I hate my seats!

there is an airbag/seat belt pre-tensioner position sensor in the seat mount that has very specific placement requirements to allow the "ab/sbp-t" to work properly in an accident. Early in 2004 someone on PC did a mod and answered the placement question but I've been unable to find it again. Just so your advised that it's just not a simple job but has been done before.

 

I don't know that I would want to raise the seat any... I would rather lower the seat. I often find myself ducking to be able to see outside the right half of the windshield because the mirror is mounted so low, it just about blinds the right portion of my ahead view if that makes sense... I would like lumbar and especially bolster support as well, I love that feeling when your seats are gripping you.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ilusnforc @ May 18 2006, 10:02 PM) [snapback]257897[/snapback]</div>

Does your Prius have NAV? If so, the DVD is under the driver's seat, making it harder to do.

Some people have removed the originals and installed Recaro seats.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ May 18 2006, 10:16 PM) [snapback]257905[/snapback]</div>

I was just looking at the Recaros today. Do you know if there's a shop that does this modification? I miss my BMW sport seats... but that's the only downfall of the Prius so far (10th day).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(roopesh @ Jun 4 2006, 08:30 AM) [snapback]265580[/snapback]</div>

Yes, there's a shop that has done this with a Prius, but it's in Berkley. You can read about it in this post. The big problem is that if there's an airbag in the seat, you'll keep getting an airbag warning. This shop has solved the problem by installing a resistor, which tricks the car into thinking the airbag is still there.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(erik king @ May 18 2006, 07:20 PM) [snapback]257789[/snapback]</div>

Yes, Toyota can do this for you. I have a friend who is 6'2". The Toyota dealer moved the seat back 2" for him at no charge on his new '06. He mentioned there are already mount holes in the floor for this. Looked like they used mount holes for one set of attach points, and 2" extension plates for the other set. I don't remember whether the extensions were on the front or rear mounts.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mtsarpilot @ Jun 5 2006, 03:46 PM) [snapback]266287[/snapback]</div>

No way! Really? I sure haven't seen these other mounts. I'm gonna pull the carpet up right now!

 

mtsarpilot,
This is significant news. If a Toyota dealer moved back, and remounted your friend's seat as you described; and at no cost to your friend this means:

• Toyota is aware that tall drivers need the seat moved back
• Toyota engineered and designed a solution
• Toyota has fabricated the parts needed to do the modification
• Toyota has distributed these parts to the dealerships
• These parts must be assigned part numbers
• These parts are inexpensive enough to "give away"

Can you please contact your friend and obtain: photos of the installation, and part numbers from the Toyota dealer? This would benefit many Prius drivers.

 

I just called my local Toyota dealer and they have NOT heard about any available modification for the seats. I would be interested in anything available too

 

I asked my friend how this went. Our local Toyota dealer (Pedersen Toyota) did the work for him. The service department was not aware or not interested in doing the work. Pedersen's body shop did the work. I was mis-informed, he did have to pay for the work, though it was only $100, so not much, specially if you are tall and want the extra space. He is going to look on the service order to see if there are part numbers he can find for us. I'll post the info when he gets it to me.

Joel

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(erik king @ May 18 2006, 09:20 PM) [snapback]257789[/snapback]</div>

I hated the lack of legroom too. After much research, I found a solution. I took my 05 #6 Prius (ie: with nav) to New England Wheels in Billerica MA. There's a guy there who moves seats back for Boston Celtics players. He's done it many times on lots of different cars. He didn't even need to look at the Prius to tell me he could do it. They charged about $300. It took about 3 hours and moved both my front seats back 3 inches.

The work involved removing both front seats, drilling out the rivets that hold the 8 pedestals to the 4 seat rails, welding on about 4 inches of strong steel to the front of the seat rails, welding the pedestals on 3 inches forward from their original position, painting all the new metal black so it looked good, then reattaching the seats. The seats have the same range of motion but it's shifted back 3 inches. The car feels way more luxurious and less cramped.

When slid forward all the way, my 5'2" girlfriend can easily reach the pedals. There's plenty of room for the Nav system. It wasn't affected by the mod at all. Someone said there's a sensor that controls the force of airbag deployment that might be tricked by the mod. If this was the case, the bag would slightly underdeply because the seat would be farther away than the car thinks. However, I'm sure the bags are overengineered and designed to work for wide and thin people. So I strongly doubt there would be any effectiveness reduction due to the mod.

I wanted to also lower the seat, but haven't heard of a way to do that yet. There are two triangular pieces of metal coming up from each seat rail. The seat is attached to the triangle by one bolt at the top. It seems possible to drill a lower hole in the triangle and bolt lower, but I'm not sure. If anyone knows of a way to lower the seat, please tell me.

 

So, Darell, did you check under the rug?

I'd be much happier with two extra inches. (No comments, but I deliberately phrased it that way!)

 

So what's the consensus for tall drivers? I'm 6'6"...is that going to be a problem? Even after having the seats moved back?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Auricchio @ Jun 9 2006, 03:45 PM) [snapback]268901[/snapback]</div>

Rick -

As hesitant as I am to touch this with my 10' pole... I have looked, and it is quite obvious that there are no other mounting points. The existing threaded holes are in formed metal areas of the car floor - and there is nothing else in the floor that would match those shapes, certainly. I'm afraid you'll have to go with plan B and just wack those 2" off.

 

Ah, well. Thanks for checking. It's time for me to call around to see what body shop knows how to add extension plates.

 

Any luck with the photos and details of the Recaros mounted in the Prius?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jun 12 2006, 11:22 AM) [snapback]269993[/snapback]</div>

Yes, I would rather hack those 2" off as well as opposed to messing with my seats. I've had several tall people in my Prius and never any discomfort. They do in Japan offer special seat mountings under the Welcab (handicapped assistance program) for the Prius that allow the seat to move in and out of the car to help assist handicapped persons into and out of the Prius. Some of this hardware may be of assistance to provide greater adjustability in the Prius for taller drivers. Here is the link: http://toyota.jp/welcab/prius/index.html

 

What is this http://toyota.jp/welcab/prius/friend/index.html driver's seat that looks like a better bucket with lumbar support?