Front Seat Backrest

FRONT SEAT BACKREST

DISASSEMBLY

WARNING:
- Always wear safety glasses when repairing an air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) vehicle and when handling an air bag module. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.
- Never probe the connectors on the air bag module. Doing so can result in air bag deployment, which can result in personal injury.
- The safety belt pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device. Always wear safety glasses when repairing an air bag equipped vehicle and when handling a safety belt buckle pretensioner or safety belt retractor pretensioner. Never probe a pretensioner electrical connector. Doing so could result in pretensioner or air bag deployment and could result in personal injury.
- After deployment, the air bag surface can contain deposits of sodium hydroxide, a product of the gas generant combustion that is irritating to the skin. Wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.
- To reduce the risk of personal injury, do not use any memory saver devices.

NOTE:
- If a seat equipped with a seat mounted side air bag and/or a safety belt pretensioner (if equipped) system is being serviced, the supplemental restraint system (SRS) must be depowered.
- The air bag warning lamp illuminates when the RCM fuse is removed and the ignition switch is ON. This is normal operation and does not indicate a supplemental restraint system (SRS) fault.
- The SRS must be fully operational and free of faults before releasing the vehicle to the customer.

1. Remove the affected seat and depower the SRS.
2. Remove the seat backrest.
3. Remove the headrest.







4. Unclip the J-clip.







5. CAUTION: Use care when separating the seat back trim cover from the hook and loop strip, or the hook and loop strip can be torn from the seat back foam.

Remove the lower row of hog rings.
1 Reach a hand under the trim cover and separate the hook and loop strips.
2 Peel the seat back trim cover upward in an inside out fashion to expose the lower row of hog rings.
3 Remove the lower row of hog rings.







6. CAUTION: Use care when separating the seat back trim cover from the hook and loop strip, or the hook and loop strip can be torn from the seat back foam.

NOTE:
- Taurus has only one row of hog rings.
- Sable is shown, Taurus is similar.

Peel the seat back trim cover upward in an inside out fashion to expose the top row of hog rings.

1 Reach a hand under the trim cover and separate the hook and loop strips.
2 Peel the seat back trim cover upward in an inside out fashion to expose the top row of hog rings.







7. Unclip the J-clip.







8. Remove the headrest guide pins.
9. Remove the upholstery from the pad.







10. NOTE: If the pin-type retainers are damaged, install new retainers. This will keep the wiring harness routed correctly.

Remove the side air bag wiring harness pin-type retainer from the side of the seat back frame.







11. Remove the frame from the pad.







12. Remove the air bag wiring harness pushpins.







13. WARNING:
- Carry a live side air bag module with the air bag and tear seam pointed away from your body. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.
- Do not set a live side air bag module down on the cover tear seam. This will reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.

Remove the nuts and the side air bag module.







14. Remove the seat backrest lumbar support.

ASSEMBLY







1. Install the seat backrest lumbar support.







2. WARNING
- Inspect the mounting surfaces of the side air bag module and the seat back frame mounting bracket for any foreign objects before installing the side air bag module. If any foreign objects are found, remove them. Failure to do so may result in personal injury in the event of an air bag deployment.
- Inspect the side air bag cavity in the seat back pad for any foreign objects. If any foreign objects are found, remove them. Failure to do so may result in personal injury in the event of an air bag deployment.
- Before installing the side air bag module, check it for damage and foreign objects. If the air bag module is damaged, replace it. If any foreign objects are found, remove them. Failure to do so may result in personal injury in the event of an air bag deployment.
- If the air bag cover has separated or the air bag material has been exposed, install a new side air bag module. Do not attempt to repair the air bag module. Failure to do so may result in personal injury, in the event of an air bag deployment.

Install the side air bag module onto the front seat back frame mounting bracket.
- Route the side air bag module wiring harness through the outboard opening in the side of the seat back cushion.
- Position the side air bag module through the outboard opening in the side of the seat back cushion and onto the mounting bracket.
- Install the side air bag module retaining nuts to specification.







3. NOTE: If the pin-type retainers are damaged, install new retainers. This will keep the wire harness routed correctly.

Route the side air bag module wire harness along the seat back frame and install the pin-type retainers.







4. Install the frame to the pad.







5. NOTE: If the pin-type retainers are damaged, install new retainers. This will keep the wiring harness routed correctly.

Route the side air bag wiring harness along the side of the seat and install the pin-type retainer to the outside of the seat backrest frame.







6. Position the upholstery to the seat backrest pad, then install the headrest guide pins.







7. Fasten the J-clip.







8. WARNING: Front seat back trim covers installed on seats equipped with side air bags cannot be repaired. They are to be replaced (cleaning is permissible).

NOTE:
- Check that the seat back pad is positioned around the seat back frame when repositioning the seat back trim cover.
- Replace the hog rings with stainless steel hog rings.

Install the lower hog rings, if equipped.
1 Position the seat back trim cover to the hog rings.
2 Install two hog rings at each location indicated.







9. WARNING: Front seat back trim covers installed on seats equipped with side air bags cannot be repaired. They are to be replaced (cleaning is permissible).

NOTE: Check that the seat back pad is positioned around the seat back frame when repositioning the seat back trim cover.

Reposition the seat back trim cover and connect the seat back trim cover J-clip.

10. Install the headrest.
11. Install the seat backrest.
12. Install the affected seat and repower the SRS.
13. Check the active restraint system for correct operation.