I just sold my 1994 C4 base model Corvette (sniff, sniff, I loved that car but she was starting to have some problems and I wasn't willing to continue footing the repair bills) and purchased a gorgeous 2006 C6 Corvette base model in Monterey Red from a small dealership in Manteca with 46,000 miles on it. Overall the car seems really good except for some relatively minor cosmetic and functional problems.

1. The passenger power seat handle or lever is missing. The switch itself with its three buttons is still fully functional. You can move it forward, back, up and down but the plastic or nylon handle or lever that's supposed to snap over the three buttons on the switch is missing.
2. You can pump up the lumber bladder in the passenger seat but it will not bleed off air, so what you have is, in effect, a rock-hard bump in the middle of your back that you can't get rid of. I had a Chevrolet dealership here in Fresno look at it and they said the hose was crimped (pinched closed) by the seat to the point that it can't be uncrimped so air won't release from the bladder. They said someone evidently had the seat off and when they put it back on the hose was not routed properly allowing the damage to occur.
3. The door lock switch on the passenger door is functional but the plastic top part of the switch with the lock and unlock icons is missing.

I asked the dealerthip, Hedricks Chevrolet in Fresno, California, about the cost to repair these minor (at least they seem like they should be minor) problems. They told me:

1. You can't replace just the handle/lever for the power seat switch. You have to purchase the entire switch which, because it is programmable, is $260 plus labor to install.
2. You can't replace just the hose of the lumbar bladder, you have to replace the entire bladder/hose/switch assembly which is over $400 plus labor to install.
3. You can't replace just the plastic top portion of the door lock switch, you have to replace the entire switch which is $140 plus labor to install.

Here are my two questions.

• Is there someplace online (maybe a salvage yard site or something similar) where I can get just the handle/lever that snaps on to the power seat switch for the passenger seat? It seems crazy to me that you have to buy the entire programmable switch just to replace a 25 cent (or $5.00 or whatever) plastic lever that snaps onto it. See the attached photo of the lever/switch.
•  Is there any way to get the lumbar bladder to work without replacing the whole $400+ assembly?

Thank you very much in advance for any help and/or advice you can offer about this.

Neil
C6 newbie

 Andy, I take my hat off to you for your great suggestion. I called Chris Mays as you suggested and he said he can order the lever for the power seat switch for under $12 (plus shipping to me) and can order the door lock switch for the passenger side door for under $13. He'll ship them both to me after he gets them and I should have them by sometime next week. He said to tell you "Hi" and he appreciates you continuing to send him business. Regarding the high prices that Hedrick's Chevrolet quoted to me for the door lock switch, he said they must have been including shop labor to replace it in their quote to me. He had no idea why they told me I could not order just the lever for the power seat switch but instead told me I had to replace the entire switch.

Many, many thanks!

I got my Corvette back today with the new lumbar bladder assembly and switch from Hedricks Chevrolet. The lumber now works great -- but for $475 it should.

For anyone interested, attached are some photos of our new baby, the Monterey Red 2006 base model C6 Corvette. We think she's gorgeous!