92 SL2 - Help, I broke my carseat!!!

My trusty 12-year old '92 SL2, which still seems to be running along fine
had a recent injury lately. Last night, while hopping into my car after
leaving a party, I leaned back a little on my seat, and heard a loud
snapping sound...

....No it wasn't from my spine, but from the car seat. Something broke in
there! The top portion of the seat, about a foot or so from the top of the
headrest to somewhere down the middle, simply bends back and forth. I don't
know what caused it, but I have one of those lower back support cushions on
my seat, which probably adds extra pressure to the seat, and also it was
rather hot yesterday, so probably the plastic inside got brittle.

Now the burning dilemma: How do I get my seat repaired? I can still drive
with that broken seat but fear in the event I get into a high-speed
collission, I'd probably end up paralyzed due to whiplash, and I don't want
that.

I know taking it to a Saturn dealer would entail a cost that's probably two
times more than the actual car is worth, so forget that. What do I do? Go to
a scrapyard? How much does a carseat cost? Or can it be repaired somehow?

My seat is a grey cloth seat.

 

scrapyard. Around the Boston area a used seat is about $25.

 

Check with your Saturn dealer. This was a recall item a few years back, if
I recall. They may not honor the recall now, but you should have received a
letter 10 years ago regarding this issue.

 

http://www.6thplanetusedparts.com/

 

The only recall letter I ever got from Saturn was something in the hood that
Saturn found caught on fire during some tests (which I did bring in to get
fixed), circa '93 or '94. I will check though!

Elson

 

On my 95SL1 Saturn did a recall (though I was never sent a letter letting me
know) on the recliner gear teeth. Is that the recall you were referring to?

It sounds to me though that he has actually broken the back rest part of the
seat itself.

Mark.

 

Yes. and Id like to add that I'm not a very large or heavy person either
(5'6", 180lbs)
I called my local dealer today, they said that (after giving him my VIN)
there was a seat recall in the 93 and 94 SL2s...But I have a '92. They gave
me some number at Saturn to absolutely be sure.

Elson

 

Elson Trinidad" elson@

The seat frame probrably snapped. You could take the back off , remove the seat
cover and have the frame welded. Any qualified welder ( maybe a body shop or
your service center has one) . It is pretty easy to take the pad and cover off
.. YOu would need a pair of cutters and "hog ring" pliers to put it back
together.
If I had to pay someone I wouldnt pay more than 1.5 hours labor. Or you could
find a "Upull It " salvage yard and buy a seat back. Or Joe at 6thplanet used
parts can hook you up.

 

thanks. the Salvage Yard option is my preferred one. I don't know how to
remove the seat cover, and besides, a couple of sharp edges have torn
through the seat (they don't affect me when driving though, fortunately,
though I pray I don't get into a side collision). I'm in the Los Angeles
area. There's tons of cars round here, so there's GOT to be a yard with some
wrecked early '90s Saturns there.