Hi all,
Been lurking for awhile, thought I'd go ahead and join in, and ask about a problem I just ran into with the seats.

I recently cleaned/ condtioned my Leather with the Lexol cleaner and condtioner. Everything is great, except for 2 areas. The raised area on the drivers seat, as your climbing in and the top of the steering wheel. These 2 areas don't seem to want to come back. They both turn black when appling condtioner and it just keeps soaking in. But wipe with a cloth andit's like you never condtioned, looks dry and even feels almost rough not smooth like the rest. Also as I'm condtioning I'm getting a brown color(matches the seats) and the pad i'm using. Thought okay didn't rinse enough after cleaning, took a wet rag back to it, a little better, but thecondtoner still seems to wipe off. Even though you can see it sinking in. I'm thinking rinse again.
Any other suggestions(besdes crying)
Really love the forum, great info

Thanks for any help(it's not cool to see a grown man cry)
Oh by the way, it's not really mine, my wife just lets me drive once in awhile, says she'll let me have my own soon (F250??)

Joe

2002 Chestnut
Crew
4X4(gotta love a chick in a 4x4)

 

Joe,

Welcome to our forum. I hope you get your own KR soon, sharing a truck wouldn't be easy for me at all. Sounds like the F250s with the KR package are within your reach now.

You should wait for RockPick to chime in on the seat conditioing as well as many others like Lenticular and Skagel to name a few. I'm not an expert by any means but from the little that I know, if an area turns brown while conditioning then it's probably due to being extremely dry and deficient in proper oils and such.

Hope you have fun here and enlighten everyone's experience with knowledge, jokes and wit.

~DM~

 

I have similar problems with my steering wheel but, I'll chime in with help tomorrow... too damn tired right now...

BTW, welcome to our little madhouse. I'll be your host...


RP

 

Host it is...Agreed I have the same steering wheel problem, but it doesnt bother me....I kinda like the different look and imperfections of the leather...its kinda cool and as somone once said ...it makes you wanna .. . .. . . well . . .. . .um . . . . u know

SC

 

This my understanding as well. I don't really know what to tell you because I've been unable to really 'nurse' mine back to health. In fact, on my next trip to the dealership, I plan on trying to convince them that it's faulty and to get me a new one.

I've used Lexol, 4-way (fiebings), the KR/F150 stuff. None have really brought the leather back. It's really upsetting for me as well but, I'm not sure it's ever going to be the same.

I'll keep you posted on how things progress in my quest to get a new wheel.

RP

 

i've noticed that my driver's seat bottom cushion is starting to darken up...prolly just the nature of the leather and due to alot of in-and-out because of short trips. applying conditioner doesn't really seem to change the character much. prolly just have to live with it...

 

I had the steering wheel dirtying problem in my 01 KR. Sit tight when you read this it is HARSH. Call me crazy but saturate the steering wheel in a cleaner called spray-nine it is the oil from your hands in that leather. Go for a cigerette (if you smoke) or a coffee when you come back it should be dry, apply the KR leather cleaner and contitioner you can get it by calling 1-800-282-King. hope this helps.
Pat Sawyer
bluelightning@lightningowner.com

 

Thanks guys,
My problem with it is, this didn't happen until I cleaned he leather. I've condtioned it a few times, decided after a summer of fishing,boating it was time to clean, Actully I think the seat bothers me more than steeing wheel. I had noticed the steerin wheel was getting worn and accepted it. This just made it worse. Was reading one of the seat threads that metioned, a furniture shop said it was "painted". That is almost convincing me. Like when you clean something and eventually wear through it and get to the actual material underneath. I'll use the brass buckle on an army belt(the shiny one). There is actually a coating over the brass, shine it enough and it comes off. Leave it alone or shine once in awhil it'll last for years.
Oh well,
I'll keep at it.
thanks for all the replies
Joe

 

JoeN,
ya want an F250 KR....hehehehe......I got to fondle one and you'ooo didn't!!!

and I know RP is kicking himself hugely for missing out on that one......sorry RP that whole thing was really set up for me anyways.......gotta love having every wish ya ever had granted isn't it? Even when they are hugely ilegal and people could loose there jobs and future jobs over it......now that is Love guys!!

 

Ok, I have run an experiment to test these theories, and here are my conclusions. I tried using the lexol cleaner only on my steering wheel, because of these rumors of drying out. Sure enough, the steering wheel is now ruined and is getting replaced next week under warranty. I will NEVER use the Lexol cleaner again on my leather.

However, pretty much all the other leather conditioners I tested (Fiebing's, Ford stuff, and Lexol conditioner) warranted virtually exactly the same results. I have seen that the Lexol conditioner lasts longer, because the Fiebing's is not quite as thick.

Anyway, these are my results. I would recommend having your steering wheel replaced under warranty, as that is what I am doing.

 

Duf -


Are you able to take a pic of your wheel to show me -

My KR has 30 k miles on it and I was making a list of little things to get looked at by the dealer. My wheel has (in the top left at about 1000) has little holes in the brown leather.

These are fairly small but span across an area about 2 inches and is noticable...does this sound like somthing similar to yours...

Steve

 

No picture, but mine has basically a bleached look to it that looks dry and cracked. It is discolored and very ugly. I blamed it on the sun and a faulty piece of leather, so I am getting it replaced under warranty. It was however, the Lexol ph cleaner that did it. No more of that on my leather.

 

Thanks again...I appreciate it...I will put it on the list and take to dealer to look at....mabey raise a little cain, or kick a few trashcans...

Steve

 

Something I noticed in the 03 F150 brochure- In
the pages on the KR, they say in the captions on
the side that the leather is on the seating surfaces. I'm used to that on my Lariat SC, but the best part of the KR is that super leather, and the fact that it covered the whole seat,sides,
and back. Of course on the 02 Lariat, the rear seat is leather only in the inserts(bolsters are
vinyl-good vinyl, but vinyl nevertheless). The later 02 Explorer/Mountaineer is like that also.
Ford just seems to get cheaper with their leather
every year.

 

I assure you it will all be leather. There is no way to match the uniqueness of the KR leather without using the actual thing.