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Honda Accord Seats 2008+

211 messages,  Last post on Sep 22, 2012 at 6:19 AM

You are in the Honda Accord Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Accord, Interior, Coupe, Sedan

Messages Page 18 of 22

#162 of 211 Re: from w75collins again -- no fix works :( [dagem] by mikebike125

May 11, 2011 (1:08 pm)

Replying to: dagem (May 11, 2011 12:37 pm)
Here is the post I made complete with Pictures. This my car and what I did to fix it. It is much better after this fix.
 
Lumbar Lump Fix

#163 of 211 Re: from w75collins again -- no fix works :( [mikebike125] by dagem

May 11, 2011 (4:14 pm)

Replying to: mikebike125 (May 11, 2011 1:08 pm)
Yes, your post inspired me to make some of the changes I did. I was never able to make another wire with the right bends and additional length to use the active head restraints.
 
I just used bailing wire to secure the black plastic plate at the bottom. that maybe why the top wire flexed too much, and allowed the bottom to continue to push against my back.
 
I'm hoping with the replacement (wire rack without the bend) will work like the car seats of old. I'm going to use springs from an old mattress to attach the rack to the frame so it will be firm but still give. I'm thinking that the way the rack is made I can use the original wires to hold it in place so everything works.
 
I meant to ask you mike, did you feel like the seat was too low? I'm 6' and 209 with a little extra around the middle (damn thyroid) and it just feels like the seat is too firm and low.
 
My wife has the car today (thanks honey!) so tomorrow is the day for my changes if the work out I will post pictures and a step by step. As others have said complain to Honda about this seat or nothing will get done or change. Guess it doesn't really help us though does it?

#164 of 211 Re: 2011 Seats + A Fix [tallman1] by npolite

May 12, 2011 (5:40 am)

Replying to: tallman1 (Apr 09, 2011 11:15 am)
I can say when my sister had her 08 (she bought in in 9/07 and traded it in 06/09) with all of the minor issues she had (with 2 failed door actuators) and over the TSB etc recalls, I can remember the seats being very stiff. I don't know what Honda was thinking but they were already stiff enough in our Gen 6 Accord. They really made my back hurt on long trips even in the passenger's side. I don't recline my seat at 45 degree anges but rather at an 85 degree angle. Never had an issue on any previous gen Accord. I'll wait and see what the next gen features if I decide to get another Accord. At the moment it isn't looking good.

#165 of 211 Re: from w75collins again -- no fix works :( [dagem] by mikebike125

May 12, 2011 (5:53 am)

Replying to: dagem (May 11, 2011 4:14 pm)
I don't think the seat is too low (I am 6'-3"), I just think the lumbar lump is too low and too protruding. You're idea about using the springs sounds good as long as they aren't too loose.
 
Just so you know, it took me 3 or 4 times with trial and error to get the new wire bent correctly. I only used a channel lock and an adjustable wrench when I made it (no special tools). I would hold the wire with the adjustable wrench, then grab it with the channel lock and just bend it. You can do it.

#166 of 211 Re: from w75collins again -- no fix works :( [mikebike125] by dagem

May 12, 2011 (10:01 am)

Replying to: mikebike125 (May 12, 2011 5:53 am)
I mention the low stiff seat since my back is hurting in more places than just the lumbar area. I have bad disks L4 & L5 from a previous weight lifting injury doing heavy squats, so I'm sure that's not helping this situation.
 
I did follow your post on the Accord forums step by step, the wire part (even down to the Lowe's tomato cage, maybe here in AZ we have stronger or harder to bend cages?) I just couldn't seem to get right.
 
I had another thought about making an extension for the just the end of the original kind of like the old hook and eye type screen door lock, or hey even better a "hog ring" style half loop and then pinching each end to make sure it doesn't slip off. Looks like I'm heading to Lowe's and maybe an upholstery shop. Wish me luck.
 
I also have the 2.4 EX with no leather, maybe the cloth cushion is firmer than the leather ones?

#167 of 211 Re: from w75collins again -- no fix works :( [mikebike125] by temj12

May 12, 2011 (10:48 am)

Replying to: mikebike125 (May 12, 2011 5:53 am)
Some of you think the previous generation is better. I have an '05 EX-L and I don't think so. If I use the lumbar, the lump is too hard. If I don't use the lumbar, the seat is still uncomfortable. I bought a small pillow and put that at the bottom. I am then comfortable. I read these posts and what you are having to do. Isn't this ridiculous that you would have to do this on an expensive car? Honda does not seem to get messages. They are known for their lack of noise insulation. This gives you a lot of road noise. Also, they are known for their uncomfortable drivers" seats. I can't believe that company, with Honda's good reputation, that would let consistent complaints go like this. What do you want to bet that both of these problems will still be unsolved in the next generation? I would say that the odds are 99.9%.

#168 of 211 Re: from w75collins again -- no fix works :( [temj12] by tallman1

May 13, 2011 (8:09 am)

Replying to: temj12 (May 12, 2011 10:48 am)
Auto seats are like beds: everyone has a different idea how soft/hard they should be. We all have different body measurements so a lumbar support hitting someone too high or too low isn't unusual. That's totally different than the situation people are having with the newest generation and the active head restraints in this forum.
 
Personally, I like the seats in my 06 EX-L. I prefer the firmer seats over the soft couch-like seats I've experienced in other cars. I haven't sat in an 08+ Accord for any length of time so I can't comment on this particular problem.

#169 of 211 Re: from w75collins again -- no fix works :( [tallman1] by mikebike125

May 13, 2011 (8:20 am)

Replying to: tallman1 (May 13, 2011 8:09 am)
Exactly. The 06 seats are really nice. Remember, the 06 seats don't have the active head restraint in them and that is why they are so much better. I sat in my friends 06 and the seats feel really nice compared to my 08.

#170 of 211 Re: from w75collins again -- no fix works :( [tallman1] by npolite

May 13, 2011 (11:31 am)

Replying to: tallman1 (May 13, 2011 8:09 am)
Yeah the seats are much harder compared to the previous gen. I have sat in both for an extended amount of time on the passenger's side and can say it is night and day. The gen 7 and previous had stiff seats but to to what they are in the current gen. After having been in my sister's now traded in 08, I can say I look forward to the seats in a Camry or Altima.
 
I hope that Honda learns from the mistakes it made and goes back to what really makes an Accord an Accord.
 
I have owned Hondas for over 15 years and can say we are getting a Camry this time around.

#171 of 211 Seats by dagem

May 15, 2011 (11:52 am)

Well, my experiment worked, but not well enough. The sink liner was too flat and had no lumbar support at all. I was constantly adjusting my seat just like before anything was done. The springs worked and let the seat move and felt pretty good, but with out any lumber support it just didn't feel right. I guess I could have added foam until it felt right but, I that seemed to hit or miss to attempt.
 
So, I grabbed the last two pieces of my tomato cage and went to work, the second one came out pretty good if I say so myself. I added only about a quarter of an inch to each side, and then just followed mikebike's instruction from the Accord Forums and so far so good. I can move the headrest and feel the seat give, but now the lump is much less noticeable. Right now it seems to be just about perfect, I may need to adjust the additional foam
 
Mike, thanks for the step by step instructions, while my wife could drive the car fine with the seat in the original condition, I could not and you saved me from having to make a hard decision about keeping, trading my wife cars or insurance fraud.... just kidding.
 
I do agree that seat are like mattresses, and everybody finds something different comfortable or liveable. I just wish Honda would have made the "least amount" of lumbar support almost flat.
 
As for other cars vs the Accord, I stopped looking at the Camry after it only got 2 stars on the front passenger seat and the Chevy Malibu when it only got 3 starts for the front passenger seat as well. This car is our primary mode of transportation for myself and my 3 year old daughter and safety was number one on our list, you didn't get 4 starts in every position, you got dropped off the list.
 
Anyway, mike thanks again for the instructions!! Everybody who is having problems with your seat you really need to try his solution.

Messages Page 18 of 22

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