The way a car's interior looks largely depends on the quality, design and cleanliness of its upholstery. Dressing means changing, tightening and securing car seat covers that protect them from dirt, dust, spilled drinks, and mechanical impact. Car owners use protective leather or fabric cases for this; it is important to put them on correctly.
Before purchasing a set, check the contents, inspect the products to see if the covers are defective and if they fit the car seats. It would be a good idea to make sure that they will not interfere with the deployment of the airbag, if there is one. The same applies to other protruding parts of the chairs. Only after this can you put covers on the car.
Installation of protective car seat covers made of eco-leather by car service specialists incurs additional costs, but you can “change” the car yourself. To do this, it is better to follow the instructions.
How to properly put car seat covers on
First, decide whether you need to remove the chairs. There are cars in which it is very inconvenient to replace covers, since the side plastic seat covers, active head restraints, armrests - all this significantly complicates the matter; it is better to remove the seats - this will make the work much easier.
Before properly placing universal covers made of eco-leather or other materials on car seats, first disconnect the power supply to the airbags and seat heating. To do this, remove the ignition key and remove the terminal from the battery.
When putting on universal cases made of woven materials or eco-leather, the headrests are removed by simply pressing one or two levers at the same time.
On models of cars with an electric drive, it is strongly recommended not to turn off the electrics; they are sometimes found with a hidden key. Covers are sewn for them, which are put on together with the headrest and then secured with Velcro.
Front
First you need to remove the plates protecting the reclining mechanism, if any. The side plastic covers cannot be removed from the seat itself. They are attached with disposable clips. There are differences between the passenger and driver's seats. Model covers take into account the location of the armrest fastenings and the adjustment mechanism, so you need to avoid mixing up the parts.
Seat
The backrest must be tilted back all the way. Throw on the part, straighten it well, lower the side facing, then tuck the back bar with hooks into the gap between the seat and the back. Tuck the skirt under the plastic side strap before tightening. Use a smooth metal or wooden plate for this, such as a regular ruler. The main thing is not to scratch the material. Carefully align the seams so that there are no distortions. Now you can tighten the laces around the perimeter well. This operation will tighten the facing tightly along the bottom. And the last stage is to pull the bar with hooks back with effort. This must be done while in the back seat of the car.
Back
When putting on the backrest, squeeze the side supports of the chair with force so as not to tear the material, which is initially stretched and does not fit tightly. You can get rid of the drum effect by pulling the fabric from the back, elastic part.
All clips and protruding linings are inserted into the holes like buttons. If there are no holes (for example, for headrests), they are cut or pierced with a screwdriver. You can also take a soldering iron or a regular cigarette and burn a hole. In order not to spoil the surface of the material, the cut is made smaller than the clips.
Make sure all seams are centered. This affects how tightly the case fits onto the base. The fewer folds, the longer the cover will last.
The bar with hooks is again tucked between the seat and back.
Rear
The work begins by unscrewing the fastening elements of the seat, seat belts, and removing the head restraints. The seat piece is put on first. As with the chairs in the front row, first straighten the material, align it in the center, then tighten it with a cord around the perimeter. The bar with hooks is tucked between the seat and backrest. The back part can consist of several parts connected by a zipper (for composite backs). Make sure that the cuts line up with the backrest connector. The protruding linings of the fasteners and clips are also tucked into the finished holes or made.
Preliminary operations
When purchasing covers, you need to choose not universal ones, but for a specific car model. Their size exactly matches the size of the front and rear seats. Covers will also be placed harmoniously on its headrests. After all, this safety part has different dimensions in different car brands.
Scheme for assembling covers in a car
When choosing a set of pads or covers in a store, you should pay attention to the fixation of these products on the chairs. It is advisable that hooks or threads be installed on elastic bands or impregnated with rubber fibers, ensuring good tightness during fixation
The video clearly shows how to put it on
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. Some
High-quality cases do not have a pronounced unpleasant paint odor. If there is, then this may be a sign of falsification.
Items for the right and left front seats must be marked in the kit. The difference may be in the access for the levers that control the height or incline settings. These handles should not be covered with fabric or leather.
What are frame car covers?
Even if you bought model covers that are tailored to your car, they still don’t look like upholstery. You can achieve the effect of a “native” interior by wearing frame covers, which looks especially interesting when they are made of natural or artificial leather. This coating, in addition to its external effect, is also easy to clean and lasts longer. It is easier to put on frame covers, because they perfectly follow the shape of the chairs. The locations for the holes and the surface relief are worked out to the smallest detail. True, the price of such pleasure for a car is higher.
Additional Tips
Finally, we have prepared some practical tips. They are used by specialists who deal with car covers at a professional level.
- The durability of the covers depends on the tightness of the material to the base. It is better to spend time dismantling car seats and achieving maximum tightening than to soon buy new protection for the interior.
- For seats with side airbags, you must purchase appropriate covers.
- The opening seam should be located on the Airbag side.
- The vehicle ignition must be turned off when the seats are removed.
- The side plastic covers cannot be removed. If you can remove them, it will be extremely difficult to install them back.
- The original upholstery must be compressed while pulling the covers. In this case, the likelihood of damage to the material at the seams will be minimal.
- Installation of the protective coating must be carried out at positive temperatures. In the cold, the material loses its elastic properties and becomes oak. This is especially true for natural and artificial leather. If you don’t have a warm garage, you’ll have to wait until summer comes.
The installation, as well as the choice of covers, must be taken very seriously. It’s better to do everything right away efficiently and correctly than to redo it later or buy new protection after a short time.
How to attach car seat covers
Usually the hooks come included or are already sewn to the elastic bands. Along the perimeter of the front seat, the elastic bands are not pulled and fastened one by one, but taken in pairs. All that remains is to tighten the bar well, hooking the hooks onto the metal armature of the chair. The back has the same hooks on the lower tongue, the procedure is repeated. The rear section usually has underbody protection. First, they fasten it, and then, once again pulling it down with force, they fix the cover itself with Velcro.
The rear part of the seat is attached in a similar way. Unlike the front one, there are no metal parts, so the elastic bands can be fastened to each other with an asterisk. Do the same with the back. It needs to be folded to connect the hooks to each other.
Rear seat backs
The back of the rear seats in modern cars either folds forward or is attached quite simply (using special latches).
Typically, the back cover has three sewn-in vertical zippers. This is necessary in order to tilt forward only one part of the backrest (if this is provided for by the design). If the back is “monolithic”, then these fasteners are not used.
For seats consisting of two reclining parts:
- first we carry out preliminary fastening (with zippers fastened) on both parts folded forward using elastic bands and hooks (similar to the lower part);
- then unfasten the zipper opposite the line between the halves of the chair;
- Using additional elastic bands, we fix the edges at the junction of the parts of the backrest;
- Place both halves of the backrest in a vertical position and fasten the zipper.
Now, even with the cover on, both parts of the rear backrest can be folded forward independently of each other. To do this, you just need to unzip the zipper first.
How to put universal car seat covers on
The difference is that they are sewn like bags, which is why they fit most models - such elements will also fit chairs well. You need to level and tighten the material as best as possible, and then put the covers on the car seats. Then the same set will fit perfectly on them like a glove.
The advantages of universal cases are their cost. For less money, they protect the upholstery in the same way, and you no longer have to worry that they won’t fit. Cons: poor selection. Usually in stores there is only a small selection of both color and type of material.
Design features and dimensions of universal cases
Almost all models of modern protective devices worn on car seats (both front and rear) are made using the so-called separate technology. A standard kit usually consists of 11 parts:
- 2 – for the lower parts of the front seats;
- 2 – for the backs of the front seats;
- 1 – for the lower part of the rear seat;
- 1 – for the back of the rear seat;
- 5 – for head restraints.
The best (but also the most expensive) option is to purchase covers made specifically for a specific car model. Then you can be sure that they will fit the seats exactly and there will be no problems with their installation.
Universal car covers (the most popular option) are produced mainly in two standard sizes: S - for small cars (for example, Opel Astra, Volkswagen Golf and the like); M is a standard size suitable for most car seats.
The responsible manufacturer indicates in the instructions an approximate list of car models for which the products it produces are suitable. And an experienced sales consultant will tell you which set of car covers is best for you to purchase.
How to sew car covers
To save some money, you can sew completely exclusive seat covers for your car yourself. When selecting fabric, check whether you can rely on your sewing machine; try sewing a small piece of the selected material in two folds with your own hands.
The most important thing is to take your measurements correctly. To make a pattern, you can take special paper (tracing paper) or regular plastic film (like for a greenhouse). Using paper tape or pins, secure the material to the seat, and use a marker to trace the part along the seam. Be sure to sign each one. Now they need to be cut out and transferred to cardboard or thick paper. The pattern is ready. Using it, parts are cut out from the material - the main thing is not to forget to leave seam allowances and all that remains is to sew the protective cases.
Introduction
Many car owners try to extend the life of their vehicle, caring not only about its technical serviceability, but also about the cleanliness and beauty of the interior space. Modern car covers can provide not only an aesthetic component; thanks to them, the vehicle owner can keep the factory seat covering clean. Car markets and related stores offer a wide range of covers made from different materials; anyone can purchase seat covers made of eco-leather, velor or jacquard. However, buying beautiful, high-quality seat covers is not enough; the owner of movable property must know about many tricks and tricks that will help him properly secure the purchased product.
Some drivers may mistakenly believe that the principle of putting covers on seats is the same for all types of such devices, however, in reality, a lot depends on the manufacturer. For example, budget Chinese cases will have a completely different mounting principle than the more expensive original options. As practice shows, any of the covers purchased by the car owner must be put on the seats with the utmost care, strictly following the manufacturer’s instructions. The article below will talk about how to properly put covers on car seats.
Manufacturers and prices of car covers for Priora
There are companies that manufacture products exclusively for VAZ 2170 seats:
- Black velor from Avtoprofi - about 1,300 rubles per unit. Polyester - about 1,250 rubles per unit, eco-leather - about 1,450 rubles per unit (with a diamond pattern - 3,000), jacquard - 1,500 rubles, tarpaulin - 5,000 rubles per set, Alcantara - 3,300 rubles, Alcantara - 2 000 rubles per unit.
- “World of Cases”: eco-leather, Alcantara, velor for 6,500 rubles per piece, with a diamond pattern – 7,500.
- PSV Elegant eco leather + Elcantara. The set costs RUB 4,450. Elegant Next made of eco-leather for RUB 4,160.
- “Autopilot” eco-leather 6,500 rubles per unit.
There are individual companies (ateliers) that manufacture products for the VAZ 2170 to order, performing installation (even reupholstery). Removable upholstery for the restyled and pre-restyled Lada priora differs in its design features of car seats.
