Recaros

[midman]

OK guys, I know I am turning into a broken record, but my search for Recaro info is getting frustrating as h***.
My car has the Recaros in decent shape, but I cannot get them to do anything but have the indicator lights come on on the control panel.
Does anyone know where I can find a service manual that shows function of the controls, or can tell me which button is supposed to do what, and where in the world is the compressor to fill the lumbar support!! Short of ripping the darn things out I cannot find an air supply.
OK I feel better
Anyway I've trolled this site and the web for this seat information to no avail. So does anybody have the info or know where I can get it?
Anyway, the only other problem I had with the car so far was the horn was always on (had burned out the fuse when I first got it). I dissassembeled the horn pad, and replaced the foam between the contact plates with some dense foam from a camera box and viola a working horn again.
Thanks again everyone for your help so far.

[Sandy]

Recaro is located in Texas. I would also try them, if by (unusual) chance nobody here can assist. They are Recaero "N" style, I do believe.

[svo413]

I have the Recaro manual but it's not much help and covers several seats (mostly operation and installation). Basially there are 2 rocker switches. One turns on the heater and it's lighted when on. The other is momentary and turns on the pump for the lumbar. It pumps up all the chambers. You then use the blue square buttons to release the air to each lumbar as needed. The blue switches seem to be purely mechancial and don't seem to work unless you feel the air bleeding off. I've had my seats out but never saw the pump. I recently disassembled/scrapped a 88/89 stock Mustang seat and found the air pump mounted on the lower side frame. I bet it would work as a replacemnt. It's about 2" diamenter and 6" or so long.

My Recaros seem to work except for 1 lamp.

[midman]

Hi everyone,
For those who are interested, I finally got a chance to pull the Recaros today. I found the compressor inside the bolster pad on the seats. Both seats had bad switches, I jumped them and presto, compressors work. One of the seats had two fouled check valves which did not allow 2 of the 3 lumbar bags to inflate. One seat has working heat, the other has a bad heater switch as well.
So all I have to do is replace the switches find a couple of air line check valves and I am ready to roll.
Bad thing is I found my center console to be pretty badly damaged, but I am going to try to repair it with a plastic welding outfit I bought years ago and never used. Does anyone have any experience with the plastic welding rig?
Thanks again for the site, lots of help here.
Chuck

[svo413]

I spoke with a Recaro dealer last week at the Autoshow. He said new covers could be ordered in the current materials but the lower seat extender would not be included and would have to made locally. He also said the foam would be crushed from years of use. In general he was pushing the newer version/replacement for $800 each. I think it was $1200 with leather.

[midman]

Hi Everyone,
I'll put this out there in case it will help anyone. I finished redoing my Recaro seats mechanicals and found something else that helped. The lumbar air bags have little check valves in the compressor lines to hold air in the bags. five of mine did not work and I could not find the darn things anywhere. So I tried aquarium compressor check valves. They worked perfectly and the seats are both back on line. Just an FYI.
Chuck

[svo413]

I decided to take the plunge and get the Recaros redone. I had the guy order the leather to match the lower dash/door panels. I drop them off this morning and should get them back in 2-3 days. I'll keep you posted.

BTW, a new top is in the very near future.

[DaytonaTim]

I decided to take the plunge and get the Recaros redone. I had the guy order the leather to match the lower dash/door panels. I drop them off this morning and should get them back in 2-3 days. I'll keep you posted.

Any chance in getting your upholstery man to make up a set of patterns for the Recaros? Assuming he is making the covers from scratch. My seats are in pretty bad shape so the existing pieces can not be used to help cut out new ones.



This would be a great asset for this group and I for one would not mind paying a little something for them.

[svo413]

I will ask him. I don't know how easy the covers go on. From what I saw, it is not as straight forward as OEM Ford seats. The down side is, he wants $1100 for the pair installed and seats dropped off. I know others have gotten it done for less but this part of the country is not exactly cheap. It would cost $100 each way to ship the seats so for me the cost is the same. I plan on keeping the old material as well.

The material is got to be costing $450. Cutting out the pattern is got to be $100. Sewing them up is got to be $300-$400. Vinyl can be done much cheaper if anyone is interested.

BTW my seats were not trashed, just cracked, stained and water damaged. They are completely intact with no holes, just normal wear.

[n20capri]

I decided to take the plunge and get the Recaros redone. I had the guy order the leather to match the lower dash/door panels. I drop them off this morning and should get them back in 2-3 days. I'll keep you posted.

BTW, a new top is in the very near future.

Nice!! don't forget to post pics ot them!

[Sandy]

SVO I hope you are going with OEM convertible roof, from Henry Huisman. Please, lie to to me if necessary

From the examples that I have seen over the years, I'd have to say the weak(est) link in the 'Verts were the seats. The Recaros frequently quit working and the leather, while drop dead georgious when new, immediatly began going downhill with the first 25 miles. Then the Mustang version with those little perforations quickly developed crease lines and later perforrated themselves into cris-cross splits. I also have noticed that the Capri 'Verts with Recaros tended to lose color pigmantation. The standard (1986) vinyl low back buckets likewise split, but on the seams of the piping.

They coulda used some of that Jaguar leather in them !

[midman]

I have to say that cosmetically my Recaros held up well. some scratches and loose stitching here and there, but they are in just as good shape as the leather seats in my 2004 Explorer and they look a hell of a lot better. The mechanicals were a pain but once I figured them out they were not to bad, and everything including the speakers are working well (OK I am not sure about the heated seats but at least the idiot light comes on!)
I'll post pics on my album when I get a chance.
BTW Sandy, thanks for the pics I got them. My car should look just like that again after its paint job next winter. I am going to drive it some this summer first.

[svo413]

Well Sandy, originally was was dead set against spending the $750 on a new top and $350 sounded so much better. I am a perfectionist but often too cheap to spend thousands of $$. I have no problem dropping a few hundred on NOS parts especially for my other cars.

I ignored you suggestions about going with the right parts or at least I thought I was ignoring you. Anyway I will probably order from Henry in the next week or so.

[Sandy]

I forgot what pictures !! I swear, I am having dental work done, and every week I get novacaine (sp ??) and it IS affecting my memory, as some of you can tell. Long ago memory, not so much recent. The memory loss began the actual night of the day I 1st got it. By the time I am done I'll have to ask you guys what a McLaren is & if I ever had one No, it's really not funny.

[dahberg]

I have to say that cosmetically my Recaros held up well. some scratches and loose stitching here and there, but they are in just as good shape as the leather seats in my 2004 Explorer and they look a hell of a lot better..

But do you have an 85-86? I think Sandy was refering to the earlier models and I would have to agree strongly. My 85 has 34000 original miles and been in the imediate family since new. Always garaged and never left out in the elements for extended periods of time. The back of the seats look fine with the exception of fading on the head rests and top of the seats, but the bottoms of the seats are showing extreme wear. No rips, loose stitching or really deep cracks, but small surface crac ks everywhere that gather dirt and grime that makes them look terrible. It is just amazing how bad these look with so few miles on the car. One would think the owner has provided no care for the leather, but I can atest to the fact the leather has been cleaned and treated regularly!