Tesla Model 3: Foam - Backrest - Driver Seat (Remove and Replace)

Foam - Backrest - Driver Seat (Remove and Replace) - Remove

Remove

1. Remove the driver seat. See Seat - Driver (Remove and Replace).
2. Remove the driver headrest trim. See Trim - Headrest - Driver (Remove and Replace).
3. Remove the side outer cover from the driver seat. See Cover - Outer Side - Driver Seat (Remove and Install).
4. Release the clips that attach the inner side shield to the seat, and then pull the shield back to remove the shield from the seat.
5. Remove the seat back shell from the seat. See Shell - Seat Back - Driver (Remove and Replace).
6. Unhook the lower flaps that cover the LH and RH lower corners of the seat back frame.
7. Unhook the upper flaps that cover the LH and RH lower corners of the seat back frame.

8. Release the clips that attach the outboard side of the seat back cover to the seat back frame, and then expose the air bag connector.

9. Disconnect the electrical harness from the side airbag connector.

10. Remove and discard the nuts that attach the side airbag to the seat back frame, and then pull the studs of the airbag out of the frame.   Torque 5.4 Nm

11. Disconnect the electrical harness from the recliner motor connector.

12. Disconnect the electrical harness from the ECU connector.

13. Disconnect the electrical harness from the lumbar pump connector.

14. Release the clips that attach the electrical harness to the seat frame, and then remove the electrical harness from the seat frame.

15. Disconnect the electrical harness from the seat heater connectors.

16. Release the clips that attach the seat heater connectors to the seat underside, and then separate the connectors from the seat underside.

17. Release the clips that attach the backrest foam to the seat back frame.

Note: Release the clips at the bottom and work up.

18. Remove the bottom of the backrest foam from the seat back frame, and then lift the foam straight up and off the frame.
19. Remove the driver side airbag from the pocket within the seatback cover.

Note: Make sure that the driver side airbag mounting studs do not catch in the holes of the pocket.

Foam - Backrest - Driver Seat (Remove and Replace) - Install

Install

1. Install the driver side airbag into the pocket within the seatback cover.

Note: Make sure that the driver side airbag mounting studs extend out of the holes of the pocket.

2. Install the backrest foam down onto the seat back frame, and then install the bottom of the foam into the frame.

3. Fasten the clips that attach the backrest foam to the seat back frame

Note: Fasten the clips at the top and work down.

4. Install the seat heater connectors to the seat underside, and then fasten the clips that attach the connectors to the seat underside.

5. Connect the electrical harness to the seat heater connectors.

6. Install the electrical harness to the seat frame, and then fasten the clips that attach the electrical harness to the seat frame.

7. Connect the electrical harness to the lumbar pump connector.

8. Connect the electrical harness to the ECU connector.

9. Connect the electrical harness to the recliner motor connector.

10. Install the side airbag to the seat frame, and then install new nuts to attach the airbag to the frame.   Torque 5.4 Nm

11. Connect the electrical harness to the side airbag connector.

12. Fasten the clips that attach the outboard side of the seat back cover to the seat back frame.
13. Hook the upper flaps that cover the LH and RH lower corners of the seat back frame.
14. Hook the lower flaps that cover the LH and RH lower corners of the seat back frame.
15. Install the seat back shell to the seat. See Shell - Seat Back - Driver (Remove and Replace).

16. Install the inner side shield to the seat, and then fasten the clips that attach the shield to the seat.
17. Install the side outer cover to the driver seat. See Cover - Outer Side - Driver Seat (Remove and Install).
18. Install the driver headrest trim. See Trim - Headrest - Driver (Remove and Replace).
19. Install the driver seat. See Seat - Driver (Remove and Replace).