2002 Ford EXPLORER

Submodel: | Engine Type: V6 | Liters: 4.0

Fuel Delivery: FI | Fuel: GAS

SECTION 501-10: Seating

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

2002 Explorer/Mountaineer Workshop Manual

Procedure revision date: 10/30/2003

Front Seat Backrest

Removal
WARNING: Always wear safety glasses when repairing an air bag supplemental restraint system (SRS) vehicle and when handling an air bag module. This will reduce
the risk of injury in the event of an accidental deployment.
WARNING: The safety belt pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device. Always wear safety glasses when repairing an air bag equipped vehicle and when handling a safety
belt buckle pretensioner or safety belt retractor pretensioner. Never probe a pretensioner electrical connector. Doing so could result in pretensioner or air bag
deployment and could result in personal injury.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of personal injury, do not use any memory saver devices.
NOTE: If a seat equipped with a seat mounted side air bag and/or a safety belt pretensioner (if equipped) system is being serviced, the supplemental restraint system (SRS) must
be depowered.
NOTE: The air bag warning lamp illuminates when the RCM fuse is removed and the ignition switch is ON. This is normal operation and does not indicate a supplemental restraint system
(SRS) fault.
NOTE: The SRS must be fully operational and free of faults before releasing the vehicle to the customer.
NOTE: Sport Bucket is shown, other seat styles are similar.
All vehicles
1.

Position the front seat to gain access to all four mounting bolts.

2.

Depower the SRS. For additional information, refer to Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Depowering and Repowering in the General Procedures portion of Section 501-20B.

3.

Remove the affected seat. For additional information, refer to Front Seat, in this section.

4.

Pry off the recliner handle and clip (if equipped).

5.

Remove the lumbar control knob and the seat backrest recliner lever.

6.

Remove the screws at the lumbar adjust mechanism.

7.

Remove the rear trim screw.

8.

Remove the lower trim screw.

9.

Release the side trim front retaining clip.

10.

1.

Pull the lumbar mechanism out slightly from the seat.

2.

Push down and pull out, releasing the side trim front retaining clip.

CAUTION: Take care when removing the side trim cover. Excessive force will break the mounting tabs.
Release the side trim from the mounting bracket.

11.

12.

Disconnect the seat control switch electrical connector.

NOTE: Make note if the seat control switch wire harness routing to aid in installation.
Disconnect the heated seat switch.
Remove the seat side trim panel.

13.

Remove the two safety belt pretensioner bolts. Release the pretensioner from the seat.

Vehicles with heated seats

14.

Disconnect the backrest cushion heater mat.

All vehicles
15.

Remove the outboard and rear seat backrest pivot trim cover screws. (Outboard screw is shown.)

16.

Release the seat backrest cover J-clip.

17.

CAUTION: Use care when separating the seat backrest cushion covering from the hook and loop fasteners to avoid tearing the fastener off the seat foam.
Release the hook and loop fasteners and pull up the backrest covering.
If supplied, retain the plastic liner for reinstallation.

18.

Remove the lumbar control cable from the lumbar control knob.

19.

Remove the seat backrest. Drive out the two backrest roll pins and discard them. Remove the two backrest bolts and discard them. Lift off the backrest frame.

Installation

All vehicles
1.

Position the seat backrest frame on the seat cushion frame. Install the two new backrest bolts. Install two new backrest roll pins.

2.

Attach the lumbar control cable to the lumbar control knob.

3.

Pull the backrest covering down over the seat cushion foam.
If supplied, pull the plastic liner over the cushion foam.

4.

Attach the seat backrest trim cover J-strips.

5.

Install the outboard and rear seatback pivot trim cover screws. (Outboard screw shown.)

Vehicles with heated seats

6.

Route the wire harness and connect the backrest heated pad element electrical connector.

All vehicles
7.

Route the seat control switch wire harness as noted in the removal portion of this section and connect the electrical connector.

8.

Connect the heated seat switch.

9.

Position the side trim to the seat and engage the side trim front retaining clip.

10.

CAUTION: Take care when installing the side trim cover. Excessive force will break the mounting tabs.
Attach the side trim to the mounting bracket.

11.

Install the seat side trim lower mounting screw.

12.

Install the rear mounting screw.

13.

Install the screws at the lumbar adjust mechanism.

14.

15.

Install the clip onto the recliner handle (if equipped).

NOTE: Verify that the switch harness is routed and retained correctly.
Install the lumbar control knob and the seat backrest recliner handle.

16.

Install the front seat. For additional information, refer to Front Seat, in this section.

17.

Repower the SRS. For additional information, refer to Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Depowering and Repowering in the General Procedures portion of Section 501-20B.