Help! Can't remove rear passenger seats to check factory amps! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

worldcom11 · #1 02-19-2003, 01:08 AM

Could somebody pls tell me how to remove the rear passenger seat (power seats) on my a 1990 560 sel? I'm trying to get to the factory amps (w/c I was told is behind the rear back seats) All my left speakers have no sounds at all...I want to check possible loose connections back there. I wanted to check behind the Becker radio unit first but I don't have the MB tool for pulling the face out. I removed the 2 10mm bolts at the bottom of the rear seat but couldn't remove the seat w/o forcing it or breaking something inside. Am I even headed in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.
Andy

goldstone · #2 02-19-2003, 12:44 PM

I don't have power seats in the rear of my 126, so I'm not sure if the configuration is the same. But, on the assumption that it is, I offer the following:

1) The seatback is held by THREE fasteners, the two you've found plus another in the center. (If you slightly lower the armrest and look through the seatbelt assembly, you'll see the third.)

2) The seatback needs to be lifted up and then brought toward you to release it. (If you have someone to help you, it goes a lot easier.)

3) Amps are located on either side.

My guess is you've got a bad left amp. I understand that this is a pretty common problem. If you don't find something obvious (like a loose wire, etc.), try swapping the amps to see if my guess is right.

Good luck.

worldcom11 · #3 02-19-2003, 04:09 PM

Thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately I am still battling the removal of the bottom seat cushion so I can get to the backrest screws. The 2 bolts I found are at the bottom of the seat cushions. The CD unfortunately did not address power seats removal. Assuming I am eventually able to get to the amps, what are my options if left one is fried? Is it advisable to replace them both with better or newer more efficient amps? Has anybody gone this route before?

Thanks,
Andy

goldstone · #4 02-19-2003, 04:28 PM

Sorry. I didn't realize you were talking about the seats themselves. Someone else is going to have to help you with these since they differ from mine.

As for amps, I recently upgraded my headunit and opted to bypass the stock amps. Since I'm not using mine, if you do indeed find that one of yours has passed-on to Hi-Fi heaven, just let me know. I'm sure we can work out a good deal.

Cheers!

Ashman · #5 02-19-2003, 09:21 PM

I think there should be a release for the cushion.

My car - no power seats, has a little red tab just barely sticking out of the center of the bottom of the seat cusion per side.

Perhaps you have something similar on yours. But with the power rear seats it may be different.

Alon

worldcom11 · #6 02-19-2003, 11:14 PM

Many thanks for the all the suggestions I received from you all. I just got the owners manual by mail from MBenz this pm and immediately referred to section for seat cushion removal (p 99). It said "On vehicles with power rear seats, the rear seat cushion can best be removed and installed by an authorized MERCEDES BENZ dealer"! Bummer

This probably explains why the previous owner never had this speaker/amps problem repaired.

I'll post the results and my experience if and when I decide to go to the dealer...

Andy

goldstone · #7 02-20-2003, 01:57 AM

Andy,

Don't throw in the towel just because the Mercedes owners manual suggests you should! Post your question in the TECH section of this forum. It gets far more traffic, and lord knows there are guys there who have rebuilt 560 SEL's from the ground up.

Can't hurt to try there, and I'm betting you get your answer and save a bundle to boot!!!

Maruzo · #8 02-21-2003, 01:10 PM

Hey Andy:

Welcome to the Shopforum. I own a 1990 560sel as well. Had my left amp fried first, and later on the right one went away quickly (less than 3 weeks later). A better aftermarket amp is probably better idea. Then again, if you are looking for minimum hassle / elbow grease, just find an used one cheap somewhere and replace it. The stock amp has a 10 pin connector to it and it's a very easy swap.

To remove the bottom cushion, just take out the 2 bolts on the bottom of either side, and it should slide right out. Don't be afraid to use brute force. MB cars are made to withstand a little abuse here and there.

I think the cushion only goes partly out, but you should gain enough clearance to look below the seatbacks and find the 3 bolts that someone else has mentioned. Remove the whole seatback and you should see the factory amps on either side.

The 10 pin connectors that goes into the factory amps are a good source for the oem speaker leads. Just connect your after market head unit's speaker outs into either side's connectors. You should run 2 sets of wires to either connector: 1 set of FR (inlcluding + And - ), 1 set of RR. 1 set of FL, 1 set of RL. All the other power connections for your aftermarket unit can be found from the stock connectors of the original becker unit.

I've got a JVC Mp3 unit connected to the oem speakers. It sounds wonderful and is much more convenient than the older unit. I love how you can play 100+ songs with one single cd and switch the songs around with a nifty little remote. The only loss was the ability to extend the antanna in various heights.

Look for posts from Longston and Scott. They helped me a lot with my project.

Good Luck

worldcom11 · #9 02-24-2003, 12:28 AM

I finally got the seats out and confirmed that my left amp is fried and my left speaker wirings are not sending clear signals. So I will look for a decent head unit and wire the speakers directly, as some of you did. Many thanks for your great advice and suggestions. I'll let you know what unit I end up with and the results.

Ciao,

Andy

goldstone · #10 02-24-2003, 02:07 PM

Sorry about your fried amp, but if my experience is representative, it was probably the best thing that could happen to that audio system in your 560SEL, since getting a newer head unit and bypassing those old amps will make a HUGE difference!

By the way, what was the trick for getting those power seats out?

#11 02-26-2003, 04:01 AM

The seat bench is bolted in by two 10mm bolts, one on the left at the bottom and the other on the right. My seat also had doublesided tape on the rails that the seat sits on so I had to pull up and towards me to get it off.

Matt.

worldcom11 · #12 02-26-2003, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by goldstone
Sorry about your fried amp, but if my experience is representative, it was probably the best thing that could happen to that audio system in your 560SEL, since getting a newer head unit and bypassing those old amps will make a HUGE difference!

By the way, what was the trick for getting those power seats out?

Hi Goldstone,

Thanks for those helpful hints. What really did the trick was "brute force" as Maruzo suggested . The seat came off with a loud "crack" because the double sided tape was I guess stuck frozen. I thought I broke something but fortunately nothing. Yes looks like my left amp may be in Hi Fi heaven, what did you have in mind for your amp?

Andy

goldstone · #13 02-27-2003, 09:26 AM

Andy,

If you indeed decide that you just want to replace that dead amp, let me know. As noted in an earlier post, I'm not using my stock amps anymore, so I'd be willing to part with one/both for a VERY reasonable price.

If you're interested, let me know and I'll contact you privately.