Replace Manual Lumbar Support

[ZO6_Vette]

I was in the passenger seat when the lumbar support went pop and there you have it.

What crap!!! 19K miles on the truck FORD PLEASE!!!!

How pain in the arse is it to remove the seat cover on an Explorer.

 

[bojans]

My power drive lumbar went out 2x, once under warranty and the next time so much... You need to pull the seat to get the cover off (at least for the drive side).

 

[Gumbel]

Explorer manual lumbar support

My manual lumbar support broke once while my 2005 Explorer was under warranty. Dealer replaced it, but it broke again within another year when it was out of warranty. I've been driving it for a couple years without the lumbar support. I have to do a lot of driving over the next few weeks so I decided to finally take the seat apart and see what's going on. What I found was a plastic accordion-like piece that contracts when the cable is tightened. The cable runs through the middle of the flat accordion (plastic lumbar support assembly) and the swaged end of the cable is clipped into the far side of the accordion. On my Explorer the end of the accordion where the swaged end of the cable was supposed to be had broken off from the rest of the accordion. I put the end of the cable back in it's holder in the broken accordion piece then zip-tied the broken piece back to the remainder of the accordion. Works like new. I also see how mine broke twice. Bad design. If the replacement assembly is the same as the one that's in my 2005 I wouldn't waste money buying one. I think it's extremely unlikely that the cable would ever break on these assemblies. I'll be that it's the plastic assembly in the seat back 100% of the time. You just have to disconnect the seat back cover and pull it up about 18 inches to see the lumbar support on the back of the seat. Look on the left side of the accordion and see if the plastic is broken and the swaged end of the cable is hanging free. If so, turn the lumbar support knob so the lumbar support is in the full down position (so there's slack in the cable), put the swaged end of the cable back where it should be in the broken-off piece and zip-tie that piece back to the rest of the assembly. If mine fails over the next few weeks of driving I'll post that I patted myself on the back too soon, but my bet is that it will last as long as this Explorer does.

 

[edwx]

Thanks for the info. Mine broke last year and I haven't done anything with it yet. You might have inspired me.

 

[Gumbel]

Explorer manual lumbar support (again)

When my 200 lb 6'5" son drove my Explorer the lumbar support broke again (shortly after I had fixed it per my last post). The poorly designed plastic accordion broke on the right side this time. I zip-tied that side of the accordion to the seat back frame and I have my lumbar support back again. I won't make any guesses about how long it will last this time. My son also has a 2005 Explorer, but with the power lumbar support.

 

[kingsman152]

lumbar repair

I've GOT to repair mine, my back is starting to kill me. However I have rather lousy luck; how does one take the seat covers off on a 2006 Explorer (not leather) without ruining the cover/upholstry?

 

[ssrobzoom]

I have a 2004 Exlorer and my lumbar support has also broke. Does anyone know the part number for the replacement lumbar support part?

Thanks, in advance.

 

[edwx]

Just my own update. Mine broke forever ago and as of this date I can't think of anything less important to fix. I use a pillow if necessary.....my .02 worth.

 

[ninobrn99]

Ive been using a pillow. I never knew what the knob was for. I think I may tackle it this weekend because long trips have killed my back!

Nino

 

[Jim90069]

Repair lumbar support

Re: Manual lumbar support. If the Explorer is like my 2000 Lincoln Continental, I am having the same problem. You mentioned removing the upholstery. DON'T DO THAT!! My problem was the cable coming unhooked on the lumbar spring. It's fixed through the BACK of the seat back. Pull the panel off and voila....there it is in all it's glory. I'm still trying to (1) pull the cable to the hole that it goes to, while (2) pulling the lumbar springs closer to the cable, while (3) holding the flashlight to see what I'm doing. So doing three things, all requiring hands, and only having two of those, I have to, as my youngest brother always says, "Eyeball it" and try to come up with another way to attach the cable. The lumbar support hasn't worked on that seat for years, but in the very near future....not today....I will have it working again. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Good luck....

 

[HyOnLyph]

Re: Manual lumbar support. If the Explorer is like my 2000 Lincoln Continental, I am having the same problem. You mentioned removing the upholstery. DON'T DO THAT!! ..

The Explorer and Sport Trac do not have the same plastic back that some trucks and cars do. So you do have to lift up the upholstery.....

 

[09 EX 4x4]

On my 07 Sport Trac manual lumbar broke and didn't want to unplug the seat due to the air bag and didn't want to pull up the seat cover so only choice was to cut a hole in the seat back. Bought some fiber fill at Michael's and stuffed it in front of the lumbar plastic. After looking at it realized the plastic came off at the left side. There is a hole in the metal frame on the left so zip tied the plastic to the metal and it works. Going to leave the fiber fill in for awhile. I like a lot of lumbar support and it may soften the impact and prevent it from breaking again. Will sew it back up after I drive around awhile. Use latex gloves there are some sharp parts in there that will cut your hands like a razor. If you just want to zip tie it you could make a small cut on the left side big enough to get your hand in there and install the zip tie