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RHD driver's seat as LHD passenger seat?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by KrisDeak, Mar 21, 2021.

  1. KrisDeak

    KrisDeak New Member

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    Premium w/ Solar Cells
    I got my hands on a scrapyard driver's seat from a UK Prius, same as mine just mirrored. I'd like my wife to enjoy the benefits of manual height adjustment and lumbar support (her back hurts often on long trips), so I've asked a mechanic to:

    - take the original, great condition LHD passenger seat apart, leather covers, cushions, airbag, heating, sensors, safety belt att. etc

    - take scrapyard, super dirty RHD seat apart, remove rust and dirt, use seat bottom frame with the height adjuster+plastic bottom side cover panel + adjuster handles + the lumbar support mechanism from it, throw away the rest.

    - add these parts to original seat, keeping as many of the original LHD parts as possible.

    Now, the bottom rails of the RHD seat look REALLY dusty but I'm told it's only superficial rust...can this become a safety problem?
    Forward - backward adjusment works fine so it's not like it's stuck from rust.

    Is it easy enough to feed power to the motorised lumbar support somehow?
    Am I going to run into problems with the detection sensor, the airbag or anything else?

    Are there any potential red flags I should be aware of?



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    #1 KrisDeak, Mar 21, 2021
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Aren't there side air bags in the seat? This seems like a lot of work that could be a problem as RHD and LHD might not be swappable... Can't you find an aftermarket product that goes on top of the seat to make it more comfortable instead?
     
    #2 PriusCamper, Mar 22, 2021
  3. KrisDeak

    KrisDeak New Member

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    I think it shouldn't be a problem from what I can tell looking at the diagrams. Both seats have the same airbag position, connectors and sensors if I'm not mistaken. I'm attaching the diagrams I found.
    The original RHD right side seat:

    Balkormanyos anyosules 716216I.png
    The LHD right side seat:

    Jobbkormanyos vezetoules 716215J.png
     
    #3 KrisDeak, Mar 23, 2021
  4. KrisDeak

    KrisDeak New Member

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    I don't think height adjustment of that level is feasible with any add-ons.


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    #4 KrisDeak, Mar 24, 2021
  5. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    The height adjustment is simply what you put under the aftermarket car seat cushion w/back support.
     
    #5 PriusCamper, Mar 24, 2021
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If the cars in your area are equipped with the occupant classification ECU, the passenger seat bottom structure should have four strain-gauge sensors, near the four mounting corners. It might or might not be straightforward to move those to a driver's seat. If they can be moved there, a calibration procedure exists for the occupant classification system whenever the seat has been disturbed. It would be interesting to learn whether it can be satisfactorily calibrated after an operation like this. If it can be, the next interesting question could be: does it stay in calibration across the range of adjustable height?
     
    #6 ChapmanF, Mar 24, 2021
  7. KrisDeak

    KrisDeak New Member

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    Thank you! That's exactly the kind of crazy leftfield thing I never would have thought of...now I need to look into this.
    What's the role of the occupant classification ECU - is it the thing that determines whether the seatbelt sign needs to switch on for the passenger?
    Does it arm the airbag?
    Anyway it sounds important and a pain to recalibrate. I'll definitely look into it.

    Kristof

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    #7 KrisDeak, Mar 24, 2021
  8. KrisDeak

    KrisDeak New Member

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    #8 KrisDeak, Apr 6, 2021
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