Practically Classics Forum

Couldn't you just fit the entire mk2 interior so it all matches?

Peter-109 wrote:Couldn't you just fit the entire mk2 interior so it all matches?

NO!!
The mk1 neon has frame less door windows where the mk2 neons and on had a frame.
Also the door interior panels are different sizes, the dash is totally different.

The MK1 Neon is a lighter car compared to the mk2 even though they were fitted with
the same engine and transmissions. MK1 neons manual or auto usually gets 35+mpg the
dash is heavy and has alot more in it and later mk2 neons had side impact airbags, which
these seats don't have and my mk1 neon would not be able to operate.

I will look into getting the seats recoloured, which will happen after the MOT
(money reasons)

I have called 2 companies the first one recommended the second!
How often does that happen?

The first call was to
KJL Upholstery
5-7 Stephenson St, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland TS176AL
01642 551369
The gentleman gave me a rough estimate of for £1000-1500 a total leather recovering.
After explained that he doesn't recolour car leather seats he recommended that I call
leathertone.

A quick search on the internet for details to check out there details.
http://www.leathertone.co.uk/contact.html
Leather tone
unit2 Oakmil, Ironside way, Stillington, Stockton on Tees, TS21 1FD
01642 590474
I spoke to a gentleman called Jeff, who said a it could be £400 to £425 to recolour the
seats to a darker shade of gray closer to that of the MK1 Neon's.

It looks more & more likely recolouring by a professional rather then me trying to do it,
and messing it up is looking the better option.
A few more calls later to but It is looking like Leathertone could be doing it.

As the weather is really coming at us here, with the strong winds and heavy rain with
sleet. I have had to add straps over the top of the car cover to stop it being ripped off.

OK!!!! No need to shout I only made a suggestion.

Peter-109 wrote:OK!!!! No need to shout I only made a suggestion.

Uh-oh, dody-spitting time again by the looks of things.

Thing is, Mitsuru, people are trying to offer constructive suggestions, snippets of related humour (I've read your weather-related posts, they imply that you clearly have a sense of humour) and occasionally advice that could get you out of a hole. These are things that happen in public web fora so with the appropriate level of respect to your good self, maybe your thread should have been a locked blog if you weren't wanting anyone to comment on here?

So, in the spirit of potentially useful suggestion, freely given; what's the problem with swapping the seats? Nobody said the whole dashboard had to be changed.

Now now John, you know he suggested starting a thread for comments on the thread, sweepstakes etc, you really will have to steralise the dody you know now its been on the floor again

And to think my resto has just been likened to a 50's stock car, did I sweat it............

Now Mitsuru, I think youre doing a grand job, folks will comment, advise etc, surely it is why we are here. Oh, and I have some piccies on the weather thread that may win you that shiny 50p, though its gone now though not certain

Sorry if you think I was screaming! but if I had it would be double the normal font size and in red.

MK1 Neon








MK2 Neon








I didn't realise till looking at those pictures the door locking mechanisms are different as well.
The seat frame on the mk2 Neon's have the same fitting pastern as the mk1, but have a
stronger/more robust frame than the mk1.
(As I use the door frame and seat to haul me out of the car it needs to be robust!)

If suffolkpete and SirTainleyBarking suggested recolouring the leather rather than replacing it,
I would have not looked into that as an option. For that I am greatful, especially as it is a
fraction of the price.

I am planing on keeping this old girl for a fair few years, so the mishmash of colours/shades
would seriously nark me, and make the car look like it was half hearted job.

To quote the PC mag on the article on MOT's "If it's on the car it has to work"
The towbar electrics screwed the operation of rear lights up, so I disconnected it, I have gone
online and purchased a new socket and wiring to fit.

Well in a break in the rain, I pulled the cover off the boot off
the car, and removed the interior wiring for the towbar/hitch
electrics.

I am waiting for a socket adapter for the bracket to turn a
single into a double on the bracket.
As the car already has a FAULTY 12n socket, so I thought that
I may as well fit the 12s socket to the car as I redo the 12n.

I have soldered the cable ends to help with connections and
against water penetration. The 12s came with a triggered relay
which is also in the photo below.



A few wiring diagrams.





I nicked this picture of a bypass relay for illustration purposes.
I have ordered on off the internet, but with it being the Easter
ban holiday weekend, I don't expect to see it till Friday!

I decided to plug in the towbar electrics and see what wire was for what.
I found that there was a damaged wire on the interior lights kept blowing
the fuse. So that had to be dealt with too!

I shortened the 12n plug wires that were in the boot and soldered the
ends for better connection. I moved the box of tricks for parking sensors &
stuck it to the inside of the rear wing behind the electric car ariel. I will be
sticking the relays for the towbar right next to it, so it will not be in a place
that it can get damaged like the wiring did previously.

The MK2 Neon door cards are going to get dumped at the local skips. I have
no space or need for them. That and I damaged one of the rear cards. As I
was at the beginning of a hypo, and had over done it again, I stopped doing
stuff and tidied up and put the mk2 base in by mistake!



After good cup of tea a few biscuits to bring my sugar levels back up. I grabbed
the wiring and stuff I needed for soldering more wires. After a good few hours of
sleep helped with painkillers. So in the wee small hours of the morning while I'm
wide awake, and started back on the towbar electrics again
(in the warmth of my room as it rains outside)



After the loom was put in the car, and after I had removed previously removed the
damaged wiring. It was now time to add good wires to extend the loom so it will
reach where it should. I added a spur off the wire for the reverse light, this it
operate the reverse parking sensors.

At least now I know why the loom caused faults with the lights, and that it shouldn't
be a problem once the relay is fitted along with the 12s socket.

I should say that the next few days I will have my feet up or
be doing very little on the car. This down to what happened
last night after posting my update with the towbar wiring
loom!!

After setting the laptop to one side, I went to get a cuppa, the
second step wasn't good as my ankle went and I went down
like a ton of bricks! And it wasn't a straight fall, as I went down
at angle I set my back off falling against an open cupboard
door.

I had one thing going for me, as I had over done it yesterday I
had taken painkillers, so they were still doing their job and took
the edge off the pain. But that also ment I had to wait for a few
more hours before I could take another dose.

I have been on the pain killers since yesterday and I'm a little
tipsy occasionally today so I ramble on more or go off topic .
Sorry
:wacko: