NEED HELP New 09 4Rnr Not Enough Headroom

Wraith7 · 08-14-2009, 08:49 AM

Dear Sirs,

Last evening I took delivery of a new 2009 Toyota, 4Runner, Limited, V8, with all of the options. Within the past couple of weeks, I've purchased 2 other Toyotas (both Highlanders--one V6 and one Hybrid) from my local dealer in southern IL. In order to purchase the 4Runner with all of the options that I wanted, it was necessary to purchase the vehicle from a Toyota dealer in Phoenix, AZ, and have it shipped to me in IL. I was delighted when the 4Runner arrived last evening, as it is to be my personal vehicle. Shortly afterward, however, I was quite disappointed. I discovered that with the seat in the furthest possible down position my head still comes into contact with the ceiling. If I open the sunroof shade and lean to the right, I have about 1/2" of clearance between my head and the glass. I am not overly tall. I'm 6' 2"; perhaps with a slightly greater ration of torso to legs than most, but not such that you would expect to find me in a circus sideshow. Last night, after encountering the problem and with downcast visage, I googled the matter and found it to be an issue for some persons when both the electric seat and the sunroof options are combined. I had test driven several 4Runners prior to purchasing this one and did not find headroom to be a problem. However, while some of the vehicles that I test drove had sunroofs and some had electric seats--none of them had both options. Therefore, my problem is that I have a brand new 4Runner with every possible option, and I am driving around with my head (to which I am rather attached) bouncing around within fractions of an inch of a sheet of glass. What can I do to solve this problem? I understand that the manual seats will adjust lower than will the electric seats, so one thought was to replace the driver's side electric seat with a manual seat. A second thought was to go to an upholsterer and have some of the cushioning removed from the seat. Any thoughts would be greatly welcomed.

Thank you

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89needsatranny · 08-14-2009, 08:54 AM

ozziesironmanoffroad · 08-14-2009, 08:56 AM

im not sure what to think of that one....

ocdropzone · 08-14-2009, 09:01 AM

Welcome to YT

take it to a hot rod shop and have them tub the floor? but that would void your warranty

ditch the electric seat but retain it for when you sell/trade the vehicle down the road...

why have an some one pull the material when you could pull the cover and shave the foam easily yourself, but that would not be a good option because by the time you got enough room your butt would be riding on the springs.

Wraith7 · 08-14-2009, 09:04 AM

When I searched this problem last night, the only applicable discussion that I found was one from yotatech.com and a fellow that had a similar problem with an 08. I think he ended up working with the dealer to unwind the purchase and purchase a different unit with manual seats. I suspect unwinding a purchase like that is a rare achievement; I'm hoping to find another solution.

Wraith7 · 08-14-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ocdropzone

Welcome to YT

take it to a hot rod shop and have them tub the floor? but that would void your warranty

ditch the electric seat but retain it for when you sell/trade the vehicle down the road...

why have an some one pull the material when you could pull the cover and shave the foam easily yourself, but that would not be a good option because by the time you got enough room your butt would be riding on the springs.

I'm only hypothesizing that replacing the electric with a manual seat will work, does anyone have experience that may serve to prove or disprove my theory that switching the seats may provide a solution?

Wraith7 · 08-14-2009, 09:12 AM

It looks like I may be able to gain an inch (maybe two) by popping of the plastic facia from the sides of the seat and crafting some new brackets which will lower the seat. The plastic facia would have to come off or be cut down in order to lower the seat, because it's already touching the carpet.

Lumpy · 08-14-2009, 09:17 AM

Instead of sitting straight up why not just lean the seat back a wee bit??? I'm not saying you have to lay down but angle it back some and you're good to go.

ocdropzone · 08-14-2009, 09:22 AM

if you choose to lower the rear seat you will probably find that there is a plastic vent tube for the heat..it just pops off.

Wraith7 · 08-14-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumpy

Instead of sitting straight up why not just lean the seat back a wee bit??? I'm not saying you have to lay down but angle it back some and you're good to go.

I tried that, but by the time I lean the seat far enough back to do any good, I'm back at really quite a great angle and it would be untenable for much length of time to drive in such a greatly reclined posture.

Another thought I had was to buy some aftermarket racing seats that may sit lower and have less padding.

I'm amazed that I haven't encountered this problem as being more widespread, since I'm not much over average height. Maybe I am a circus freak, but I hadn't believed so previously.

OrRunner · 08-14-2009, 10:12 AM

it looks like you said that you test drove a runner with a sunroof and no power seats, so a manual seat should work as it would be the same set up that you test drove, another option would be customizing the brackets that attach to the bottom of the seat to mount it, you may be able to get an inch or so that way and probley could hide it enough that your warrenty would not be void.. good luck and let us know what you do.

Wraith7 · 08-14-2009, 01:05 PM

I'm leaning toward customizing the brackets to lower the seat; in the meantime I'm talking with the dealer about unwinding the sale and purchasing a different vehicle or trading this one back in on a different vehicle; but that's all a little sickening when one thinks of the loss of money on a brand new vehicle. It won't be cheap to do the work to lower the seat either, but the major downsides to customizing the brackets are the potential warranty and liability issues. Well, we'll give it some thought and see how much of a hit I take on a trade in. Anyone want an 09 4Runner with everything and 86 miles on it?

**waskillywabbit** · 08-14-2009, 01:59 PM

Pics or it didn't happen.

08-14-2009, 08:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
ozziesironmanoffroad Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Spring Valley, CA Posts: 5,677	im not sure what to think of that one.... __________________ The 22r series engines are made from the fires of hell, and will fight tooth and nail to not be sent back. 1988 Toyota P/U 4x4 22re, 1200 miles on the rebuild engine builder .268 cam pioneer CD deck 31x10.50x15 BFG A/T BAJA 100W lights on prerunner bumper KC Daylighters 100W rancho rs5000 MUD IS A VALID PAINT JOB! If not living life to the fullest, why live it? my trucks official buildup thread

08-14-2009, 09:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
ocdropzone Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR Posts: 4,718	Welcome to YT take it to a hot rod shop and have them tub the floor? but that would void your warranty ditch the electric seat but retain it for when you sell/trade the vehicle down the road... why have an some one pull the material when you could pull the cover and shave the foam easily yourself, but that would not be a good option because by the time you got enough room your butt would be riding on the springs. __________________ ~Robb '81 Trekker The B4Runner Build TREKKER Forum Mini FAQ/Misc Ideas Thread TRY THESE SEARCH LINKS GOOGLE FOR TOYOTA WEBSITES LINK TO ONLINE FACTORY SERVICE MANUALS Drive a real 1st Gen Wheel Responsibly, Don't Screw It Up for Others

08-14-2009, 01:59 PM	#13 (permalink)
waskillywabbit Super Moderator-Sponsoring Member Staff Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 14,554	Pics or it didn't happen. __________________ WabFab Off-Road, LLC MySpace Twitter Facebook 7th Annual South East 4Runner Jamboree, 2010 The toughest part of a Jeep is the chick driving it. WabFab Off-Road 4th Anniversary Sale

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08-14-2009, 09:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
Wraith7 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 6	When I searched this problem last night, the only applicable discussion that I found was one from yotatech.com and a fellow that had a similar problem with an 08. I think he ended up working with the dealer to unwind the purchase and purchase a different unit with manual seats. I suspect unwinding a purchase like that is a rare achievement; I'm hoping to find another solution.

08-14-2009, 09:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
Wraith7 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 6	It looks like I may be able to gain an inch (maybe two) by popping of the plastic facia from the sides of the seat and crafting some new brackets which will lower the seat. The plastic facia would have to come off or be cut down in order to lower the seat, because it's already touching the carpet.

08-14-2009, 09:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
ocdropzone Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR Posts: 4,718	if you choose to lower the rear seat you will probably find that there is a plastic vent tube for the heat..it just pops off.

08-14-2009, 10:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
OrRunner Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 122	it looks like you said that you test drove a runner with a sunroof and no power seats, so a manual seat should work as it would be the same set up that you test drove, another option would be customizing the brackets that attach to the bottom of the seat to mount it, you may be able to get an inch or so that way and probley could hide it enough that your warrenty would not be void.. good luck and let us know what you do.

08-14-2009, 01:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
Wraith7 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 6	I'm leaning toward customizing the brackets to lower the seat; in the meantime I'm talking with the dealer about unwinding the sale and purchasing a different vehicle or trading this one back in on a different vehicle; but that's all a little sickening when one thinks of the loss of money on a brand new vehicle. It won't be cheap to do the work to lower the seat either, but the major downsides to customizing the brackets are the potential warranty and liability issues. Well, we'll give it some thought and see how much of a hit I take on a trade in. Anyone want an 09 4Runner with everything and 86 miles on it?