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04 Avalanche 1500 Z71 DIY Restoration

That shorted out seat heater pad looks exactly like mine did.

It's a wonder more of these trucks did not burn to the ground.
 
That shorted out seat heater pad looks exactly like mine did.

It's a wonder more of these trucks did not burn to the ground.
Great point, I didn't even think about this part. Its obviously "burn-damaged". I'd better get rid of this completely before I put the seat back in the car. Do you know if I can just unplug it? It shouldn't lit up anything on the cluster, right?
 
Great point, I didn't even think about this part. Its obviously "burn-damaged". I'd better get rid of this completely before I put the seat back in the car. Do you know if I can just unplug it? It shouldn't lit up anything on the cluster, right?
It can be unplugged, no ill-effects.
 
Great point, I didn't even think about this part. Its obviously "burn-damaged". I'd better get rid of this completely before I put the seat back in the car. Do you know if I can just unplug it? It shouldn't lit up anything on the cluster, right?

I replace both the seat back and seat bottom pads with replacement parts from Dorman that I got off of Amazon.

Mine has been working properly for well over 5 years now.
 
As before, great job! Cheese grater, that's awesome! You've got me wanting to replace my seat bottom now.. That same seller has the leather one I need too.
Do you plan to do the armrest?
 
As before, great job! Cheese grater, that's awesome! You've got me wanting to replace my seat bottom now.. That same seller has the leather one I need too.
Do you plan to do the armrest?
Thank you! Passenger's armrest is in great condition. Driver's one has some cracked leather, but no tears. I want to try using seat doctors on it.
 
Great job! I really like that you repaired your steering wheel and added new wrap yourself.
Thank you! And here's the final wrap of my seats. It's a driver's bottom, which was the worst one. Foam was replaced by (!) old socks and some dirty rags lol. Cover looks amazing just like the passenger's bottom. By the way that seller I mentioned, not only they refunded the cost of a "bad" cover, they even asked me not to send it back haha. And the Texan company delivered the cover withing 2 days! 2 days, Carl! TX > FL

Since I ground too much of a foam on this part, I decided to glue an old liner I got from unwrapping the torn cover. Someone asked if I feel any difference between these foams. Yes, new foam feels a little bit sturdier and harder. So I hope it lasts. Supposed to be a special product for reupholstering.

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Next is a fun part - "Seat Doctors"! gonna try it on Monday. Have a good weekend everyone!
 
You convinced me. I bought the driver leather seat cover from the same seller. My seat isnt that bad, but still needs to be recovered and you made it look so easy!
Keep up the good work!
That's awesome! I am waiting here for the weather to improve myself, then gonna install seats back too.

I finally used the Seat Doctors kit. For smaller cracks its really working. But if you got some little pieces of leather missing in the damaged area - its more complicated, better to replace the cover completely. So here's my result for passenger's top part of the seat. You can see some of crevices are visible, but for $36 I think its still not bad. You can also see the difference in color between bottom and the top on the photo, but in real life its not noticeable. And the seller Andy was really helpful by giving me some great tips via email, so you can always check your project with him.

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I do not recommend Krylon spray paints for any jobs at all. Supposed to be a Matte-Black, got a glossy airbag when dried lol. Paint runs like crazy too.

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I use Mobil 1 5W-30 in both of my trucks and my wife's GMC Acadia.
I also used it in our previous vehicles.
My daughter's Toyota RAV4 uses Mobil 1 0W-20 and a Toyota filter cartridge.
All of my other vehicles use NAPA Platinum oil filters made by WIX.

My Avalanche has 262K miles and the EXT has 236K.
The Acadia has 155K.
The Toyota just has 40K.
Mobil 1 has served me well and I see no reason to ever change brand or viscosity.
The engine problems of the EXT are not oil issues, but rather coolant in oil issues.
And surprisingly, the coolant contaminated Mobil 1 did not allow my engine to seize and lock up.
Getting the oil/filter and MMO today. Will do the oil flush tomorrow with a new sending unit if weather allows. Plan to drive it some ~100miles and then change the oil again. Hopefully cleans up and I will never see the low pressure buzz again. Looks like I need a strap wrench to get that old filter off.
 
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I bought a Craftsman strap wrench many years ago and I have not found anything else I like to use for oil filters as well as that tool.

I've also learned to place a red solo up over the oil filter as you break it loose and remove it.

That joker is going to pour oil down the sides of it as soon as you break the seal.

Slip the cup over the filter and grip the filter through the sides of the cup to unscrew it.

Let the filter drop into the cup and remove.

The cup really helps to keep the mess at bay.

That and have a roll of paper towels within reach.

Have fun!
 
I bought a Craftsman strap wrench many years ago and I have not found anything else I like to use for oil filters as well as that tool.
I've also learned to place a red solo up over the oil filter as you break it loose and remove it.
That joker is going to pour oil down the sides of it as soon as you break the seal.
Slip the cup over the filter and grip the filter through the sides of the cup to unscrew it.
Let the filter drop into the cup and remove.
The cup really helps to keep the mess at bay.
That and have a roll of paper towels within reach.
Have fun!
thanks man.. I heard ppl also use zip lock bags to wrap up that filter can
 
thanks man.. I heard ppl also use zip lock bags to wrap up that filter can

I suppose that would work, but you have to be able to hold the mouth of the zip lock bag wide open for it to catch the spilling oil.

Loosen the oil filter, but do not crack the seal just yet.

Take the open cup and slip the cup up over the filter while gripping the lower end of the filter through the side of the cup well below the top rim.

The oil drains nicely down into the cup when the seal breaks.

There will be quite a bit of oil that drains out of the oil galley.

Keep unscrewing the filter using the sides of the cup.

When the filter comes loose, just let the filter carefully slip down into the cup filled with oil.

Move the oil and filter filled cup away when you are ready.

I keep my oil drain pan on the floor below the oil filter port to catch any remaining oil drips.

Wipe clean the filter sealing surface and install your new filter.
 
That's awesome! I am waiting here for the weather to improve myself, then gonna install seats back too.

I finally used the Seat Doctors kit. For smaller cracks its really working. But if you got some little pieces of leather missing in the damaged area - its more complicated, better to replace the cover completely. So here's my result for passenger's top part of the seat. You can see some of crevices are visible, but for $36 I think its still not bad. You can also see the difference in color between bottom and the top on the photo, but in real life its not noticeable. And the seller Andy was really helpful by giving me some great tips via email, so you can always check your project with him.

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Looks great, so how much coverage do you think you can get in one $36 kit? Just the two panels or...?
 
I suppose that would work, but you have to be able to hold the mouth of the zip lock bag wide open for it to catch the spilling oil.

Loosen the oil filter, but do not crack the seal just yet.

Take the open cup and slip the cup up over the filter while gripping the lower end of the filter through the side of the cup well below the top rim.

The oil drains nicely down into the cup when the seal breaks.

There will be quite a bit of oil that drains out of the oil galley.

Keep unscrewing the filter using the sides of the cup.

When the filter comes loose, just let the filter carefully slip down into the cup filled with oil.

Move the oil and filter filled cup away when you are ready.

I keep my oil drain pan on the floor below the oil filter port to catch any remaining oil drips.

Wipe clean the filter sealing surface and install your new filter.
Ah ha! Now I have a new use for my Craftsman strap wrench, I never seem to get much use out of those.
 
I'm surprised you guys like strap wrenches. I much prefer actual oil filter pliers if there is enough room to use them.

Edgar, those seats look great!
 
Am I the only one that has a set of like 5 or 6 different oil filter wrenches? Usually I just use my hand though. Is there enough room for the strap wrench on the Avalanche?
 
oh jeez.. I cursed everything in the world while trying to unscrew that old filter today.. There is no space to get a hand around this thing and I was unable to find a strap or cap socket, so I used my groove pliers and it wasn't easy. I grabbed two filters from Wix/Napa, one cheap commercial ($5) for system flush and another platinum ($12). Added 5L of mobil and 1L of MMO, will do some 300 miles on it and then drain it again with sensor replacement. And magically I already got a better oil pressure (idles on ~30, runs on 40-50psi).

PS
Zip lock bag - crappy idea lol gotta find a proper cap socket..

Here is a couple of photos:

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Looks great, so how much coverage do you think you can get in one $36 kit? Just the two panels or...?
2003VAAV, it is a great question. I was barely able to apply 2 layers of a filler on a passenger's top part. In his ad Andy says it should be enough to "touch up" all 4 seats in the car (I guess my case was just very extreme). The jar he sent me was just too small, only 0.5oz. But there's really a lot of dye (def enough for all 4 seats if you use airbrush gun), I used a foam brush.

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Man, I guess I spent too many years turning wrenches for a living. For changing the oil filter, I've found the band type wrench works best on my 4x4 big block. As far as the "mess", spin that bad boy off, drop it like it's hot, spin the new one on, cuss a little at the mess and hose it all off with brake cleaner... good as new ;):ROFLMAO:
 
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