Piece of Carpet . . . on the Driver's Seat?

[T4RunnerTay]

So I hit 500 miles this week and am continuing to discover new things about my SR5.

Today, I noticed a piece of carpet like material sewn into the seam of my driver's side seat. It drapes down between the seat the console, but past the seam where it's adhered, it's loose. I pulled it out and found a plastic insert at one end.

Does anyone else have this? Considering its obvious permanency, I'm sure it's supposed to be there but does anyone know what is is? I'd love to know, never seen such a thing before. I'm in the Southeast region and have port installed leather, so this might be unique to that.

I'd include pictures but it's exam time so I'm in the library 24/7.

 

[fxoffroad]

Mine has this too... at first I thought some mistake was covered up.

 

[clemson4rnr]

I am in the SE and have Cloth Seats... I have the flap as well

 

[nashman69g]

is it also on the passenger side?

 

[mpaquette]

Haven't noticed this on mine, but wasn't really looking. I'll check it out tonight. No idea what it could be for.

 

[clemson4rnr]

Not on passengers side..

 

[nashman69g]

Maybe it's for wear-n-tear reasons?? Carpet slides easier.

 

[Norcal_Mike]

Pretty sure its to keep goobers out of the seat track that might fall down while you are eating. That slot between the seats is a wallet/cell phone monster as well... eats them up at the slightest jostle from your thigh.

 

[T4RunnerTay]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I thought it was a funny piece of material and it's reassuring to know every single 4Runner seems to have it.

Pretty sure its to keep goobers out of the seat track that might fall down while you are eating. That slot between the seats is a wallet/cell phone monster as well... eats them up at the slightest jostle from your thigh.

This was my second thought, the first being is is merely there to protect the console and the seat when the driver's seat is moved. But it then seems odd that the passenger seat doesn't have it as well. Granted, the passenger seat isn't going to move as often but still.

 

[mpaquette]

Same on mine, carpet on drivers side, not on passengers side. The side of the drivers seat doesn't rub against the center console, so it doesn't appear to be there for wear. Maybe they just had extra carpet to get rid of?

 

[doberman_baby]

Notice this piece also ... thought about pulling it out. Like some ppl here, I thought it was a cover-up of some mistake. Left it there as it did not bother me.

 

[Quentin]

To me, it seems like it is definitely to keep fingers out of the power seat mechanism. I pulled the flap up and touched around in there, and it was definitely the bits that operate the power seats.