Aftermarket Seats and Airbags?

[adamkerrnz]

Hello,

I have a pair of reclinable bucket seats I wish to install into my car.

Car is a 2003 Echo NCP10

I will be using the stock rails off my OEM seats and modifying them to bolt the new seats onto. So I will be using the stock seat anchors (where they bolt into the chassis) and maintaining the use of the stock seatbelt clips/mounts.

My problem is this..

A mechanic (who also does WOF's) has told me I shouldn't need a LVV certification for my car, considering the seats do not contain any airbags or have any electronics or sensors within them relating to the airbag system.

People on other forums are saying I DO require an LVV certification as there is an airbag on my steering wheel.. and on the dashboard in front of the passenger

the LVV guidelines state that no certification is required if there are no airbags in the "seating position".

Who is correct? Do I, or do i not require a cert? (to be completely 'legal' in terms of mounting the new seats)

[Scotty]

refer to other forum they are correct

[adamkerrnz]

knew it

all good

[johndoe1025]

just dont bother adam, and buy a decent toyota

[Mr Revhead]

I will be using the stock rails off my OEM seats and modifying them to bolt the new seats onto.

that bit also means you need cert

[Mr.Phreak]

[Lloyd]

Different forum doesn't change the result

[adamkerrnz]

Ok yeah yeah got it

[Elmo]

I will be using the stock rails off my OEM seats and modifying them to bolt the new seats onto.

that bit also means you need cert

Incorrect. (well going by the info I have been given) You only require a cert for different seats if they use different mounting points to the floor.

My example, Seats in my Imp. Factory use 4 x 1/4 inch bolts (SMALL). I had a seat mount made up with much larger bolts. NOT allowed. But I wa allowed to mount the seat (in how ever way I likd) to the original mounts and bolt down with original bolts.

I now have Jamex reclinables in my Imp, clearly not factory, and the warrent man looked at the base, and didnt batter an eye lid. (yet he failed my 4x4 because it has WHITE leds in the grill)

[Mr Revhead]

last time i read that section it said any modification (ie cutting welding the rails etc) needed cert.
basicly unless you use factory parts with no modding you need to cert was how it was worded.
i'll be rereading that section when a get a chance

[Alex B]

Seat modification or replacement or installation of a seat anchorage after 1/3/1999:

LVV certification is not required provided that:

• the modification was carried out before March 1999 and meets all other requirements, or
• the seat is either an OE seat from another vehicle or of a known and reputable aftermarket
brand, and
– the seat is fitted to unmodified OE seat anchorages, and
– the anchorage or operation of seatbelts is not affected, and
– the relationship between seat, seat occupant, and location of the seatbelt anchorages
is not affected, and
– the vehicle is not fitted with airbags in that seating position.
(Note that LVV certification is not required where the only modification is the removal of seats and/or
seatbelts. However, a class change and a new load rating may be required in some cases.)

[Mr Revhead]

beat me too it!
from here:
http://www.lvvta.org.nz/CertThresholdSc ... il04V3.pdf

[adamkerrnz]

I guess it lies in the LVVTA's definition of "anchorage".

From who I have talked to, they believe anchorage refers to where the rails bolt into the car (the OEM mounting holes in the chassis where the seats bolt down to)

But I'm sure it could also refer to the whole rail assembly.

I have a mate who put some racepro buckets into his old school mini. The only reason he needed a cert was because he had new mounts welded to the cars chassis so the new seats would fit.

I know that in my case i DO need a cert as my car has airbags up front.

[1I1]

I know that in my case i DO need a cert as my car has airbags up front.

If your car does not have airbags in the seat, but airbags in your steering wheel/dah your seat base must be a the same height as your OE seat. So if you use approved seat rails/seats no cert is required.

[Mr.Phreak]

If your car does not have airbags in the seat, but airbags in your steering wheel/dah your seat base must be a the same height as your OE seat. So if you use approved seat rails/seats no cert is required.

Which completely contradicts the VIRM

And FWIW, the Anchorage points are only the mounting points of the actual chassis, rails shouldn't be an issue according to the LVVTA
EDIT: as Elmo has already said on reading the thread

[Mr Revhead]

um, i disagree
note 1 to that section states:
for clarification, note that this means that all seat modifications, replacments and installations (other than thsoe specified above) carried out after 1/3/1999 always require LVV certification.

note all seat modifications.... surely modifiying rails to fit the seat comes under that.

may depend on the scope of the mod as to wether or not you will get away with it, but by the letter of the law it needs a cert.
however as often is the case in the VIRM, the inspectors opinion is the deciding factor... i bet you can find inspectors who would argue either side.

[Mr.Phreak]

What version of the VIRM are you reading?? It's been through a few changes since that LVVTA document (http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/certif ... 7-v3a4.pdf)

And I was refering to http://www.lvvta.org.nz/newindex6.html#raceseats

[Mr.Phreak]

For those too lazy to download the whole pdf

[Mr Revhead]

http://www.lvvta.org.nz/CertThresholdSc ... il04V3.pdf

that, from the LVVTA's website.
has that extra paragraph i typed above (stupid work system wont allow cut and paste.wtf)

[1I1]

note all seat modifications.... surely modifiying rails to fit the seat comes under that.

may depend on the scope of the mod as to wether or not you will get away with it, but by the letter of the law it needs a cert.
however as often is the case in the VIRM, the inspectors opinion is the deciding factor... i bet you can find inspectors who would argue either side.

Exactly.. that's why i said if he use's approved seat rails (ie Bride, NZKW etc). But at the end of the day it'll be best for him to speak to his local certifier to be double sure.