I have a 2007 Escalade ESV, rare Ming blue (navy). I have one more payment left before I own it and decided that it was looking a little tired, especially the front seats. My drivers side has developed a few small rips and the original dye was worn to the point that parts of the seats were grey.
The console lid was trashed after ten years in the Miami sun and a hundred thousand miles of sweaty arm on it. The vinyl here was cracked so I sanded it down and actually filled it with silicone caulk put on with a putty knife and allowed to cure.
I bought a small bottle of vinyl dye in the original very light cashmere color. It's only about 8 ounces but was enough to do the two front seats and center console lid since it is water based and can go a long way in a sprayer. I mixed it about 4 parts water to 10 parts dye. I should have made it a bit thicker- more on that later.
Taking the seats out is actually pretty easy. First, slide the seats all the way back and use a 15mm deep socket after pulling the access panels loose.
Then, slide the seats all the way forward and use a 13 mm socket to pull the bolts in the back. Lift the plastic cover over the wiring harness and lift the white handle all the way over to detach the harness. Use a 15mm deep socket again to take the seat belt off the seat and pull the seat belt out. Seats can be out in about 10 minutes.
First, thoroughly clean the seats with a commercial cleaner, followed by a good wipedown with denatured alcohol. I masked all the plastic and used an old towel to block the dye from getting to the black seat frame.
With my compressor holding steady at 40 psi, I spreader three very light coats. It lays down pretty easily and coats pretty well, but you have to be careful not to get it too wet on any coat on the vertical surfaces as you can get runs. I had to wipe off some runs and start again a couple of times. Perhaps making the dye a little thicker would remedy this. Wait about 7 minutes between coats so that the dye is still a bit tacky when the next coat goes on.
Even though I still have rips, it made a world of difference. Thinking about doing the back seats and the aftermarket screen on the ceiling that doesn't quite match perfectly.
This is just after the first coat:
And here they are. The passenger seat looks almost new.
The console lid was trashed after ten years in the Miami sun and a hundred thousand miles of sweaty arm on it. The vinyl here was cracked so I sanded it down and actually filled it with silicone caulk put on with a putty knife and allowed to cure.
I bought a small bottle of vinyl dye in the original very light cashmere color. It's only about 8 ounces but was enough to do the two front seats and center console lid since it is water based and can go a long way in a sprayer. I mixed it about 4 parts water to 10 parts dye. I should have made it a bit thicker- more on that later.
Taking the seats out is actually pretty easy. First, slide the seats all the way back and use a 15mm deep socket after pulling the access panels loose.
Then, slide the seats all the way forward and use a 13 mm socket to pull the bolts in the back. Lift the plastic cover over the wiring harness and lift the white handle all the way over to detach the harness. Use a 15mm deep socket again to take the seat belt off the seat and pull the seat belt out. Seats can be out in about 10 minutes.
First, thoroughly clean the seats with a commercial cleaner, followed by a good wipedown with denatured alcohol. I masked all the plastic and used an old towel to block the dye from getting to the black seat frame.
With my compressor holding steady at 40 psi, I spreader three very light coats. It lays down pretty easily and coats pretty well, but you have to be careful not to get it too wet on any coat on the vertical surfaces as you can get runs. I had to wipe off some runs and start again a couple of times. Perhaps making the dye a little thicker would remedy this. Wait about 7 minutes between coats so that the dye is still a bit tacky when the next coat goes on.
Even though I still have rips, it made a world of difference. Thinking about doing the back seats and the aftermarket screen on the ceiling that doesn't quite match perfectly.
This is just after the first coat:
And here they are. The passenger seat looks almost new.
