Seat Backrest - Front, Without Fold Flat: Disassembly

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Mercury Milan, 2010 Lincoln MKZ, and 2010 Ford Fusion. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

WARNING: Always carry or place a live air bag module with the air bag and deployment door/trim cover/tear seam pointed away from the body. Do not set a live air bag module down with the deployment door/trim cover/tear seam face down. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury in the event of an accidental deployment.

WARNING: Never probe the electrical connectors on air bag, Safety Canopy® or side air curtain modules. Failure to follow this instruction may result in the accidental deployment of these modules, which increases the risk of serious personal injury or death.

WARNING: If the seat side air bag cover has been damaged or separated from its mounting, or if the air bag material has been exposed, install a new seat side air bag module. Never try to repair the seat side air bag module. Failure to follow these instructions may result in the seat side air bag deploying incorrectly, which increases the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

WARNING: Front seat backrest trim covers installed on seats equipped with seat side air bags cannot be repaired. A new trim cover must be installed. Cleaning is permissible. Failure to follow these instructions may result in the seat side air bag module deploying incorrectly and increase the risk of serious personal injury or death in a crash.

NOTE: If a side air bag deployment took place, a new side air bag module and bolt must be installed. The side air bag module bracket on the backrest frame should be inspected and replaced if necessary.

NOTE: The manual recliners and power recliners are serviced as part of the backrest frame.

All seats

Remove the front seat backrest. For additional information, refer to SEAT BACKREST - FRONT, WITHOUT FOLD FLAT .
Remove the 2 head restraint guide sleeves. For additional information, refer to HEAD RESTRAINT GUIDE SLEEVE .
Detach the side air bag bolt cover.
Remove the bolt and lift up and out to detach the side air bag module from the seat backrest.
NOTE: Note the position of the side air bag module locator hook in the side air bag module bracket (on the seat back frame) for installation.
Slide and disengage the side air bag module electrical connector locking clip, and then release the tab and disconnect the side air bag module electrical connector and remove the side air bag module.
Detach the 2 pin-type retainers and trim cover flaps from the recliners, if equipped.
Disengage the backrest cover lower J-strips, separate the hook-and-loop strips and invert the trim cover up as far as it will go.
NOTE: Use care when separating the backrest cover from the hook-and-loop strip, or the hook-and-loop strip can be torn from the backrest foam pad.
If equipped, remove all rows of hog rings from the backrest trim cover and separate the hook-and-loop strips while inverting the trim cover up the backrest.
Remove the backrest cover rear upper hog rings.
Remove the backrest cover.
If equipped, detach the pin-type retainer and backrest heater mat wiring harness from the backrest frame.
Separate the backrest foam pad from the backrest frame.
- If equipped with climate controlled seats, remove the hog rings from the upper support spring.
- Remove the backrest heater mat (if equipped) or the backrest climate controlled seat manifold (if equipped) from the foam pad.
Remove the backrest climate controlled seat manifold from the foam pad.
If a new heater mat is needed, carefully peel and remove the backrest heater mat from the backrest foam pad.
- It is acceptable for a thin layer of foam to peel away with the old heater mat. The new heater mat will adhere to the foam pad, but if foam tearing occurs or if any pieces of foam are removed, install a new foam pad.
Release the side air bag module wire harness pin-type retainers and remove the side air bag module wiring harness from the backrest frame.
NOTE: Note the side air bag module wire harness routing for assembly.
Release the 2 lumbar spring clips from the backrest frame and remove the lumbar assembly.
- Route out the lumbar cable from the backrest frame, if equipped.
  - Note the routing of the lumbar cable for installation.
- Disconnect the electrical connector from the power lumbar motor, if equipped.
Fig 1: Releasing Lumbar Spring Clips
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Climate controlled seat
Disconnect the Thermo-Electric Device (TED) assembly electrical connector and detach the wiring harness retainers.

Fig 2: Locating Backrest TED Assembly Electrical Connector And Wiring Harness Retainers
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Remove the TED exhaust duct.
- Cut and remove the tie strap.
- Remove the retainer and separate the exhaust duct from the TED .
Disconnect the backrest upper support spring from the backrest frame and remove the spring support with the TED attached.
- Use an appropriate tool and separate the TED from the upper backrest support spring.
- Note the TED position on the support spring for installation.
Seat with power recliner
Remove the one-way push clip on the RH side of the power recliner. Slide the recliner shaft out from the LH side of the seat enough to clear the RH recliner and power recline motor.
Disconnect the electrical connector, remove the bolt and the power recline motor.
All seats
Remove the 2 nuts and side air bag mounting bracket.
Detach any pin-type retainers, route out and remove the wiring harness, if equipped.