03c0upe

Hey guys, I got a 1999 acura tl and want to replace the driver seat and found a 2000 acura tl seat but it has a airbag in the seat. Will it be a direct fit, and will the power seat and heat plugs be a direct fit?

Thanks!

01acls

Yes x 3.

03c0upe

I heard the heated set connections are different, the lower seat that is.

01acls

With additional research I believe you're correct. However, you can do a work around. The number of wires are the same for the heating element and so are the colors. All you have to do is de-pin the terminals from the connectors (99 & 00-03) and transfer the 99 connector to the 00-03 heating element. Now you have matching connectors.

As an alternative you can swap the heating element itself.

Of course you will need to use your 99 seat sub harness.

I'm not sure why you're replacing the seat but if it's just for the torn leather then I'll be cheaper to just replace the torn leather section(s).

03c0upe

Hey I am replacing because of tears on the bottom and back portion. You suggest just to replace that? How easy is that?

03c0upe

The entire seat I found is only $100.

01acls

For you and me it's impossible because we are not seamstresses but for them it's pretty easy. The hardest part for them is remove/installing the seat itself.

Replacing the leather patches is basically cutting the threads at the seams and then sewing the leather patches in. Once that's done the the leather is dye to match the adjacent color.

The repairs will be more than $100 probably a lot more. Probably around $400 with labor. If you remove and install the seat yourself then I'll be cheaper maybe 1/3-1/2 cheaper if you're lucky.

To find an leather upholstery person just ask around the autobody shops, used car dealers or dealership service writers, etc. Like anything doesn't hurt to get an estimate(s).

The $100 seat, you need to make sure the leather is in good condition and you won't know if the many parts work until it's tested. Specifically, the heating elements, it's not unusual for those to burn out. Seats at the salvage yard will deteriorate pretty fast in the elements or just being abuse from people throwing/putting stuff on them.

03c0upe

I think i misunderstood your other post, I thought you said I could just swap out the seat cushion on the back portion of the seat instead of replace the the entire thing?

01acls

I read your questions as swapping out the whole seat and wanted to know if the wire loom would plug n play.

That is what I was originally replying to.

03c0upe

I understand , but when you said just to replace the torn section I thought you meant I can replace the cushion and and the back portion, is that possible?

01acls

Yes that's possible because the cushions are bolted to the seat frame independently... Seat bottom is one assembly and the seat back a different assembly.

03c0upe

great thanks for your help

01acls

Actually I pretty sure we are not on the same page but we will be.

Yes you can transfer the new/use seat cover to your seat. By doing that you can also transfer the heating element if needed.

You will need a hog ring plier and hog rings. Some people say you can use wire ties in place of hog rings but not sure if it's durable in the long term.

There's a good video on YouTube you can watch. Just search for DIY Acura TL seat heating element replacement.

03c0upe

Got it thanks, the wrecker made a mistake and it's actually a 2002 - 2003 Tl with memory seats. Will it still work out for my 99 Tl. Plan is to use my harness from my 99 Tl.

01acls

Far as I can tell all the hardware/motors are all the same on the left front seat with the exception of the lower driver's seat heating element. Of course the seat wire loom is different due to 8 way adjustability vs 4 way adjustability.

I didn't research the rt seat.

Type S and Base seats are not interchangeable as far as the seat covers.

03c0upe

So what do I need to make this work? Can I cut the harness and use mine, and what wires would I use because I think the 99 has fewer wires.

01acls

You are over thinking this, it's not that complicated. You have a lot of options, depending on your comfort zone. I will list them in order of least difficulty first.

1. Fine an auto leather upholstery shop and let them do everything for say $400.

2. Remove the seat and bring it to the upholstery shop and save the labor cost of removal and installation.

3. Buy the used seat and just switch over the leather seat covers... seat back and seat bottom. DIY or bring it to a upholstery shop. No need to mess with the wires.

4. Buy the used seat and swap whole seat as a unit but you need to change the seat bottom's heating element connector or swap the heating element itself so it will mate with your 99 seat wire loom. All the other connectors will plug n play because Acura uses the same motors for all the 2g TL seats. The additional features you will leave unplug,.. like the side air bag. Oh, also I would used the 99 seat adjustment switches.

My choice would be #1, 2, or 3 because I prefer OE.

03c0upe

So I pretty much removed the entire back along with the foam and the entire seat and put it on my original frame. But for the life of me I can't figure out where one plug goes, this plug was also on my original ripped seat so it does belong somewhere. I think it's the heated seat plug. Picture attached.

01acls

Yes, that's the lower cushion seat heater plug located just behind the front edge in the middle of the cushion.

03c0upe

Got it thanks, there was a dummy plug which it got plugged into.

03c0upe

There was a plug coming form the bottom seat and the back area, I plugged those together and the image I had shown was a different plug in due the different year but I cut of the old plug and used that which plugged into the main harness but lower seat doesnt heat up but back does. Im not sure if the bottom seat did ever heat up since it came from junk yard.

01acls

The left pin is ground, Center is Lo heat, and right pin is High heat.

On the seat side check for continuity between Left and Center pins. If it's open then the cushion heating element is defective... Fix open wire or replace.

On the switch side check for power to Center terminal. It should have 12V.

03c0upe

The high and low heat settings work only for the back rest area and not the bottom seat. Checked fuse, so it must be defective wire in the seat?

01acls

yes