Updating early model middle row seats to Fold-Flats (both 7-seat configs)

[geordi]

Still haven't found a solution... If I just leave the seats unplugged, the system freaks out about a restraint error and puts that stupid banner across the bottom of the screen that can't be cleared. Damn what an annoying system.

 

[geordi]

A SOLUTION WAS FOUND! I was able to convince a service center to try changing the car's configuration (at a cost of a half hour labor charge) and once *I* had to suggest to them that they needed to change the configuration on the server rather than just in the car.... It worked! The seat menu in the computer is gone, but SO ARE THE ERRORS. The seats are plugged in and happy, and I can use them in full mechanical (which is smarter anyway). I don't know if the computer is still trying to set the locking / unlocking if I push the buttons (and I won't!) because I have the seat motors unplugged anyway. The errors are gone though, that's all I care about.

If I put a watermelon on the seat it still gets snotty about an unbelted person, so that works. Presumably the airbags will work if needed too. I don't think I'll test that though.

 

[Bestla]

A SOLUTION WAS FOUND! I was able to convince a service center to try changing the car's configuration (at a cost of a half hour labor charge) and once *I* had to suggest to them that they needed to change the configuration on the server rather than just in the car.... It worked! The seat menu in the computer is gone, but SO ARE THE ERRORS. The seats are plugged in and happy, and I can use them in full mechanical (which is smarter anyway). I don't know if the computer is still trying to set the locking / unlocking if I push the buttons (and I won't!) because I have the seat motors unplugged anyway. The errors are gone though, that's all I care about.

If I put a watermelon on the seat it still gets snotty about an unbelted person, so that works. Presumably the airbags will work if needed too. I don't think I'll test that though.

This is great news! Do you think any service center could do this?

 

[geordi]

This is great news! Do you think any service center could do this?

I do think any service center could make the change - what I had requested was that they update the configuration from the original 7 seat (pedestal) version to the folding 7 - which DOES exist as an option for a 2016. They claimed that they had done it several times and it wouldn't "stick" - which clued me in that when the car rebooted, it was pulling the configuration from the servers as I had seen similar happen in another instance. If there is ANY difference in configurations, it will always use the server version to overwrite. At first they claimed they couldn't change the server version, but then magically about 5 minutes later the answer was "oh look, it is working now" and I let them have their victory about figuring it out themselves (yeah right)...

Whether you will be able to get any other service center to make this adjustment, is TBD. I think it should be no big deal, but then we are dealing with meat flavored robots who don't always have the ability to think beyond their programming.

 

[Bestla]

I wonder if they could make it 7 seat even with my 6 seat? That might cause a major
malfunction!

 

[geordi]

Well the thing is - I had already bought the folding bench from a 7 seater and done the physical work to bolt it to the floor (there were some holes that needed drilling and tapping) and I had gotten the full unit with the sliding rails - but not the cover pieces. So when they opened the door it was obvious that they were not the 7 seat pedestal versions. (they are also a different color but I don't care about that either, the black looks nice in the back)

For yours - you would be removing the flooring and the two pedestals, and replacing with whatever you got. Then you just need them to program it for that.

 

[Bestla]

I'm leaving the second row out for camping purposes ツ

 

[geordi]

Testing my third row - They DO work and possibly are independent of the control from the second row. I usually keep my second row in place and folded as the base for my own mattress / camping setup so YMMV but it is possible that the third row will also behave if the second is not present at all.

 

[israndy]

So it would be nice if you posted pictures of your accomplishment. Particularly the holes your drilled to mount the seat.

 

[Bestla]

Drilling and tapping new holes isn't in my wheelhouse... I was hoping the holes were already there.

 

[geordi]

Sorry for not replying with details but it really would not be very informative because I positioned the chairs and marked and drilled based on where the bench was located. One or a couple of the factory holes did line right up on the initial positioning. But I used a Step bit and attack which was extremely easy in the aluminum. A better mode might be installing rivet nuts.

Either way, you’ll want to move the slides to the furthest forward position, as if the chairs are slid as far back as possible, and find the position where the outside front hole lines up as a potential location and see where the back is in relation to the wall. It is a very close fit. As I remember it, the outside rail lined up with two holes front and back and I simply marked the rest of the locations and drilled about a half dozen on each chair. A sharpie and the step bit were the main tools. Very easy.

 

[Bestla]

Sorry for not replying with details but it really would not be very informative because I positioned the chairs and marked and drilled based on where the bench was located. One or a couple of the factory holes did line right up on the initial positioning. But I used a Step bit and attack which was extremely easy in the aluminum. A better mode might be installing rivet nuts.

@geordi Thanks for responding at all! Much appreciated.

Not sure I understand, so you did find that "One or a couple of the factory holes did line right up on the initial positioning."?

Seems to me that a 5s folding bench seat should fit in a 7s or 6s because it's the same platform and year. That's what I'm trying to determine.

I can get a second-hand 5s folding bench, I just want to put it in a 7s or 6s instead of the non-folding seats. Trying to determine if that's possible. Otherwise I can only buy a 5s and it really limits the options.

 

[geordi]

The 7 seat non-folding isn't a bench, it is 3 individual pedestals. Even the bench is a 60/40 and is two pieces. The difference with the 5 seat versus the 7 seat in folding bench is that the 7 seat has an additional slide mechanism under the legs and electrical release for the back (folding) and sliding latches. The 5 is fixed and fully manual operation from what I know of it.

For the mounting locations, like I said - I have a 2016 7 seat with pedestals and the folding 7 seat bench came from a 2020. Only the outboard holes lined up on the chairs as I was positioning them, I started with the forward and outboard hole and that matched with the rear outboard on that rail. But I found that some of the others were "close" but would not line up b/c of the spacing of the two supports or where they were positioned in the rail itself. There were several that were blind (no matching hole in the floor under that space in the rail) and that is where I chose to drill and tap for the additional locations. They may have been manufactured for another vehicle entirely (not Tesla) as it is VERY common in the auto industry to cobble parts from multiple suppliers and just change the part numbers. For example, the parking brakes are from Lamborghini and the window regulators are from Mercedes.

So yeah - you are going to have to just take the leap and get the bench. I will say this much: The physical installation will be the EASY part. Keeping the computer happy if your existing seats are loaded with electronic modules.... That's hard.