Has anyone installed new leather on just one of your seats. I rarely have a passenger so that side is fine. I have a '98, with black interior, that is a daily driver with 48k miles now and the side bolster is worn fairly well. I was thinking of replacing only the driver side. I understand that the new model has vinyl. Can you tell the difference side by side? I've looked at an '01 and they surfaces seem the same.

 

The only problem I can think of is that the seats wont match... if you can match them good luck... if not why not get both done ...

 

I replaced the driver's side only gray sport seat on my 98. Even cusory inspection made it clear the seats were a little different but a lot better that the wear and cracking on the original.

Fit on the new leather can be an issue, May have some puckers on the seating surface and back. You shold ensure the seat foam padding is replaced as part of the deal; I did not know to insist on this. Were I to have done so, fewer puckers would have resulted. Even so, the buyer of the car, a fairly picky guy, was not put off by the results. Email me if you want an after-pic of the installed replacement seat cover.

Ranger


[Modified by Ranger, 8:05 AM 9/17/2001]

 

I have a 99.. I just replaced mine..for the same reason..although i had mine replaced under warranty. I did the fix myself.. I have black sports seats... and replaced the drivers side.. it was not hard to do... and I was also worried about the visual difference.. I was plesantly surprised.. MY passengers seat looks perfect..... and the vinyl seat look very similar. I bought wet Okole seat covers to protect the seats...

 

I'm having some wear issues on both sides.
What is a good way to pursue this under warranty?
How could I get both sides replaced?

 

Excessive wear to the leather seating surfaces is a standard warranty issue. A TSB was issued covering all C5s pre-2001 (I believe). My servicing dealer said it had replaced a bunch under warranty. So there was no reluctance to repalce the drver's seat on my 1998 in Nov 2000, just a few day before its 3/36 bumper-to-bumber warranty expired.

Ranger


[Modified by Ranger, 8:13 AM 9/17/2001]

 

Thanks. What would excessive wear 'look' like? Excessive to the dealer??

 

My driver's seat left front corner had developed a lot of cracks that had gone nearly all the way through. As soon as the wear is through the surface replacement is necessary. Probably can occur with something less than that if you have a good relationship with your dealer. FWIW, I wouldn't replace the leather until near expiration of the 3/36 warranty.

Ranger


[Modified by Ranger, 8:14 AM 9/17/2001]

 

Mike, If the seat material is cracking or has a split they will replace under warranty, I had this done on my 2000 when it had about 6,000 miles on the clock. They only replace the defective part not the whole seat, ie just the side bolster. :seeya


[Modified by Steve-O, 1:25 PM 9/17/2001]

 

The dealer has a lot of discretion as to what needs replacing, particularly to maintain color match within the seat. In my case they decided to replace the entire seat/back covering. Just must be sure to insist that the underlying foam padding should be replaced also to minimize puckering of the new surfaces.

Ranger

 

Black shouldn't be too difficult to match. The new covers do have vinyl bolsters, but that doesn't mean a dealer will replace the whole seat cover. I've heard of them sending your cover to a trim shop to have just the bolster repaired.

I can't wait for mine to completely wear out, so I can get the entire seat recovered with higher grade leather in a custom pattern.

 

Here's the TSB - I had the dealer replace both seat covers at about 8500 miles as the drivers seat started to look bad. The passenger seat was PERFECT but he did both because the new covers have much more felt padding. My base seats look and feel so much better. Get it done under warranty ASAP. Good luck.

Premature Wear of Leather Material on Bucket Seatback Bolster (Replace Cover) #99-08-50-010
Premature Wear of Leather Material on Bucket Seatback Bolster (Replace Seatback Cover)

1997-99 Chevrolet Corvette

Built Prior to VIN Breakpoint X5116322



Condition
Some customers may comment that there appears to be premature wear of the leather material on the driver's or passenger bucket seatback in the bolster area.



Correction
Replace the seatback leather cover with a new cover that has additional felt added to the backside of the leather to increase durability. Also, the leather material in the bolster area has been changed to a more durable vinyl material. For information on replacing the seatback cover, see Service Manual Update Bulletin #99-08-50-002.



Parts Information
Part Number Description Color/RPO Seat Type/RPO
12455509 Cover Asm, Seatback - Driver Black (193) Base (AR9)
12455510 Cover Asm, Seatback - Driver Red (943) Base (AR9)
12455511 Cover Asm, Seatback - Driver Pewter (923) Base (AR9)
12455512 Cover Asm, Seatback - Driver Light Oak (673) Base (AR9)
12455521 Cover Asm, Seatback - Driver Black (193) Sport (AQ9)
12455522 Cover Asm, Seatback - Driver Red (943) Sport (AQ9)
12455523 Cover Asm, Seatback - Driver Pewter (923) Sport (AQ9)
12455524 Cover Asm, Seatback - Driver Light Oak (673) Sport (AQ9)
12455515 Cover Asm, Seatback - Passenger Black (193) Base (AR9)
12455516 Cover Asm, Seatback - Passenger Red (943) Base (AR9)
12455517 Cover Asm, Seatback - Passenger Pewter (923) Base (AR9)
12455518 Cover Asm, Seatback - Passenger Light Oak (673) Base (AR9)
124555527 Cover Asm, Seatback - Passenger Black (193) Sport (AQ9)
12455528 Cover Asm, Seatback - Passenger Red (943) Sport (AQ9)
12455529 Cover Asm, Seatback - Passenger Pewter (923) Sport (AQ9)
12455530 Cover Asm, Seatback - Passenger Light Oak (673) Sport (AQ9)


Parts are currently available from GMSPO.



Warranty Information
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:

Labor Operation Description Labor Time
C7050 Cover and/or Pad, Front Seatback Cushion - Left (Driver's w/Base Seat) 0.3 hr
C7050 Cover and/or Pad, Front Seatback Cushion - Left (Driver's w/Sport Seat) 0.4 hr
C7051 Cover and/or Pad, Front Seatback Cushion - Right (Passenger w/Base Seat) 0.3 hr
C7051 Cover and/or Pad, Front Seatback Cushion - Right (Passenger w/Sport Seat) 0.4 hr
Policy: S - Additional 0.3 hr if the vehicle is delivered to and from the repair location.

Cheers

Tom
USAF Retired

 

AFVETTE;

Do you think I can convince my dealership to replace the seats under warrantee even with 48k on the odometer? I do have the extended 5yr/60k warrantee. Just feel funny asking after 3 years & 48k miles.

 

The repair bulletin spells out the part # for the fix... the fix included a complete new back seat covering less the center piece.. ( The back has two seperate pieces)the whole cover is made of very High quality vinyl the area that wears has been reenforced ( beefed up on the inside)... I have black seats and was skeptical about the vinyl.., But after it was installed I was very inpressed with the quality..

 

Part of the reason I put on the Wet Okole seat covers.............

Protection and all that

 

I doubt it - but can't hurt to try. Good luck.

Tom