Installation Tips for Automotive Vinyl Mats
A.) Remove old carpet/vinyl.
1.) Remove sill plates. (Note – Be sure not to lose screws as you remove them. Putting them in a plastic cup is a good idea. Replace rusty screws.)
2.) Remove front seat bolts. Some seat bolts go through the bottom of the vehicle. In this case, remove the rubber plug to access the bolts. You will need a deep-well socket to remove the bolts.
3.) Remove front seat. (Note – Be careful to check for electrical wiring. If wiring is present, disconnect it at the male/female connector.)
4.) Remove seat belt bolts.
5.) Remove console (where appropriate). (Note – Be careful to check for electrical wiring. If wiring is present, disconnect it at the male/female connector.)
6.) Remove kick plates.
7.) Remove back seat, if bolted follow steps 2-3.
8.) Remove old carpet/vinyl mat.
B.) Prepare the floor pan.
1.) Vacuum or sweep the floor pan. Remove any felt or insulation that was attached to the old carpet. Do not remove any body insulation such as tar board or waterproofing.
2.) Use a stiff wire brush on rust spots and a mild solvent to clean the floor pan. The cleaner the floor pan, the longer a new carpet will last. You may want to “paint” the floor pan with a rust inhibitor.
C.) Install New Vinyl.
1.) Your new vinyl mat you have received is molded to fit your floor pan. Due to packaging, the new mat may appear to be flat and have folding creases in it. The mats are folded down the center of the transmission tunnel. This will help distinguish front to back. If the mat appears flat, lay it in direct sunlight. If no sunlight is available, a shop heater will work as well as in the sunlight. Let the mat set for an hour or two. If you use a shop heater, 10-15 minutes should be sufficient. Once plyable, place in pan. You will see the mat start to fall into place. If you are still having trouble and mat starts to stiffen, roll windows up and turn on the heater. This will help the mat fall into places as well. Use old mat or carpet as a template to make all the appropriate cuts in the mat. (Instead of making hole cuts, a small slit should be sufficient. The slit will make cutting errors less visible.)
2.) Replace back seat.
4.) Replace console (where appropriate). (Note – Be careful to reconnect electrical wiring).
5.) Replace seat belt bolts.
6.) Replace front seats. (Note – Be careful to reconnect electrical wiring).
7.) Replace front seat bolts. (Note – Oil the bolts well. This will make future installations easier). Don’t forget the rubber plugs.
8.) Replace sill plates.