Gone for me
Hi all.
Reviving an old thread, I know.... I have been tracking this thread since nearly the beginning, but my seat was not crunching, so I did not pay too much attention. Then, in early July I fell waterskiing (getting too old for that) and hurt my back (nothing serious). I cranked up the lumbar support, and got the dreaded 'crunch'.
The rest of our summer was crazy busy, and I changed jobs, and life took over. Also, my wife and I traded cars because with my new job the commute was longer, so driving the small car made sense. Anyway, the point is that I became a week-end only driver of the 4runner, and I lost track of the crunching issue. I happened to take the runner in for a routine service, and I mentioned the lumber crnch issue. Toyota was very concerned, the first time this dealership had heard of the problem (at least they claim that) and took the car for a test drive, pushed, prodded, and poked the sear, but claimed that nothing showed up. In disbelief I did the same, and, miraculously, there was nothing.
Now, wracking my brain, I could not actually recall the last time I felt it. I mentioned this thread, and we went through the TSB/ They found the Canadian version of the TSB, and, in an abundance of caution, they ordered in the new part.
When it arrived, they happen to have an apholsterer in (installing a 'bum warmer' in a reallo old corrolla.... Canada... eh!), and he inzipped the back of my seat. He claimed that he could see nothing wrong. Doing a side-by-side comparison of the new part with the installed frame, we could see no differences. I *very* carefully checked for anything that looked worn, or damaged. We moved the seat in evey conceivable way, and there was *nothing* I could identify as being a problem.
So, we decided not to disturb the seat, and just zipped it back up. Toyota was *very* gracious about it. I felt like an idiot, but they assured me there's no problem. They did not charge me for anything.
If I feel the system crunching again, I am to bring it to them immediately ;-)
So, I am another of the report-backs with "It's gone". I have seen the seat with the back off, I can't see any problem. It looks the same (identical) as the replacement seat-back that was ordered in.
All I can suggest is that the flexible plastic lumbar-support 'shield' that runs on some metal rails mayhave come unclipped, and it's now back where it belongs.
Anyway, just some more info for those who experience this problem.
mib