seat height locked in position ? replacing the drivers side seat height adjuster Golf GTI Edition 35 Mk6 Part numbers 8313993K / 1K0881054A2 a how to guide

 

Golf Mk6 GTI Edition 35

Problem

seat adjuster would only just move slightly then lock either up or down.
seat was in the fully down position (note this made replacement harder)
my wife couldnt use the car without a booster cushion.

this would appear to be a fault with the height adjuster.

Context

part that came off my original seat 8313993K

numbers that appear to also match from a web search are

1K0881053A  Left Passengers side (nearside)

1K0881054A  Right Drivers side (offside)

Understanding how to take the seat apart and replace adjuster

I first reviewed this youtube video , which although its not on a edition 35 leather seat it was very useful

Armed with this knowledge I bought a 2nd hand part from ebay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165654339841

This stated the item as 
"VW Golf MK5 MK6 Passat Drivers Right Seat Height Adjuster Genuine 1K0881054A2"

advert suggests it fits

Model:     Golf MK5 MK6 MK7 Passat

Year:        Golf 2004-2016 (so Mk5/Mk6)

                Passat 2006-2010

cost was £39.99 


or if you want a brand new item , it would appear to be available from 
https://www.lllparts.co.uk/product/1K0881053A/adjuster-br-height-adjustment

£130


all you have to do is fit it now....


make sure the car ignition is off
if you want to be really careful you could disconnect the battery, but I didnt, as long as you dont switch the ignition on while the airbag etc is disconnected. (if you do , youll need to get VCDS to remove fault codes)

push seat back on runners, remove front bolts (2)

push seat forward on runners, remove rear bolts (2)

tilt seat up at the front and disconnect the airbag/seatbelt/heated seat plugs

lift seat out of car (note you may want to remove headrest to make this easier)

placing seat on its side

remove the backrest tilt turn handle cover (it just clips off)

lift up the height adjuster , using a screwdriver push in the clip in the side hole and pull the adjuster handle off
NOTE on my edition 35 seat there was a small bung in the front hole, which you do not need to remove

now we need to remove the base plastic surround.
2 screws at the front , and a small round clip at the back.
(I mangled the clip at the back, but you dont see it so its no loss in my opinion)
I used a small drill to drill out the centre of the rear clip)

this now gives you access to the height adjuster

(note mine is in the almost fully down position)

now remove the nut on the inside of the adjuster

now we can undo the bolts that hold the adjuster in place.

there are 3
they are hard to get to , and you have very little vertical room (so a ratchet wont fit) and they unscrew from the outside to inside
I used a bit and a spanner and did it in very small increments! 

NOTE when I did fully undo all 3 screws the adjuster jumped off, and the seat raised to the max height position (its sprung loaded to the full height position) , so be careful


now you just replace the old height adjuster with the replacement part and refit, and do everything in reverse. you dont need to push down on the seat, just fit the adjuster with it at full height.

heres the seat with the adjuster removed and sprung to full height

all fixed , ready to go back in !

All in all, not a difficult job but tricky given the space constraints, and the fact Ive never done it before.

But well chuffed that I now have working height adjustment again for £40 and some of my own time.

At least my wife can use the car now without needing a booster cushion.