OEM Lumbar Support

tongsli · April 6th, 2002, 16:36

I just finished adding the OEM lumbar support in my seat [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

The lumbar device can be ordered seperately. I will post part numbers and pic if anyone is interested.

Lito

[ April 06, 2002, 16:37: Message edited by: tongsli ]

Dorado · April 6th, 2002, 16:53

Definitely interested in this info!

concours · April 6th, 2002, 17:30

Yes, Please post a P/N. Then I can go order it from my freindly parts man who assured me that "you gotta' order the whole seat back". Even after I asked him to please check for me. My plan was to do it when I had the covers off doing the leather install. I love the stealership. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

VelvetFoot · April 6th, 2002, 20:40

Damn, I just got my driver's seat back together. On the Beetle it was for me a mass of wires, springs, hooks, undocumented ways of fastening, incompatible wiring harnesses, etc, and that's just one seat. I am putting in some leatherette seats and aftermarket seat heaters. The seat back was definately harder than the bottom.

I'd be interested in learning more. The seat is still not back in the car yet and I still have to do the passenger's seat!

jayb79 · April 6th, 2002, 20:51

Karl,
What are you doing with your old seats?
Do you want do sell them?
I assume they are cloth. What color?

tongsli · April 6th, 2002, 21:02

The Part number I have from the ETKA is:
1J0 898 943A It's described and shown as a "repair kit". I will post this on Monday. The jpeg is at work. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

I haven't received this part yet, but the other lumbar support(pictured below) I got from a junk yard. So, I can't tell you what comes with the "Repair" Kit, yet. If someone can get one faster than me, please take a pic and post.

Hopefully, I'll know by Tuesday or Wednesday.

A few photos, then some detailed instructions.
I bought the VAS 5094 from www.Zelenda.com

Detail shot 1:

The pink & yellow connector is the one for the air bags.

The Lumbar Support:

My side air bag housing was off the frame by 1/2-inch or so. I managed to adjust it closer to the frame.

Here is an in-progress shot. The seat cover is off, and the OEM frame back is still in place.

[ April 06, 2002, 21:08: Message edited by: tongsli ]

tongsli · April 6th, 2002, 21:28

VelvetFoot · April 6th, 2002, 21:33

Taking pictures definately helped me on reassembly. A good use for a digital camera.

Can the seat heat work with it?

tongsli · April 6th, 2002, 21:39

I'll finish these tomorrow. Too tired.

L

tongsli · April 6th, 2002, 21:44

VF,

The heated element(for the seat back) are located in the BACK of the seat cover. They are sewn into the fabric They are not in the cushion. So, yes this will work with heated seats.

I will be installing this into Turbo Steve's seats next week.

VelvetFoot · April 6th, 2002, 21:56

Cool, or...warm, I guess. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Are the heat pads the carbon fiber type? My aftermarket ones were and they were very easy to bend..just like cloth.

So the foam rubber pad goes over this unit? The same pad fits?

tongsli · April 7th, 2002, 07:28

VF, Yes. The foam cushion fits right over this plastic lumbar mechanical device. There's plenty of room in side for it. I won't be able to continue the instructions till this evening after dinner, but there are a few differences in the GLS OEM seat and the GLX OEM seat which MAY affect the lumbar support operation.

Right now, the adjustment works fine. I'm not sure the GLS/GLX difference is significant or not. More later.....

L

VelvetFoot · April 7th, 2002, 08:02

I'm sure the Jetta/Golf lumbar support won't fit in my Beetle seatback. And even if it did, I'm not taking it apart again! The seats seem to be better in the Beetle as they are, although the innards look pretty much the same. We have an A4 Jetta as well, so I can compare. I drove more than 2,000 miles in a couple of days to TDI Fest 2001 last fall in the Beetle, and I have a bad back.

Must get back to the garage to route seat heat power. Have to do other seat today too - under domestic time constraint!

tongsli · April 7th, 2002, 08:03

tongsli · April 7th, 2002, 08:08

VF,LOL

I too am operating under the SAME "domestic time constraints"

So my drive-by postings are very erratic.

If you get a chance, please post a pic of the "Leatherette"-like NB seats. I suspect they are constructed similar to the Jetta's and Golf's seats.

Question for you: does the cushion have one segment or three segments?

If it only has one, then this lumbar support should work fine. From what I can tell, your NB seat backs probably don't have any more lumbar support inherent in the FRAME. The seat cushion COULD be different.

If I were to open up the seats to add some lumbar support, what I would do is to add some cushioning to the BACK of the seat cushion.

Lito

L

[ April 07, 2002, 08:13: Message edited by: tongsli ]