Removing / Getting underneath front passenger seat?
Hi Guys,
I tried searching and there are a lot of seat removal threads for the 2nd and 3rd row, but none regarding the front passenger seat. Is there a way to get under there?
The reason I am asking is because I recently removed my front door panel in search of a loose screw/bolt that occasionally rolls around and rattles when I turn/accelerate/brake, but I found nothing inside the door. I am thinking that whatever is making the noise is somewhere under the front passenger seat, because I noticed that the rattle rarely ever happens when I am driving alone…. Something about the weight of a passenger in the front seat allows it to roll around, whatever it is.
Has anyone ever removed the front seat? Are there chambers/compartments under there that I could get to and check? The noise sounds like metal on metal… like a screw rolling around on metal.
Thanks,
J
Its actually really easy. I removed mine to install my new amps under the seat.
---------------
At the end of each of the 4 "legs" of the seat, there are 4 plastic covers. They pop off revealing 4 bolts. (you will have to move the seat forward then backward to be able to get a wrench to those bolts.)
It is held in with 4 14mm bolts. Then remove the 3 connectors for the electronics under it (you may have less, 1 is for airbags (yellow), 1 is for heated seats (assumption), and the other is for the power seat motors). The yellow one is the seat airbag. This is REALLY IMPORTANT... pull the negative terminal off your battery and have it sit for at least 2 min. THEN unplug the airbag plug. Otherwise it will go off and you have to replace the seat (according to Toyota docs)
----------------
Reverse the following to put it back in place.
Unfortunately I did not look at the seat when I had it out to see if its easy to find something so your going to have to find out on your own there sorry.
Good Luck getting it out and finding the sound
__________________
2008 Black Highlander Limited FWD
Nav (with override), Rear DVD | 900+ Watt Sound System | Headlight & Fog HID Projector Retrofit | LED Interior/Puddle Lights | Rattletrap Sound Deadener | Dueler HL Alenzas 255/55R19's |Updated Modification List
Last edited by sweeneyp; 11-09-2011 at 03:53 PM.
Reason: typo's
The Following User Says Thank You to sweeneyp For This Useful Post:
Thanks!! I'll give this a try.
I'm either going to find the thing that's rolling around... or I'm gonna tear my Highlander apart until I can't put it back together.... one or the other. Haha.
But seriously it is driving me crazy.
Thanks again
Thanks!! I'll give this a try.
I'm either going to find the thing that's rolling around... or I'm gonna tear my Highlander apart until I can't put it back together.... one or the other. Haha.
But seriously it is driving me crazy.
Thanks again
haha I vote the first one. Or you could try my solution to a rattle/noise, turn up the stereo till you can't hear it anymore (at that point my ears are usually dying though haha)
__________________
2008 Black Highlander Limited FWD
Nav (with override), Rear DVD | 900+ Watt Sound System | Headlight & Fog HID Projector Retrofit | LED Interior/Puddle Lights | Rattletrap Sound Deadener | Dueler HL Alenzas 255/55R19's |Updated Modification List
If you think it is magnetic, like a screw, get small pickup magnet with a flexible arm and fish it around in the likely spots on the floor and the underside of the seat. You can also leave small magnets from the hardware store or hobby shop sitting in a few likely places to check after a long drive--or just leave 'em. Never underestimate the power of a small ball of duct tape, adhesive side out, either. Is it possible it might be a wire connector flopping around?
Caterpillar, the duct tape and magnet idea makes sense. If I can get the seat up, I'll look for places to put something like that. I don't think it is a loose wire connector though...
Ralph I thought about that too (in the plastic covers under the car), but I really doubt that it is a rock. It sounds like a screw...it will roll and then at the end of the roll there will be that back and forth little rolling noise, like when a screw settles. But to that point, is there a way to get into the plastic covers under there?? lol
But to that point, is there a way to get into the plastic covers under there?? lol
Sure.. all those covers come off, most with the push pin fastener. I was amazed at how much debris was under the covers I had to remove to mount my OEM trailer hitch.. and this after only 2K Km.
To eliminate air turbulence / drag the whole under body is covered with plastic covers.. a magnet for all kinds of "rocks"
Well you could always take the seat out, and go for a "test drive" to try and eliminate the seat vs debris under the panels.... probably be easier than trying to get all those panels off.
__________________
2008 Black Highlander Limited FWD
Nav (with override), Rear DVD | 900+ Watt Sound System | Headlight & Fog HID Projector Retrofit | LED Interior/Puddle Lights | Rattletrap Sound Deadener | Dueler HL Alenzas 255/55R19's |Updated Modification List
Its actually really easy. I removed mine to install my new amps under the seat.
---------------
At the end of each of the 4 "legs" of the seat, there are 4 plastic covers. They pop off revealing 4 bolts. (you will have to move the seat forward then backward to be able to get a wrench to those bolts.)
It is held in with 4 14mm bolts. Then remove the 3 connectors for the electronics under it (you may have less, 1 is for airbags (yellow), 1 is for heated seats (assumption), and the other is for the power seat motors). The yellow one is the seat airbag. This is REALLY IMPORTANT... pull the negative terminal off your battery and have it sit for at least 2 min. THEN unplug the airbag plug. Otherwise it will go off and you have to replace the seat (according to Toyota docs)
----------------
Reverse the following to put it back in place.
Unfortunately I did not look at the seat when I had it out to see if its easy to find something so your going to have to find out on your own there sorry.
Good Luck getting it out and finding the sound
Not true, my friend was digging under my passenger seat and he un-plugged the airbag "squid" - my airbag light came on and that was it
__________________ 2008 Highlander Sport V6 AWD, classic silver, black leather, Canadian version, 90 000 KM. 2009 Tacoma AC V6 4X4, SR5 w/ power package, timberland mica, beige cloth, 48 000 KM.
2002 Highlander Limited V6 4WD, black, tan leather, 134 000 KM (SOLD)
Not true, my friend was digging under my passenger seat and he un-plugged the airbag "squid" - my airbag light came on and that was it
well I'm quoting that off of a TIS document I have. They said to do that, otherwise it could result in the airbag going off. I wasn't brave enough to try it without disconnecting the battery. At least now I know its toyota BS'ing warnings and not actually going to go off, thanks for the heads up
__________________
2008 Black Highlander Limited FWD
Nav (with override), Rear DVD | 900+ Watt Sound System | Headlight & Fog HID Projector Retrofit | LED Interior/Puddle Lights | Rattletrap Sound Deadener | Dueler HL Alenzas 255/55R19's |Updated Modification List
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