Seat Backrest - Front, Without Fold Flat: Disassembly

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Mercury Milan, 2009 Lincoln MKZ, and 2009 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 air bag warning lamp illuminates when the correct restraints control module (RCM) fuse is removed and the ignition switch is ON.

NOTE: The supplemental restraint system (SRS) must be fully operational and free of faults before releasing the vehicle to the customer.

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

NOTE: Driver seat shown, passenger seat similar.

All seats

Remove the front seat. For additional information, refer to Seat - Front .
Remove the front seat backrest. For additional information, refer to Seat Backrest - Front, Without Fold Flat .
Detach the side air bag bolt cover.

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.

Remove the bolt and lift up and out to detach the side air bag module from the seat backrest.
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.

CAUTION: Use care when separating the backrest trim cover from the hook-and-loop strip, or the hook-and-loop strip can be torn from the backrest foam pad.

Release the outer and inner backrest trim cover lower J-clips and partially invert the trim cover to the hook-and-loop strips.

Fig 1: Locating Outer And Inner Backrest Trim Cover Lower J-Clips

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

NOTE: The head restraint guides are not interchangeable. Note location for installation.

Reach up into the backrest and squeeze the head restraint guide ends together to release. Pull the 2 head restraint guides out of the backrest frame.

Fig 2: Removing Head Restraint Guides From Backrest Frame

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

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 backrest foam pad.

Remove all rows of hog rings from the backrest trim cover, if equipped and separate the hook-and-loop strips while inverting the trim cover up the backrest.
Remove the rear upper hog rings and backrest trim cover.

Heated seat

Detach pin-type retainer and backrest heater mat wiring harness from the backrest frame.

All seats

Separate the backrest foam pad from the backrest frame.
- If equipped with climate controlled seats, remove the hog rings from the upper support spring.
- If necessary, remove the backrest heater mat (if equipped) or the backrest climate controlled seat manifold (if equipped) from the foam pad.

NOTE: Note the side air bag module wire harness routing for assembly.

Release the side air bag module wire harness pin-type retainers and remove the side air bag module wiring harness from the backrest frame.
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 3: Releasing Lumbar Spring Clips

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

Climate controlled seat

Disconnect the backrest thermo-electric device (TED) assembly electrical connector and detach the wiring harness retainers.

Fig 4: Locating Backrest TED Assembly Electrical Connector And Wiring Harness Retainer

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.

NOTE: Note the TED position on the support spring for installation. If needed, use an appropriate tool and separate the TED from the upper backrest support spring.

Disconnect the backrest upper support spring from the backrest frame and remove the spring support with the TED attached.

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.