad placed under the leather at the time of installation while the factory installed does not use such a pad but does include the leather-wrapped steering wheel. I'm not sure whether "factory installed" was available on the 2006 Prius.

We had an opportunity to compare "port" vs "factory" before we bought and my wife said the "port" leather felt lumpy to her, probably because of the pad under the leather. We insisdted on the "factory" leather and have never had a squeak.

Interestingly, the area dealer salesman assured us that "All leather is port installed." On the 2007, I had him check the specifications comparing the Package 5 [Port] to the Package 6 [Factory} whereupon he discovered his lack of accurate knowledge. This was the dealer where he actually had both in stock and we were able to note the difference.

 

I also have the squeak when it's cold (2006 package 8). I plan to ask them to check it out when I take it in for the first oil change. It sounds like a spring, or something else that's metal. It goes away once the car warms up.

 

Hi ChiPri

We've been having "Chicago-like" weather in the Dallas TX area for several weeks and have not had any "groaning" or "squeaking" leather. Today, it's 41º with light rain and we've had as low as mid 20ºs. I wonder if some leather "treatment" would ease your noisy leather... I bought "Meguiar's One Step Leather Care" from WallMart based on recommendations from other PriusChat forum members but haven't applied it yet. You could probably get info at their web site: [ www.meguiars.com ]. Just a thought.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ChiPri @ Jan 29 2007, 01:48 PM) [snapback]382363[/snapback]</div>

I read your comments last week, then the temperature dropped here in Michigan to low teens. I noticed the squeak and immediately thought that it must be what you are talking about. Hard to describe. I did look under the seats for styrofoam just in case. I will be glad if someone finds a way to stop it. It's great to be able to read about here on this site.

I also notice a new noise when I start up... it reminds me of the noise those covered up headlights used to make when you turned the lights on and the cover rolled back. Kind of a flap open/close noise. I'm waiting to see what I hear next....

 

I had the squeaky seat problem. I found that the plastic piece with a screw at the back mentioned in a previous post was rubbing on another plastic trim piece that covers the seat tracks. The piece with the screw sits partially under and inside of the seat track trim. I put a tiny bit of anti-chafe tape at the contact point and completely solved the problem. Pulling the seat track trim out a tiny bit let me slide the anti-chafe under.