Removal & Installation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Mercury Sable and 2003 Ford Taurus. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . Disable air bag system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM . Remove appropriate front seat. See FRONT SEAT . Place seat to be serviced on appropriate work surface.
- From under seat, disconnect power seat and adjustable pedal harness connectors (driver"s seat, if equipped). Pull recliner handle forward and remove. Remove side shield screw that was hidden by recliner handle. Carefully pull out on outer side shield, releasing 2 hidden clips to inner side shield and 2 hidden clips to recliner mechanism.
- Carefully pull out on side of outer side shield, releasing clips on inner side shield and one hidden clip at side of seat cushion frame. Carefully pull forward on side shield, releasing hidden clip at front of seat cushion frame. Slide side shield forward to clear recliner handle and remove side shield while routing wire harness out of seat cushion frame, if equipped.
- From rear of seat on buckle side, release "J" clips at seat cushion trim cover. Pull out and remove manual lumbar adjustment knob, if equipped. From under seat, turn manual lumbar mechanism counterclockwise and separate from seat cushion frame.
- From inside lumbar adjustment mechanism, push screw stop toward center. See Fig 1 . While pushing screw stop toward center, rotate lumbar adjustment mechanism counterclockwise. Screw stop will pass clear of internal stop, releasing manual lumbar adjustment screw. Continue turning lumbar mechanism until cable support comes out. Push screw out far enough to remove cable end. Route cable out from between seat track and seat cushion frame.
- Remove pin-type wire harness retainers from seat cushion frame. Release retaining tab and slide side air bag harness connector off bracket. See Fig 2 . Separate side air bag module harness from underside of seat cushion. From inboard side of seat, remove screw, pivot cover and side air bag module harness retaining clip. Remove seat back pivot bolt.
- From outboard side of seat, remove recliner mechanism-to-seat track bolts and remove seat back with recliner mechanism from seat cushion. Release seat back trim cover lower "J" clips. On Sable models, reach under trim cover and separate Velcro strips. Peal seat back trim cover in an inside-out manner to access lower row of hog rings and remove hog rings.
- On all models, separate Velcro strips and peal seat back trim cover in an inside-out manner to top row of hog rings. Remove pin-type wire harness retainers and separate side air bag module wire harness from seat back frame. Remove side air bag module retaining nuts and remove air bag module.
- To install, reverse removal procedure. If NEW side air bag module is installed, use NEW mounting nuts. Replace any broken pin-type wire harness retainers to ensure correct routing of wire harness. See Fig 2 . Tighten fasteners to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS . Activate air bag system. See ACTIVATING SYSTEM under DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM.