Dismantling of front seats in the car Skoda Octavia Tour A procedure that is often required when cleaning the cabin deeply, replacing upholstery or installing additional equipment. Unlike the more modern models, the platform A4 has its own design features that must be taken into account so as not to damage the body or wiring.
Many owners try to do this work on their own, unaware of hidden bolts or fragile sensor connectors. Incorrect actions can lead to failure of the adjustment mechanisms or errors in the security system. In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step algorithm of actions, tools and important nuances specific to your model.
You will need a set of end heads, a flat screwdriver and, preferably, an assistant, as the seats are Octavia Tour They weigh a lot and have a complex shape. If you are planning a complete dismantling, it is better to prepare a place in advance to accommodate the removed elements so as not to scratch the floor or doors.
Preparing tools and workspace
Before you start work, make sure you have the necessary equipment. A standard set from a garage is often not suitable for seat mounting, as bolts can be specific sizes. You will need end keys of 13 and 15 millimeters, as well as extension cords to access hard-to-reach places.
Also, donβt forget about a medium-thick flat screwdriver and possibly a plastic blade for dismantling decorative linings. If you have a dynamometer key, it will come in handy when you build it back so as not to break the thread, but it is not critical for dismantling.
- π§ End key for 13 mm for fastening of sleds
- π§ 15 mm head for rear anchorage points
- π§ Screwdriver to remove plugs under the seat
- π§ Gloves to protect hands from dirt and sharp edges
It is also important to prepare a place in the garage or on the street. The free space will allow you to push the seat into extreme positions without the risk of hitting the door against the wall or the neighboring car. Octavia Tour It has a long enough seating position that requires additional space.
Pay special attention to the lighting. Under the seat, dirt often accumulates, and without good lighting, you may simply not see the bolts or connectors. Use a portable lamp or flashlight to view the structure from below.
β οΈ Warning: Make sure the car is on a flat surface and is fixed by the parking brake. Seat removal can upset the weight balance, and the car can roll if you accidentally hit the gas pedal with the door open.
Power outage and safety
Modern seats are not just pillows, but complex units with heated, presence sensors and, in some configurations, airbags. V Skoda Octavia Tour The electrical circuit requires caution. If you just unscrew the bolts without turning off the connector, you risk closing the circuit.
The first step is always to shut down the onboard network. This is necessary to avoid short circuits in the harnesses that pass under the seat. It will also prevent accidental airbags from working if they are integrated into the sidewalls of the chair.
Open the hood and find the negative terminal of the battery. Take it off and put it aside. Wait about 10-15 minutes. This time is needed for the capacitors in the control units to discharge, and the system became completely safe.
Don't neglect this stage. Even if you have simple mechanical adjustment, wires from floor sensors or a central lock can pass through the floor, which can be affected by accidental touch with a metal tool.
- π Remove the negative battery terminal
- β±οΈ Wait 15 minutes for the systems to discharge
- π Turn off the connectors under the seat only after the power out
After waiting, you can start accessing the connectors. They are usually under the front or back of the chair, depending on the configuration. You need to gently lift the seat and find a gray or black connector inserted into the socket on the floor.
To turn off the connector, you often need to press the lock. Don't pull the wires! You need to pull behind the plastic case of the connector. If it has been cranked from time to time, sway it slightly from side to side, but without fanaticism, so as not to break the latch.
β οΈ Note: If your car has side airbags, make sure the indicator on the dashboard goes out after the terminal is removed. Working with a passive safety system under voltage is strictly prohibited.
- Yes, there is
- No, just the side rollers.
- I don't know
- There's only one on the driver's side.
Algorithm for removing the slide fastening
When the electricity is turned off, you can move to mechanical dismantling. Sittenia Octavia Tour They are attached to the floor of the car through four points: two in front and two in the rear. The design of the sled may vary slightly depending on the year of production, but the principle has remained unchanged.
First, you need to push the seat to the front to open access to the rear bolts of the mount. Use a 15mm end key to unscrew the rear mount nuts. They are usually located under plastic plugs, which must be pre-set with a screwdriver.
After unscrewing the rear bolts, move the seat to the back. This will open access to the front mounts. A 13 mm head is often used here. Note that the front bolts may be shorter or longer than the rear bolts, remember their location.
In the unscrewing process, you may need to apply force, since bolts often sour from time and reagents. Use a quality penetrating lubricant if the nut does not lend itself, but do it carefully so as not to flood the adjustment mechanism.
βοΈ Dismantling fasteners
It is important not to lose washers and bolts. They may fall into hard-to-reach crevices under the cabin floor. If this happens, use a magnet on a rope or flashlight to find them. Lost bolts can cause problems when re-installation.
Sometimes there may be additional mounting elements under the seat, such as seat belt brackets, which are not removed with the seat. Make sure you unscrew the bolts that hold the base of the chair itself, not the interior elements.
- π© Unscrew the cross-cross bolts for a uniform exit
- 𧲠Prepare a magnet to hold small parts
- πΈ Take a picture of the bolt layout
After all four bolts are unscrewed, the seat should be free. However, do not try to get him out of the car right away. First, check if there are any hooks on the floor or thresholds. Sometimes the carpet can stick to the base of the sled.
Removing the seat from the interior
Now that the chair is fully detached, the stage of its physical extraction begins. Sittenia Skoda Octavia Tour They have a pretty impressive size and weight. Doing this alone is uncomfortable and dangerous for the back, so it is better to call an assistant.
Raise the seat, tilt it forward or backward to fit through the doorway. Be careful not to touch the edges of the door or pillar. The paint on the doors is scratched very easily by hard plastic or metal bases.
If you have a configuration with position memory or complex electronics, be even more careful with the connectors. Even after disconnecting, they may have fragile contacts that break with sudden movements. Hold the seat so that there is no tension on the wires.
It is best to remove the seat when folded, if the design allows it. This will reduce the size and make it easier to maneuver in a narrow opening. However, do not use excessive force to avoid breaking the folding mechanisms.
After removing the driver's seat, repeat the procedure for the passenger's seat. Note that the passenger seat is often lighter weight, but may have different mounting features, especially if it has a tire pressure monitoring system via floor sensors.
Place removed items in a safe place. It's best to place them on a soft surface or cardboard to avoid damaging the upholstery or scratching the garage floor. Make sure they will not fall or be damaged by moisture or dust.
Cleaning and maintaining the floor under the seats
Removing the seats exposes the floor, which is often where dirt, crumbs and moisture accumulate. This is the perfect time for a deep cleaning. Moisture under the seat can lead to metal corrosion or an unpleasant odor in the interior.
Vacuum the floor thoroughly, paying attention to the cracks and places where the slides are attached. Use a nozzle with a narrow nozzle to get dirt out of hard-to-reach places. If there are stains, use special carpet cleaners.
Inspect the wiring that runs under the seat. Make sure there are no chews, cracks or signs of oxidation. If you notice damage, it must be repaired before reinstalling the seats. Ignoring such problems may result in electronic failure.
Also check the condition of the metal fasteners on the floor. If there are traces of rust, treat them with a rust converter and paint them. This will extend the life of the body and prevent further destruction of the metal.
- π§Ή Use a powerful vacuum cleaner with attachments
- π§ͺ Use chemical stain cleaners
- π Inspect wiring and contacts for damage
If you are planning on installing new equipment, such as heated seats or sensors, this is the best time to install new harnesses. The removed seats allow you to freely work with the wiring without the risk of damaging it.
Don't forget to dry the floor after wet cleaning. Leftover moisture under the seat can cause mold and mildew, which can be very difficult to remove. Use a fan or open windows to ventilate the interior.
In some cases, there may be additional control units or fuses located under the seat. Be careful not to damage them when cleaning. If you don't know what's underneath the carpet, don't open it unless necessary.
Installation and reassembly
The process of installing the seats back is a mirror image of dismantling, but requires more care. First you need to put the seat in place, level it and make sure that it is level with the floor.
Insert the bolts into the holes and tighten them by hand so as not to distort the threads. Once all the bolts are inserted, use a socket wrench to tighten them. Tighten the bolts in a criss-cross pattern to ensure the slide rests evenly on the floor.
After mechanical fixation, connect the electrical connectors. Make sure they are inserted until they click into place. If the connector has a lock, check that it is locked. Connection errors may result in the heating or airbags not working.
Replace the plastic plugs and decorative trims. They protect the bolts from dirt and moisture, and also improve the appearance of the interior. Make sure the plugs are tight and not loose.
Only after the seats have been completely installed and all connectors have been checked can the battery be connected. Remove the terminal, connect the negative one and wait a few seconds. Check the operation of all seat functions: adjustment, heating, position memory.
If an error light appears on your dashboard, don't panic. This may be because the security system has not yet initialized the sensors. Try driving a few kilometers or resetting the error through the diagnostic scanner.
If you don't have a torque wrench, hand-tighten them all the way, but don't use long levers to avoid stripping the threads. The tightening torque for the seat mounting bolts is 45 Nm and must not be exceeded.
| Parameter | Meaning | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Front bolt size | M8 (13 mm key) | Socket wrench |
| Rear bolt size | M10 (15mm wrench) | Socket wrench |
| Tightening torque | 45 Nm | Torque wrench |
| Mounting type | Guide slides | Hand tools |
Check the functionality of all systems before driving. Make sure the seats do not wobble and are securely in place. Any play can cause injury during sudden braking or turning.
If you have difficulty tightening the bolts, check for dirt or corrosion. Clean the threads and try again. Do not use excessive force to avoid damaging the vehicle floor.
β οΈ Caution: Incorrectly tightened bolts may cause the seat to come off in an accident. This is a direct threat to the life of the driver and passengers. Make sure all fasteners are tightened securely.
Common mistakes and ways to prevent them
When removing seats, owners often make the same mistakes. One of the most common is trying to remove the seat without disconnecting the battery. This can lead to short circuits and failure of electronic components.
Another mistake is using the wrong tool. Wrenches that are too small or large can tear off the edges of the bolts, making further dismantling or installation impossible without drilling. Always use a quality tool.
Plastic plugs are also often forgotten. Without them, the bolts will quickly rust, and next time it will be much more difficult to remove the seat. Always reinstall the plugs immediately after tightening the bolts.
Do not attempt to remove the seat without checking for hidden fasteners. Some modifications may have additional bolts or latches that are not immediately visible. Inspect the structure from all sides before starting work.
- β Disconnecting the battery before use
- β Using the wrong tool
- β Ignoring plastic plugs
- β Failure to check hidden fasteners
Another mistake is incorrectly installing the seat. If the chair is crooked, this can cause discomfort when riding and increased wear on the mechanisms. Always make sure the installation is level before tightening the bolts.
Don't forget about the weight of the seats. You need to lift them with a straight back, using your legs. Otherwise, you can damage your lower back, especially if you do it alone. Take care of your health.
If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to entrust the work to professionals. Improper dismantling can lead to serious consequences, which will cost much more than the services of a specialist.
Do I need to reset errors after installing the seats?
In most cases, after correct installation and connection of the connectors, the system itself will reset the errors after several ignition cycles. If the error persists, diagnostics via an OBDII scanner may be required.
Can seats be removed if there are airbags?
Yes, you can, but only after you must disconnect the battery and wait 15 minutes for the capacitors to discharge. It is dangerous to work on the passive restraint system while it is energized.
How long does it take to remove the two front seats?
For an experienced master, this takes about 30-40 minutes. For a beginner, the process can take from 1 to 1.5 hours, including time to find a tool and study the design.
What to do if the bolts are stuck?
Treat the mounting areas with a penetrating lubricant (for example, WD-40) and give it time to work (15-20 minutes). Use a quality tool and try to wiggle the wrench to break up the layer of corrosion.
Can I use seats from another Skoda model?
It depends on the year of release and platform. Seats from Octavia Tour May not fit newer models due to differences in mounting and electronics. Be sure to check compatibility before installation.