2021 Ford Expedition Limited changing 2 row Captain Seats to Bench Seats

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igorelik2020

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Hello.
Just purchased my 2021 Ford Expedition with 2 row Captain seats. Quickly realized with 1 year old baby we really need 2 row middle seat.
I already found someone who is selling me 2 row 3 bench seats including the middle one, and I am ready to swap, but there are 3 questions there:
1. currently I dont see wires for the middle seat sticking out (for heating and folding / reclining), are they hidden under the carpet ? or do I need to purchase a whole new 2 row seat wiring harness ?
2. are there threaded holes for middle seat bolts under the carpet ?
3. do I need to get a new folding seats button control switch for the rear side panel to be able to operate the newly added seats with the new middle seat?

Please see images attached, first is from youtube video showing vehicle with bench seats, and second image for vehicle with captain seats.

Is anyone out there done this procedure - please share as many details as possible.

Thank you in advance.


Bench seats
1641191198984.png

Captain Seats
1641191290552.png
 

Red Fox

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I didn't do this procedure but I have a 2020 model with 2nd row bench seat from the manufacturer. FYI, The middle seat is not heated, only the other two are.
 
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igorelik2020

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Thank you Red Fox for this valuable info. This means middle seat should have less wires going to it ? But it is still auto-folding, correct ? Can you tell if there are still wires connected to middle seat on the bottom ?
 

houlster

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The 2nd row is auto-folding only, using spring pressure. To flip them up, you have to manually lift them. The buttons at the back just release the catch and let the spring pressure fold them. Only the 3rd row has power up/down.

As for your swap, I'd guess there there must be a solenoid of some sort for the center seat that the button would trip to let fold. Probably the only wires involved for it. And the button? Need to find wiring diagrams. May be the switch is different (besides the icon), or the wires from it just run differently. i.e, to the center seat rather than both side seats...

Edit: Just checked mine. Middle seat has a multi-pin connector with 4 wires to it. Not sure what they're all for though. Seems like 2 would suffice. 2018 Max Limited btw...
 
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igorelik2020

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What about the threaded floor nuts where the seat gets screwed in ? Are they there under the carpet ? Pre-drilled inside the metal floor ? Anyone ?
 

jak1221

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You are not going to like this but the rear body harness is different if you have a center seat. You cannot just buy a harness you have to take out the whole rear harness. I am in the process of doing it now I bought a harness on eBay. You have to get the vin number and find out if it was built with a center seat. The swap is very difficult to make work with power fold functions. If you can live without power folding I would recommend doing so. Sorry
 

jak1221

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Should have said I used rivet nuts and drilled holes in the floor. I didn't have any holes hidden under carpet.
 

MattG

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What are you doing with the Captains chairs? Black? Condition?
I would like to go from bench to chairs.
 

pmcrae

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Did you ever complete this? We just did and we're having a hard time using the slide and tilt feature. The seats are getting caught on each other.
 

m3olsen

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