[MrCreosote]

Scouring Pick-n-Pull for wheel arch metal and find a Limited with Black leather Interior.

I think I'm going to get the seats, but not the door panels - it's a slippery slope regarding everything that is upgraded. The dash really looks fine with better finish on the controls. (obviously dash is out of the question.) I must hand it to them, the gussied up interior is garish but appealing.

Since I was going to have the driver's bucket foam redone (or find a PnP seat), I'm thinking I might as well get the leather.

 

[RazoE]

Did it have seat heaters? Going to attempt those, if so?

 

[MrCreosote]

Did it have seat heaters? Going to attempt those, if so?

I wish I had a parts manual and wiring diagrams not to mention the FSM.

My concern is that the Limited leather maybe has different electrical components than the XLT. Anything is possible.

Also wondering if the L & R bucket seat bottoms and backs are interchangeable. My L seat bottom has weak LH bolster foam - if I could swap with R seat would be perfect solution.

 

[MrCreosote]

I'm going to pass on the seats. Seems that they are vinyl w/leather where you actually sit on them. The rear seats I think are all vinyl. Initially I thought they were 100% leather.

 

[RazoE]

I'm going to pass on the seats. Seems that they are vinyl w/leather where you actually sit on them. The rear seats I think are all vinyl. Initially I thought they were 100% leather.

Shame. Mercury Mariners would probably have real leather.

 

[Charles]

Shame. Mercury Mariners would probably have real leather.

Limited trim Escapes might have leather as well. XLT trim is usually cloth.

 

[MrCreosote]

Shame. Mercury Mariners would probably have real leather.

Good point, what trim?

Limited trim Escapes might have leather as well. XLT trim is usually cloth.

Yes, it was (2) Limiteds that had the leather.
_

The problem is going to be the rear seat headrests. There is no place to store them so most people remove them from the vehicle. So when it is wrecked, they are missing.

Also, were heated seats ever an option? if yes, where would the control have been? (probably too difficult to hook up due to control and wiring. But if 12V, home made wiring and switch could be added. Some people love them, I'd much rather have the heated steering wheel (!) )

 

[RazoE]

Heated seats were definitely an option. The buttons were on the climate control panel. Of course there are many different versions, so it might be a hit or miss on having the proper wiring already installed.

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[MrCreosote]

I'm having 2nd thoughts about NOT getting the Limited front leather buckets only - I was turned off by the headrests missing in both Limiteds in the junkyard.

Since "Leather" was only available in the fronts and the rears were just vinyl, leaving the cloth rears would actually make sense.

Since my driver's bottom outboard bolster foam is weak, I need to do something. The Limited buckets would be a solution.

I must not procrastinate, both limiteds are in the same P&P row and the way they operate, entire rows are crushed at a time - so both would disappear at the same time.

 

[Skeletoes]

I'm having 2nd thoughts about NOT getting the Limited front leather buckets only - I was turned off by the headrests missing in both Limiteds in the junkyard.

Since "Leather" was only available in the fronts and the rears were just vinyl, leaving the cloth rears would actually make sense.

Since my driver's bottom outboard bolster foam is weak, I need to do something. The Limited buckets would be a solution.

I must not procrastinate, both limiteds are in the same P&P row and the way they operate, entire rows are crushed at a time - so both would disappear at the same time.

Do it! And the rear seats too, how much could a pair of headrests costs on rockauto or ebay?

 

[MrCreosote]

I know what you mean, especially when the "headrest thing" is OCD on my part since I'd never have a use for them and am pissed there is no place to store the one's I have! NOTE: While leather has always been a top auto option, I returned a top grain leather recliner to Sam's Club because it was simply too uncomfortable in that it does not breath like fabric.

I even found a better set in an 08 Mariner Premier from which I removed the entire Audiophile Sound System. (Now I'm wallowing in AsBuilt ACM settings and whether the system will work in my 10 XLT - the FSM says when the ACM is replaced, it has to have it's AsBuilt parameter settings changed to match the old unit. It's also possible the ACM is the same and that only AB settings need to be changed for the presence of the sub and also equalization changes.)

 

[Skeletoes]

Doesn't the as built require a key or code from the original to program it into the new vehicle?

 

[Mountain Escape]

I know what you mean, especially when the "headrest thing" is OCD on my part since I'd never have a use for them and am pissed there is no place to store the one's I have! NOTE: While leather has always been a top auto option, I returned a top grain leather recliner to Sam's Club because it was simply too uncomfortable in that it does not breath like fabric.

I even found a better set in an 08 Mariner Premier from which I removed the entire Audiophile Sound System. (Now I'm wallowing in AsBuilt ACM settings and whether the system will work in my 10 XLT - the FSM says when the ACM is replaced, it has to have it's AsBuilt parameter settings changed to match the old unit. It's also possible the ACM is the same and that only AB settings need to be changed for the presence of the sub and also equalization changes.)

from what I understand, seats are only leather on the face, because there are airbags in the side bolsters or something, so the vinyl or fabric needs to rip out when deployed

it is easy to repair what you have, you can YouTube a video on how to take upholstery off of a seat, and reinstall it.
Then you just need to go to a hobby store and get yourself some dense cell polyurethane foam… Or something to supplement what has collapsed

 

[MrCreosote]

Doesn't the as built require a key or code from the original to program it into the new vehicle?

I'm new to this AB stuff. But the Ford site said the AB data from the old ACM should be "inhaled" (into the scan tool I guess) and if not available, use the VIN AB data. I have the VIN from the 08 ACM and it has something like 4 addresses. My 10 XLT has about 10. So I don't know what's up until I get the definition of the code values.

All this may be CAN bus stuff. Like the dash display above the console. At startup it says Ford Escape - I'll bet the Mariner ACM would say Mercury Mariner. Someone said if the Sirius module was no connected, everything would work but there would be a CAN bus error code.

More investigation is required on my part.

 

[MrCreosote]

from what I understand, seats are only leather on the face, because there are airbags in the side bolsters or something, so the vinyl or fabric needs to rip out when deployed

it is easy to repair what you have, you can YouTube a video on how to take upholstery off of a seat, and reinstall it.
Then you just need to go to a hobby store and get yourself some dense cell polyurethane foam… Or something to supplement what has collapsed

That explains a lot why seats are not 100% leather. However circumstances have put the leather upgrade on the back burner of the stove in the shed. Part of the problem I have is NO ROOM and if I took the OE seats out, I'd probably have to give them away or scrap them. I'm so behind in chores, this leather upgrade is unlikely now even if I got the seats for next to nothing.

Dangerous???

You raise a good point about possible bolster bags. The front seat is offset away from the door resulting in a sitting position on top of the left seat bottom bolster. If there is a bag under the seat and one is sitting on top of it, that could lead to injury if it went off.

 

[Mountain Escape]

That explains a lot why seats are not 100% leather. However circumstances have put the leather upgrade on the back burner of the stove in the shed. Part of the problem I have is NO ROOM and if I took the OE seats out, I'd probably have to give them away or scrap them. I'm so behind in chores, this leather upgrade is unlikely now even if I got the seats for next to nothing.

Dangerous???

You raise a good point about possible bolster bags. The front seat is offset away from the door resulting in a sitting position on top of the left seat bottom bolster. If there is a bag under the seat and one is sitting on top of it, that could lead to injury if it went off.

According to the seat covers which I purchased, the side curtain airbags are in the seat back, and the b pillar, not the seat bottom.
Only pranksters put an airbag underneath someone's seat... or James Bond ( :
Airbags definitely hurt people when they go off, deploying at over something like 200 mph, but they keep you alive.
It is why they say no children in front seats.

 

[Mountain Escape]

The front seat is offset away from the door resulting in a sitting position on top of the left seat bottom bolster.

Now I am curious, there is not a whole Lotta room to move around the seats in the vehicle cabin… I would lift your carpet and see if the seat frame mounting brackets have been moved.
You shouldn't be so offset that you were sitting on the side bolster. My seats only had maybe a1/2 inch between them and the center consul/armrest… I don't know how offset it could be?
I had an old Volkswagen the foam rotted out in, when I lifted the cover, I just stuck a cheap throw pillow on top of the springs… Upholstery is easy to fix.

I am confused on your storage problem, if you switch out to premium seats, why would you keep the old ones? Put the new ones in your bedroom until you yank out the old ones, then throw away the old ones.
it should only take an afternoon, make sure you are kind to the electrical plugs, there's usually a release so you don't have to break them

 

[MrCreosote]

Now I am curious, there is not a whole Lotta room to move around the seats in the vehicle cabin… I would lift your carpet and see if the seat frame mounting brackets have been moved.
You shouldn't be so offset that you were sitting on the side bolster. My seats only had maybe a1/2 inch between them and the center consul/armrest… I don't know how offset it could be?
I had an old Volkswagen the foam rotted out in, when I lifted the cover, I just stuck a cheap throw pillow on top of the springs… Upholstery is easy to fix.

I am confused on your storage problem, if you switch out to premium seats, why would you keep the old ones? Put the new ones in your bedroom until you yank out the old ones, then throw away the old ones.
it should only take an afternoon, make sure you are kind to the electrical plugs, there's usually a release so you don't have to break them

OFFSET: There is a significant gap between the seat edge and the door panel, the gap at the console is very small which is sort of ironic because it makes reaching the seat belt clasp difficult.

I was thinking if you move the driver 1in. away from the door panel, it may have a significant improvement in crash rating. But if you are a big person, that doesn't work because you are sitting on top of the bottom cushion bolsters rather than being side supported by them.

The leather upgrade is not going to happen. Too behind in critical chores. Head injury from car crash 1.5 years ago is slowing me down big time.

 

[Mountain Escape]

OFFSET: There is a significant gap between the seat edge and the door panel, the gap at the console is very small which is sort of ironic because it makes reaching the seat belt clasp difficult.

I was thinking if you move the driver 1in. away from the door panel, it may have a significant improvement in crash rating. But if you are a big person, that doesn't work because you are sitting on top of the bottom cushion bolsters rather than being side supported by them.

The leather upgrade is not going to happen. Too behind in critical chores. Head injury from car crash 1.5 years ago is slowing me down big time.

My best wishes towards your recovery, my friend