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Thread: Auto Leather Seat Rain Damage

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    4

    Default Auto Leather Seat Rain Damage

    Hi,

    I have a 2006 Volkwagen Jetta with a leather interior. My son left the sun roof open and we had a downpour of rain. The car set in 90+ degree sun for a few days before we discovered the water damage. I took the car to a leather shop in town and they said the seats were "burnt" and could not be fixed. The dealer quoted new seat covers at 2600.00 Is there any hope of repairing the leather? The seats don't need to be perfect but can anyone offer some advise as to a fix to make them plyable again? I can't afford to replace the seat covers and I have a 1000.00 deductable on the car that i really don't want to spend if there is an alternative fix.

    Thanks,
    Dan

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Greater Vancouver, Canada.
    Posts
    5,102

    Default

    Yes it can be fix!

    If the leather can be hydrated, it can be fatliquor replenish to as soft as you wish; but see if it applies to your situation.

    Show pictures and I will be able to tell you so.

    Roger Koh
    [email protected]

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    4

    Default Pictures of seat water damage

    Rodger,

    I'm trying to get the pictures posted, please let me know if you get them.

    Thanks,
    Dan


    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Koh View Post
    Yes it can be fix!

    If the leather can be hydrated, it can be fatliquor replenish to as soft as you wish; but see if it applies to your situation.

    Show pictures and I will be able to tell you so.

    Roger Koh
    [email protected]
    Attached Images Attached Images     

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Greater Vancouver, Canada.
    Posts
    5,102

    Default

    #1 Water Damaged Areas


    From this picture, it looks like where the extent of water damaged is.
    To soften up this area the recommended process would be:

    1] A complete clean up of the areas of the entire seat – Prep-7.7 > Cleaner-3.8 > Rinse-3.0.

    2] Hydrating this area by laying paper rag/towel as reservoir to contain the Hydrator-3.3 and let it dwell up to 72hours with plastic see through cling wrapper to control evaporation. As the dwelling is going on, the paper towel has to be kept wet throughout the hydrating process by periodical replenishing it wet.


    #2 Close-up view of the leather Shrinkage that cause the Stiffness.


    1] The red circle areas are the concentrated shrinkage that needs to be stretch crosswise after the leather is relaxed. The finish compression is vulnerable to damaged as it may be already detached from the leather surface when leather beneath shrink as the fatliquor leach out (may need a refinishing after the softening up of the leather when dry).

    2] Fatliquor-5.0 is replenished after the leather is softened up and the stick together fibers separated. The technique with using the paper rag and cling wrapper is repeated until the leather is saturated with fatliquor. The more the leather absorbed the fatliquor, the softer the leather will be.



    Leather rejuvenating technique . . .

    #1 Fatliquor-5.0 is applied to the cleaned surface and after Hydrator-3.3



    #2 A paper rag/towel is used as a reservoir to contain the fatliquor and is covered with a plastic cling wrapper to control evaporation





    Leather Doctor® Auto Pigmented Leather - Care - Standard - Kit Ap3

    Roger Koh
    [email protected]

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Rodger,

    What products do I need and what will the cost be? Will the seats have to be restained to hide the dicoloration when the treatment is complete, or will the treatment return the natural color so that the damaged areas won't be noticed.

    Thanks for all the information!!

    Dan

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Rodger,

    I neglected to answer your question about the leather damage area. Yes the passenger seat was the worst area and your red outline was accurate. The inboard bottom seat bolster was the worst spot. The picture does not give you the best angle but you can tell by the threads straining in the seam that it is streaching pretty hard.

    Dan

    Quote Originally Posted by Roger Koh View Post
    Yes it can be fix!

    If the leather can be hydrated, it can be fatliquor replenish to as soft as you wish; but see if it applies to your situation.

    Show pictures and I will be able to tell you so.

    Roger Koh
    [email protected]

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Greater Vancouver, Canada.
    Posts
    5,102

    Default

    The above Kit Ap3 is what you may need, however you may require more Hydrator-3.3 to relax up the leather.

    Price for the Kit and refill is send to you by email.


    "Will the seats have to be restained to hide the dicoloration when the treatment is complete, or will the treatment return the natural color so that the damaged areas won't be noticed."



    It can go either way:

    1] Finish already damaged from detachment from the leather crust and need refinish.

    2] Finish is still attached although compressed along with the leather crust shrinkage, and bounds back good.

    It is a 50/50 case; can only tell, after hydrating and re-stretching the leather back to its original softness.

    I will hope for the best and prepare for the very worst to happen – damaged finish that need refinishing.

    Either way, the leather will be softened up, and will not lead to cracks if we take this route.

    Roger Koh
    [email protected]

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Posts
    1

    Default

    How did this work out for you Dan?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Hi Roger, We spoke on the phone yesterday and I have the same issue with my 2010 Acura TL. I left the Sunroof open In a rain storm and damaged the two front seats. Can you look at the attached pictures and advise on which products I should purchase and any tricks or techniques for repair and restoration.

    Thanks!Name:  Passenger_seat.JPG
Views: 8330
Size:  2.78 MB
    Paul

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Here are a few more photosName:  Passenger_detail.JPG
Views: 7353
Size:  1.94 MB Name:  Passenger_detail.JPG
Views: 7353
Size:  1.94 MBName:  Passenger_seat.JPG
Views: 6332
Size:  2.78 MBName:  Passenger_seat.JPG
Views: 6332
Size:  2.78 MB

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