Originally intended to document my experience of DeLorean ownership, focus is often radical and strange, boring and obtuse.

Friday, January 06, 2006

More Talon Woes



27 cents. That's exactly what a $2,600 perforated leather Talon seat is worth.

What? $2,600? Yeah. I called the Chrysler Jeep Eagle dealership. Not only is each seat worth approximately $2,600, but you can't order a fully constructed seat. You have to order all the parts, and build it yourself.

But 27 cents? That doesn't make any sense. Or does it? In fact, it makes perfect sense. Allow me to explain as these mild, age-related problems with my Talon continue.

The passenger seat in my 15 year old Eagle Talon TSI collapsed the other day, causing it to become useless, and me to feel depressed. My 2+2 sports car had instantly become a 1+1, as the passenger seat fell onto the seat behind it, rendering them both un-useable.

Pulling the adjustment bar made the seat jump right back into position, but trying to sit in it proved impossible, as it instantly collapsed again.

Being moderately mechanically capable, I decided I would dismantle the seat, find the problem, and fix it.

For the third time in a month I faced the cold as I attempted another repair in my driveway. Previous repairs were hugely successful, yet I wasn't feeling very confident.

I was only able to remove two of three screws holding the plastic fascia on the side of the seat, but it was enough. Looking inside at the mechanics of the seat, I discovered a loose bolt.

It was a big, sturdy, hefty, burly bolt, whose sole purpose was to support the backrest of the seat. Having unscrewed itself somehow, this 27 cent bolt rattling around under the seat was the entire reason it was not functioning.

I slid a 14mm wrench down between the seat and the plastic trim, and turned the bolt back into place. With my self-confidence restored, I played with my newly repaired seat, marvelling at the fact that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

No wait.... a $2,600 seat is only worth as much as its cheapest part. Yeah.

5 Comments:

Blogger Rainypete said...

I thought you had a screw loose!

It's a shame you have had to fix it though. We could have tossed a logo on her and hence could have our very own Useless-Mobile

11:20:00 PM

 
Blogger Ellie Creek Ellis said...

ohhhhhh, so YOU GUYS up there are making use of all the useless tools in my handy little tool kit that has all those "m's" in them! i'll sell them to ya real cheap. wait...i'll trade 'em for a box of count chocula!

11:36:00 PM

 
Blogger Lori said...

hey stranger it's Lo. I am not sure if i let you know or not but i had to change blog pages due to psycho ex roomies. just i was just catching up on your blog. Congrats on your 15 mins of fame. i do have to admit i am a useless man fan.

wow $2600 for a seat. craziness. i once took my porsche into the shop because it was overheating. the wanted to charge me a couple thousand to fix, so i took it to daddy. ended up being a $5 part.

anyways stop by my new blog sometime

11:49:00 PM

 
Blogger Ellie Creek Ellis said...

are you busy or what? i keep waiting for the new post! come on, man! get your priorities straight!

8:28:00 AM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Hey, I'm back, I'm back! Don't bite my head off! I had a bad weekend, which makes for good blogging.

10:36:00 AM

 

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