I just purchased the lumbar repair kit from IPD. I'm wanting to know if anyone out there has done this repair and can give me any advice apart from the included instruction sheet.

I also need to turn around the heater element--someone put it in backwards and those sharp things are poking me!

Thanks,

Jason

1990 240 Sedan 106,000 miles

Jason -- You might want to give some thought to using some heavier wire for the lumbar support. I've replaced these wires which I've gotten from IPD on my two 240s about ever two years. They just seem to snap on me (I like to keep the tension tight -- maybe that's my problem?) I've heard that some folks have had a permanent fix by using a straightened coat hanger as the wire from the yokes to the springs. I plan to try it in my busted (for the 3rd time in 7 years) lumbar support on the driver's seat in my '81.

Rob

Jason: There's nothing to it. The ipd instructions are right on and the whole job takes about an hour per seat. You don't really need to remove the seat....that just complicates the matter. It also causes you to lose your leverage. Just push it up as close to the steering wheel as it will go. There's plenty of room to work. You might also want to flatten an old towel and place it over the seat heating element. I found that, over time, the upholstery gets pretty thin, and you really feel the element, even if it's correctly placed. Cover it with the towel and then recover the seat per the directions. Good luck.

Jason,

I found it was easier to remove the seat from the car first: 4 nuts hold the seat to the sliding rail.

There are several hog rings that hold the vinyl on the seat back down. On either side of the seat where the back pivots there are a few teeth that hold the vinyl down also. Be carefull not to tear the vinyl when loosening this part. The lumbar adjustor unscrews. The vinyl will slide up enough to see the mechanism and replace the part.

I used small plastic zip ties to replace the metal hog rings. Trim the excess tail off of the zip tie. Good luck....

The heater element always pokes him in the bunghole... piece of shit volvo [seat] .. he's got a piece of shit volvo [seat]

Sorry.. I haven't disected my seats yet. Mine are twisted to all hell and the lumbar doesn't work either. Good luck.

"The heater element always pokes him in the bunghole... piece of shit

volvo [seat] .. he's got a piece of shit volvo [seat]" sung to the tune of ???. Gotta know!

That's what that is!