Great overview. I did our 2000 4Runner seat bottoms this week and chose beefy zip ties over buying the hog rings and pliers. Close to 25 zip ties per seat bottom holding the leather tight. I feel that should last many years.
I've been shopping for 4th generation 4Runners and the prices are high for vehicles with 150K to 250K miles... because people know they're worth it. I'm only considering 4Runners without significant frame corrosion, and most need new seats. This video gives me a good idea of what's required to get nice seats in an older 4Runner with a lot of life left in it. Thanls!
Came across some 97 4-Runner SR5 front seats in mint condition @ auto salvage yard for amazing price of 75.00. Only down side was no electric camber in driver seat so made cushion swaps to my 96 limited Thanks to your video I was able to successfully complete task. Note: Instead of using hog rings , I used zip ties making for easier install. Thanks again
That is such a relief about the passenger seat occupancy sensor. I swapped my seats from the driver and passenger side because the passenger side was in better shape. I have been worried about the airbags. Thanks for the info.
Yes there is a reason people pay other people to do ththat s work. Just take your time and make sure everything is all lined up I’m glad I did the seat refurbish project. Much better than before
Was an eBay seller who is now gone I know ridies has good quality ones but they are not cheap. I’m going to order some from them here in March. Ridies.com
I just did a new cover with your help but the new cover had cardboard reenforcement rods in all but the back cover where i had to poke into the rolled leather and attach to the spring frame. Quiet audio but good info
Talon Baldwin yes I know I have the audio figured out now. I was only getting mono but now days I have figured out the stereo sound track deal. Glad the info helped😎
Question: I’m looking at a 2002 4Runner with original cloth seats but I want leather. Are you saying that all I have to do is order new foam and these leather seat covers and I can remove the cloth seats/foam and install new foam with leather covers?
Yes your are correct. If your concerned about the occupant sensor you can carefully remove it from the old seat foam and spray adhesive it to the new seat foam. I would suggest these leather covers. I used them in another truck and they are very good quality. ridies.com/Product/27547/1996-2002-Toyota-4Runner-SR5-Gen-3-Leather-Replacement-Seat-Covers
@@andyloechler9896 - So, the foam insert part numbers you showed in the video (for both the seat bottom and seat backs) are the same for both driver and passenger seats?
@@anthonygiordano3991 wierd sorry I replied on my phone... did not save I guess yes the pads are the same for both driver and passenger, one of the old tricks if your not able to find a new pad is to salvage a passenger side seat pad from the pick-n-pull to swap into your drivers side. you can swap the seat bottoms from passenger to driver without issues. make sense?
@@andyloechler9896 - Hey Andy! I got the messages, thanks! It does make sense. The seat pads (bottoms) are the same between driver and passenger seats BUT are the seat back pads also the same between both seats? I found a Toyota dealer that still offers the seat pads (p/n 71511-35050) but the back pads (p/n 71551-35050) are discontinued. I was able to find the back pads on eBay and another company out of Japan. The reason I’m asking all this is because I found a 4runner I’m considering purchasing with cloth seating (kind of dirty) and I’m trying to see if I can upgrade it all to the leather. I’d like to replace the carpet in it as well but that’s another issue. Looks like I can do the front seats in leather without any problems according to you. But, the challenge will be to find the rear seats (set) in leather. Thanks for all the information! I really appreciate it. It’s helping me to figure all this out.
Andy, in the passenger seat, did you install the heating pad on top of the passenger occupancy seat sensor? Would not the seat heater melt that occupancy sensor? What did you wind up doing there?
the seat heater would cook your passenger way before it melts anything. I did not re-install the sensor on the passenger side, but I did on the drivers side. it has not been an issue. I would think the fuse would blow longer before the seat heater could generate enough heat to melt plastic.
Hi there, me again, is there diference betwen botom seat cover in leather for driver and passanger side, or they are the same, of course tachnicaly they should not, what is your opinion and experience?
I have swapped driver and passenger covers and foams. 100% no difference. there is a difference in the backrest covers, because of the lumbar adjust. you can see the backrest foams have cutouts that can be used on either the driver or passenger sides. 96-98 trucks have the seat belt wire(will flash warning on drivers side only when truck is running if no seatbelt is worn), 99-02 trucks also have the occupancy sensor glued onto the pad. if you want to really go all out you can swap another driver side backrest seat onto the passenger side and install a lumbar adjust. this way both driver and passenger will have lumbar. I have not figured out a way to give the passenger height adjust.
Anthony Szeto I wish I had a source It took me a couple of weeks to find mine If you want Toyota ones just start searching online and I would bet you can find some. Your other option is to find a good used passenger seat and steal the foam. A lot of the time the passenger side foams see little use and will be in excellent condition
I used this kit from Amazon www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N2IJ64A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 the details indicate they are 3/4" D style upholstery hog rings
the links where I got everything are in the vid description. the foams are hard to source. you have to keep on it and you will find them. it might take a couple of weeks but you have to really hunt them down.
mine were all the same material all over. automotive leather is not real leather in most cases. it is very similar to the OEM toyota material. not as nice as land rover leather.
OCS was not required until 2006 by the nhtsa. 3rd gens did not have OCS as far as I know, and no electrical connections between the 2 systems. None of the wire diagrams show any interaction. I also own a 1997 with a passenger airbag and there is no sensor on the seat whatsoever. Later 4runners have OCS, but as far as I know no 3rd gens have OCS like systems in place. it's just a "hey your not wearing your seat-belt warning light" if you look @ the 2000 owners manual on page 50 www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM35762U/pdf/OM35762U-1_edited.pdf "In response to a severe frontal impact,the SRS airbags work together with the seat belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The SRS airbags help to reduce injuries mainly to the driver’s or front passenger’s head or chest directly hitting the steering wheel or dashboard. The passenger airbag is activated even with no passenger in the front seat. Be sure to wear your seat belt" I think this indicates the passenger side occupancy sensor does not work with the airbag system?
Great overview. I did our 2000 4Runner seat bottoms this week and chose beefy zip ties over buying the hog rings and pliers. Close to 25 zip ties per seat bottom holding the leather tight. I feel that should last many years.
I've been shopping for 4th generation 4Runners and the prices are high for vehicles with 150K to 250K miles... because people know they're worth it. I'm only considering 4Runners without significant frame corrosion, and most need new seats. This video gives me a good idea of what's required to get nice seats in an older 4Runner with a lot of life left in it. Thanls!
Came across some 97 4-Runner SR5 front seats in mint condition @ auto salvage yard for amazing price of 75.00.
Only down side was no electric camber in driver seat so made cushion swaps to my 96 limited
Thanks to your video I was able to successfully complete task.
Note:
Instead of using hog rings , I used zip ties making for easier install.
Thanks again
Great job on this video! I'll probably refer back to it as I undertake the drivers side seat cushion replacement on my 2000 Tundra Limited. Well done!
That is such a relief about the passenger seat occupancy sensor. I swapped my seats from the driver and passenger side because the passenger side was in better shape. I have been worried about the airbags. Thanks for the info.
31:21 This was about the time I wondered if I should attempt this myself :)
Yes there is a reason people pay other people to do ththat s work. Just take your time and make sure everything is all lined up
I’m glad I did the seat refurbish project. Much better than before
Great video. Working on replacing my 4Runners seats. Wondering where you bought yours. I know it’s beeen a few years
Was an eBay seller who is now gone
I know ridies has good quality ones but they are not cheap. I’m going to order some from them here in March.
Ridies.com
it's easier with a hair dryer or heat gun. either softens the leather and makes it supple and easier to stretch.
yes that makes sense, next time I will try it.
I just did a new cover with your help but the new cover had cardboard reenforcement rods in all but the back cover where i had to poke into the rolled leather and attach to the spring frame. Quiet audio but good info
Talon Baldwin yes I know I have the audio figured out now. I was only getting mono but now days I have figured out the stereo sound track deal.
Glad the info helped😎
@@andyloechler9896 r 30th
Question: I’m looking at a 2002 4Runner with original cloth seats but I want leather. Are you saying that all I have to do is order new foam and these leather seat covers and I can remove the cloth seats/foam and install new foam with leather covers?
Yes your are correct. If your concerned about the occupant sensor you can carefully remove it from the old seat foam and spray adhesive it to the new seat foam.
I would suggest these leather covers. I used them in another truck and they are very good quality.
ridies.com/Product/27547/1996-2002-Toyota-4Runner-SR5-Gen-3-Leather-Replacement-Seat-Covers
@@andyloechler9896 - So, the foam insert part numbers you showed in the video (for both the seat bottom and seat backs) are the same for both driver and passenger seats?
@@anthonygiordano3991 yes no difference same foams on both sides
@@anthonygiordano3991 wierd sorry I replied on my phone... did not save I guess
yes the pads are the same for both driver and passenger, one of the old tricks if your not able to find a new pad is to salvage a passenger side seat pad from the pick-n-pull to swap into your drivers side. you can swap the seat bottoms from passenger to driver without issues.
make sense?
@@andyloechler9896 - Hey Andy! I got the messages, thanks! It does make sense. The seat pads (bottoms) are the same between driver and passenger seats BUT are the seat back pads also the same between both seats?
I found a Toyota dealer that still offers the seat pads (p/n 71511-35050) but the back pads (p/n 71551-35050) are discontinued. I was able to find the back pads on eBay and another company out of Japan.
The reason I’m asking all this is because I found a 4runner I’m considering purchasing with cloth seating (kind of dirty) and I’m trying to see if I can upgrade it all to the leather. I’d like to replace the carpet in it as well but that’s another issue. Looks like I can do the front seats in leather without any problems according to you. But, the challenge will be to find the rear seats (set) in leather.
Thanks for all the information! I really appreciate it. It’s helping me to figure all this out.
Thanks for the video, very, very well done albeit it may have convinced me to have someone else do my seats.
Please tell me you sold the old seat leather
Andy, in the passenger seat, did you install the heating pad on top of the passenger occupancy seat sensor? Would not the seat heater melt that occupancy sensor? What did you wind up doing there?
the seat heater would cook your passenger way before it melts anything. I did not re-install the sensor on the passenger side, but I did on the drivers side. it has not been an issue.
I would think the fuse would blow longer before the seat heater could generate enough heat to melt plastic.
Hi there, me again, is there diference betwen botom seat cover in leather for driver and passanger side, or they are the same, of course tachnicaly they should not, what is your opinion and experience?
I have swapped driver and passenger covers and foams. 100% no difference. there is a difference in the backrest covers, because of the lumbar adjust. you can see the backrest foams have cutouts that can be used on either the driver or passenger sides.
96-98 trucks have the seat belt wire(will flash warning on drivers side only when truck is running if no seatbelt is worn), 99-02 trucks also have the occupancy sensor glued onto the pad.
if you want to really go all out you can swap another driver side backrest seat onto the passenger side and install a lumbar adjust. this way both driver and passenger will have lumbar. I have not figured out a way to give the passenger height adjust.
Great vid! Where may I find new foam seating? Thanks!
Anthony Szeto I wish I had a source
It took me a couple of weeks to find mine
If you want Toyota ones just start searching online and I would bet you can find some.
Your other option is to find a good used passenger seat and steal the foam. A lot of the time the passenger side foams see little use and will be in excellent condition
Thanks!
What size hog rings?
I used this kit from Amazon
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N2IJ64A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
the details indicate they are 3/4" D style upholstery hog rings
Where did you get your new back rest cushion
the links where I got everything are in the vid description. the foams are hard to source. you have to keep on it and you will find them. it might take a couple of weeks but you have to really hunt them down.
The leather seat cover are real leather on both side also, or sides are vinyl material?
mine were all the same material all over. automotive leather is not real leather in most cases. it is very similar to the OEM toyota material. not as nice as land rover leather.
@@andyloechler9896 Thanks a lot for quick reply and for that info!!!
Are you sure about the occupancy sensor? It was intended to prevent airbag deployment in the event of a small child sitting in the chair.
OCS was not required until 2006 by the nhtsa. 3rd gens did not have OCS as far as I know, and no electrical connections between the 2 systems. None of the wire diagrams show any interaction. I also own a 1997 with a passenger airbag and there is no sensor on the seat whatsoever. Later 4runners have OCS, but as far as I know no 3rd gens have OCS like systems in place. it's just a "hey your not wearing your seat-belt warning light"
if you look @ the 2000 owners manual on page 50
www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM35762U/pdf/OM35762U-1_edited.pdf
"In response to a severe frontal impact,the SRS airbags work together with the seat belts to help reduce injury by inflating. The SRS airbags help to reduce injuries mainly to the driver’s or front passenger’s head or chest directly hitting the steering wheel or dashboard. The passenger airbag is activated even with no passenger in the front seat. Be sure to wear your seat belt"
I think this indicates the passenger side occupancy sensor does not work with the airbag system?
Your should remove the negative cable from the battery before removing seats. 3rd gen 2002 is what I had to do. Read the Toyota service manual.
No sound?
There is sound, I don’t have a mic so my sound is much lower, Crank it up.
Andy Loechler Weird, I get nothing. It's all the way up. I'll check on other devices. Thanks
Describing them as the car seat has a smell as it came from a stripper , while you are rubbing the seat