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Did you: add 'Adjustable' Lumbar support or Replace drivers seat?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by davekro, Feb 24, 2014.

  1. davekro

    davekro Member

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    1) Have you changed out your cloth manual drivers seat to a Prius leather SofTex electric, junk yard 'brand' or aftermarket seat?

    2) Or have you found a way to add 'ADJUSTABLE' Lumbar support to your cloth manual seat?
    *** please consider posts about lumbar pads added, even under seat covers, as off topic and for another thread as I already am doing this. (thanks :) )

    I've read many 'seat threads' on PC with ideas for changes/ swap outs to our cloth non (electric) adjustable seats, but no clear reports of which seats 'actually' installed with reports of how it was done, what was involved, costs, etc. So if you have done this or can provide a link to someone who has, that would be great. I am in the SF Bay Area, so any references to (pref used) seats sources would be a bonus.

    I would be very willing to try to get a junk yard driver only, both fronts or all from a wrecked Prius for the right price. It seems the Four*, Five*, v and Advanced PiP came with electric Fau leather SofTex seats, right? *optional on Fours and maybe Fives?

    I am very interested if anyone has either added the adjustable lumbar (factory or aftermarket) to their 2010 + Prius. Or can point me to threads where this has been done.
    Thanks:)
     
  2. Alan Claver

    Alan Claver Junior Member

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    Not what you asked but I did get my Prius 2013 Type 5 with the fully electric seat and I have to say the lumbar support in them is excellent. Much better than my old Highlander or even my wife's Lexus 330. It has a lot of movement and a very firm position if that's what you like (I do).

    Any 2013's junked yet - that weren't in a crash?
     
  3. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Just yesterday, a friend that just got a 2014 Advanced stopped by. This was my first try of the leather adjustable seats. I have to agree with you Alan, that lumbar adjustment felt very, very nice! It seemed air controlled vs a mechanical moving cushion. Do the Prius leather seats use an air bag for lumbar? It sure is sweet. Hence my new 'quest'.

    If I hear from folks that swapping in a leather electric seat is a plug and play from models that came with them, I will begin a search for wrecks and junk yards. If they can be found, the SF Bay area may only be second to So. Calif. for used Prius leather seats. Too soon to tell (as the Budddists say). ;)

    Would 2010 be the cut off for (possible) matching seats for a 2013 PiP? Big 'IF" Base model PIP has same harness and connectors under the seat as the Advanced PiP (and 2010+ models w/ leather???)
     
  4. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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  5. davekro

    davekro Member

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    ursle,
    I appreciate the spirit of the reply, but as mentioned, I appreciate only discussion here of 'Adjustable' lumbar solutions. There are already many threads on various 'cushion' options. I read and tried them all (trust me). I already am using a lumbar pad that I went to great lengths to create that does work pretty well. BUT, the reason for my post here is to find info about getting 'Adjustable' lumbar support (and not by changing cushions ;) ). I bought a few cushions, including exactly the one you linked (3" thick or so IIRC), and they were all way too thick for 'me'. The one I made is 3/4" thick neoprene.
    Ursle, thank you again for your helpful intension.
     
  6. Alan Claver

    Alan Claver Junior Member

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    What I've read is that the 2014 "Leather" is really SofTex like my 2013. I does appear that the lumbar support is a bladder of some sort rather than a mechanical solution. Maybe that's why it seems more prominent than either of the other cars which I suspect are mechanical bolsters.
     
  7. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Understand they are not actually leather. I just call them leather to differentiate from cloth because I can never remember what manufacturers call their faux leather. ;) I just edited the original post for clarity on this.

    Did the 'Five' come standard with SofTex or was it an option? I seem to recall some 'Fours' came with cloth, which would make it an option on that model. Just want to know if I ever go 'junk yard' shopping.
     
  8. Bucky35

    Bucky35 Junior Member

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  9. Alan Claver

    Alan Claver Junior Member

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    I believe Softex is standard on the Five level.
     
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  10. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Bucky35,
    This looks awesome. The manual inflate for $40 and an electric inflate for $90. I will definitely be checking these out when I have more time! About wow many 'pumps' do you find it takes:
    1) From fully deflated to your sweet spot?
    2) to adjust slightly from sweet spot just for variation, say on a long drive?
    3) is opening valve to deflate slightly a one hand operation, or best done while stopped?
    4) how do you have yours installed? Under the OEM seat cover, under an aftermarket cover? other?

    I would love to hear if anyone else has experience with these or similar bladder devices. This seem the best and most economical path (over replacing seat). The prices seem very reasonable. I paid $60 for the memory foam lumbar support linked in the earlier post (and returned it).
     
  11. davekro

    davekro Member

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  12. Bucky35

    Bucky35 Junior Member

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  13. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Bucky,
    Thanks for the responses. Yes, I think I'd like the $90 automatic version. :) Love gadgets.
     
  14. our1vue

    our1vue Member

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    I tried the pillow route, but it was hard to keep it in the correct place when I moved in the seat. I finally went with a professionally installed Rostra power lumbar support. They put the bladder under the top foam layer so there is
    some padding between you and the bladder.
     
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  15. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Our1vue,
    Excellent that you have the Rostra. I guess what you describe is what they call a rear mount kit (250-1453). Any details you can give about your upgrade would be VERY much appreciated! :)
    - Did you order the kit or did the shop?
    - What did they charge for parts and labor?
    - How satisfied are you with the installation and how it feels?
    - Any idea how it compares to the factory lumbar support in comfort and use?
    - 'Top layer of foam'. any discription you have of the foam layers or other 'under the cover' ;) info, would be great.
    Do you know if your bladder had a hard square plastic on it's front? That would have made it the rear mount (to go behind the foam).

    Thanks for posting! ! (y)
     
  16. our1vue

    our1vue Member

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    Dave,
    The bill said it was part number 250-1453. The kit was ordered by the shop and the total price was $400. I thought that was a little high, but I couldn't figure out how to get the seat covers off to try and do it myself. Also the shop has an excellent reputation and my back was killing me, so I went with them.
    When they first installed it, the bladder was too high. It would start inflating in the small of my back (good) and then it would start inflating higher up (bad). I took it back to them and they moved the bladder lower. Now it inflates only in my lower back area (yeaa !). Rostra makes different size bladders, so I wonder if they moved the bladder down or just put in a smaller bladder.
    The bladder is inflated by an electric air pump under the seat. They mount a rocker switch on the seat side where the other seat control levers are. Push the rocker switch one way and the bladder inflates. Press the other way and it lets the air out of the bladder.
    Let me state, my posture is less than perfect. Before the install, after 20 minutes of driving, my back would be killing me. After the install, after an hour of driving, my back sometimes feels a little stiff, but I don't have the aching pain anymore. I haven't taken it on any multi hour trips yet, but for me I'm VERY happy I had it installed.
    I haven't sat in any factory seats to know how they compare to the Rostra. I think the factory seats use an electric motor to push a metal bar that pushes out the seat. The Rostra uses an air bladder. When I did some research, I found a few people that said the air was leaking out of the Rostra bladder. I haven't had any problems though and the bladder has kept it's pressure for at least 3 months. I think ease of use is the same. They both have a switch on the side of the seat.
    I wasn't allowed to see the install, so I can't comment on the bladder construction. When I press on the seat back,
    it feels padded. I thought there is 1" of foam under the cloth seat covers. I think the bladder is under that layer of foam instead of just under the cloth cover. But then again I wasn't allowed to see the installation, so I can't say
    for sure.
    I can relate to those that want to sell the car because they are in such pain sitting in the seats. Now after driving for a while, I notice that my back is not hurting me anymore. The Prius is a keeper again.
     
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