Any of you guys ever use any of those kits to repair seats?
Awhile back I picked up some heated/leather seats for my XJ.
Passenger side was pristine. Bottom of the driver's side not so much. LOL.

But I use seat covers so you don't see it. Funny thing was the driver's seat heaters worked.
The passenger while in almost pristine condition did not. Had to repair a broke wire.
So I scored some more heated/leather seats. Primarily cause the bottom driver's was in really good shape.

Few small slits though.

Thinking maybe repair them so they don't get worse.
I have to still confirm that the heater either works in there still, kind of did and think it does but want to be sure,
or I can repair it before I go through the trouble.

Thing is thinking instead of the DIY route maybe go see my upholstery guy.
I have watched some videos and they make it look easy enough.
Famous last words and all.
Just I don't have a lot of confidence in my doing a decent job and not making things worse.
But to save a couple bucks wondering what kind of results you guys have experienced with the DIY route.
Until I actually talk to my guy for all I know what he might charge me will make it a no brainer.
Probably going to go there today and see assuming he is open with all the crap going on.

 

I tried my hand at using the 3M kit last summer. Applying the first stage of stuff (identical to runny Elmer's white glue) went well. I didn't have any success with any more of it.

Seat covers are the ticket.

 

So you are saying it didn't work for you?
Cause like I said I don't see myself getting it right.

And I have seat covers but more to hide crappy seats.
And in the case with these seats ones that are the wrong color for my Jeep.
My interior is Camel and the seats are supposed to be too.
Not Agate. But nobody knows but me.
And now you so don't tell anybody. LOL.
My hope is someday to find Camel heated/leather seats and make it right.
In really good shape. But thinking that is going to be a tough find.

 

I could not get the hang of getting the dyes to set after pitting the glue and cloth on.

 

The more I think about it the more I think I don't want to dye it.
Just want to secure the slit so it won't widen.
I have seat covers so....
Maybe the glue, fabric, and closing the slit enough will do what I want.

 

I would have a feeling that even if you did a great job on the repair and it looks flawless, it will only LOOK good for a short time. I don't think it would hold the leather together well enough for long periods after getting in and out of the seat numerous times. I'd think it will probably end up cracking in the same spot again...

 

Nice quality covers are your best option (as you know). The problem is that they cost as much as new seats. I had these WJ leather seats that looked as good as any I've seen at 17 years old. The downside is that they cost me $3500. I loved that 4.7L Quadra-

drive Jeep. I bought it from the original owner and her father owned the Jeep dealership since it was new.

 

I was thinking new seat covers like the $30 version from Walmart.

 

I would send them out for repair. Seat repair falls into the category of repairs you may do once in your life. therefore let a pro fix it.

 

Well it is not a crack. I mean this is an actual slit. Like from a knife. Longest one being maybe an inch.
So I am not trying to build up a section of leather where it is non-existent. Just trying to bring the 2 edges of the slit together to keep from widening.
But you do bring up a good point. And once this get done it will be under seat covers so I will be totally oblivious as to how it is holding up from that
point on.

I can't buy $30 Walmart seat covers. I am spoiled by my CoverKings. LOL.
The CoverKing seat covers I have in the Jeep ran me $320. Pricey for sure. I don't regret buy them one bit.
Here and there I have been asked if they are factory.

I kinda feel the same way. The example I usually use is my headliner. My guy charged me $125 to do it. That is with me taking it out of the Jeep and dropping it off to him.
Thinking I could have probably done it for half the price. But I did not have a lot of confidence in me doing a good job. Spend all that time doing and have it start falling back
down in a year. LOL. Don't get me wrong would have loved to. Bragging rights, save a couple bucks, etc but.......

I did not get to it yesterday cause I really had no reason to go out. But think I have to go out today. So I am going to stop by and chat with my guy.
See what he says. That is assuming he is open cause of the coronavirus thing.

Will update.

 

you might be able to get that lower seat cushion remade in leatherette, closely matching your old item, a fair bit cheaper than leather, if they cant source an exactly matching leather

look good and last well, not the cheapest option, but you want a comfortable seat that looks good, on an acceptable budget

passenger seats are often good, its a shame it isnt feasible for Oz and USA to swap seat covers via mail

I have a nice leather interior from a Limited that I could swap into my Sports, matching color, but has some wear like yours on driver seat,...and I actually prefer manual seats to power

 

Well the bottom seat that I just picked will be fine with those small repairs. I might need to replace the foam. But I have so many extra seat parts so......

And cruising Ebay come across seats from time to time out of the UK. And it would nice if the shipping did not blow the price totally out of the water.
I want to put headrests in my back seat like European models have. Part of my clone build. I found some guy selling a complete leather interior for about $100.
I talked to him about selling me just the upright part of the back seat with the headrests. He said that since he was breaking up the set that I would have to pay the $100 for just that.
I was OK with that. What made this whole deal go pear shaped was the price of shipping. I want to say that I was looking at $400 total to pull this off.
I can't justify that.

Plus having so many extra seats and parts I am in the process of taking front headrest seats and putting them in the back seat.
Plenty of write ups on this. I have been playing with it trying to figure out exactly how I want to handle it.
This is an attempt last year to figure it out.


The cool thing is that in anticipation of possibly pulling this off I contacted CoverKing. Explained what I was trying to do and
asked if I could buy 2 more front seat head rest covers. They said not a problem. Think they told $30 each. So I said screw it
and ordered them. Well they sent them and never charged me. I think they treated it as a warranty situation so....
The only thing wrong with this whole idea is if I pull this off I have to cut holes in my CoverKing upper rear seat cover.
And that makes me nervous. Thinking about having that professionally done. Figure they could make a hole, fold the material to make
a hem of sorts, and stitch it all up nice nice. The back leather upright part I don't care about so much cause I have so many extra seat parts.

And cause I don't throw out or sell anything I still have my manual bases from my one piece buckets. Just in case.
Thing is I have so many spare parts that I can keep repairing power seat bases for quite sometime before I have to bail on using them. LOL.

 

So I went to see my guy today and he just said use some crazy glue.
I would just fix that on the seat for me so.....
What did pop into my head was this double sided sewing tape that my mom used to use
way back when. So I poked around and found this:


So once I confirm that the heated seat works will figure out how I am going to handle the slits in the seat.

 

When/if you take the cover off, check the padding underneath for any signs of deterioration. The cover (leather or vinyl) can fold, twist, and stretch more if that padding lost its structure. When the seat cover dries out, that makes it worse. Its like folding a piece of paper after a while. It creases, weakening it. Ive seen leather and vinyl covers somewhat repaired using duct tape on the backside with 'some' success, if thats all one has on hand. I never tried fabric tapes or crazy glue, but the crazy glue doesnt sound like it would hold up. Maybe, dont know. If you replace the cover, keep it conditioned to keep it soft and supple. Dont go overboard with it tho. I avoid the stitching as much as possible. I think i used Meguiars last time out. Works for door panels, too.

 

I do have the cover loose enough to examine some of the foam and did think the cover might be a little.
Loose under the left butt cheek area.
Foam looks OK but looks can be deceiving. Will compare the foam to other pieces I have to say if I notice a difference.
Of course those are used to so....
I can't replace the cover. I mean I could but that would negate what I am trying to do here.
Guessing you don't know how heated seats in an XJ are set up.
The heating element is part of the seat cover. Not a separate pad.