And all the small parts went flying........ - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Smooooth · #1 01-01-2005, 10:33 AM

Greetings.........

Well - First thing this morning I decided to tackle what I thought was going to be a little job. Disassemble - Clean - Reassemble the Drivers Side Power Seat Control......... Basically - the Seat Back control had partially failed. I could tip the seat forward but not back. Up until I replaced the Alternator I was able to rely upon the seat memories.

Removed the unit from the door and headed for the basement.

Carefully pried apart the 2 halves and then all H^%L broke loose.
Little parts started falling out..........

6 brass toggle levers, 8 small ball bearings, Plastic controls with loose brass rods and little springs, etc..............

At this point the mind focused on the problem at hand and grabbing the Digital Camera was the last thing on my mind - Sorry

Fortunately - 2 of the controls are fixed into place that I could use as a rebuild reference.

After completely cleaning all of the parts and contacts the reassembly began.

In short - with the Gray half on the table surface you must start stacking parts very carefully. Levers, then Controls, then Ball bearings. DO NOT BREATH, COUGH, SNEEZE, OR MAKE ANY SUDDEN MOVES!!!! Balancing the Ball Bearings on their respective springs takes a gentle touch. Add a piece of tape to hold the Green Button, and 1 & 2 from falling out of the Black half as you invert that piece to SLOWLY lower it onto the Gray piece. This unto itself was a challenge getting everything lined up and then trying to snap the 2 halves back together.

All told - R & R & R was less than 2 hours.
Satisfaction Rating for the First Day of the New Year - Off the Scale!!!!

Now I'm rebuilding the Power Antenna (letting a part soak in PB Blaster while I write this). This is going to be a good year...........

Stephen (Doing the Snoopy Dance)

Jim H · #2 01-01-2005, 10:44 AM

Congratulations!

Some years back I was repairing the headlight switch on my BMW K75RT. I opened the switch while it was still on the bike, in the garage.

Boy, those little parts travel a loooong way when the spring pressure is released!

BTW, I found 'em all and stuffed 'em back in and it worked.

Great way for you to start the new year.

Best Regards,
Jim

aklim · #3 01-01-2005, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooooth

6 brass toggle levers, 8 small ball bearings, Plastic controls with loose brass rods and little springs, etc..............

and a partridge in a pear tree....

Good job. Sometimes the simpelest jobs seem to become monsters whose main function is to make your life miserable.

dannym · #4 01-01-2005, 01:19 PM

Hey,
I did the same thing. LOL lots of small parts, luckily I was able to put it back together.
My seat was way too far fowartd when I bought it and It wouldn't go back. I wound up taking the back of the seat off and reversing the wires. Then when I got the seat where I wanted it I put them back.
Also, set the automatic seat control to where you want it. If you ever move the seat and can't get it back the automatic button will set it right.

Danny

Sorin · #5 01-01-2005, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooooth

Greetings.........

Well - First thing this morning I decided to tackle what I thought was going to be a little job. Disassemble - Clean - Reassemble the Drivers Side Power Seat Control......... Basically - the Seat Back control had partially failed. I could tip the seat forward but not back. Up until I replaced the Alternator I was able to rely upon the seat memories.

Removed the unit from the door and headed for the basement.

Carefully pried apart the 2 halves and then all H^%L broke loose.
Little parts started falling out..........

6 brass toggle levers, 8 small ball bearings, Plastic controls with loose brass rods and little springs, etc..............

At this point the mind focused on the problem at hand and grabbing the Digital Camera was the last thing on my mind - Sorry

Fortunately - 2 of the controls are fixed into place that I could use as a rebuild reference.

After completely cleaning all of the parts and contacts the reassembly began.

In short - with the Gray half on the table surface you must start stacking parts very carefully. Levers, then Controls, then Ball bearings. DO NOT BREATH, COUGH, SNEEZE, OR MAKE ANY SUDDEN MOVES!!!! Balancing the Ball Bearings on their respective springs takes a gentle touch. Add a piece of tape to hold the Green Button, and 1 & 2 from falling out of the Black half as you invert that piece to SLOWLY lower it onto the Gray piece. This unto itself was a challenge getting everything lined up and then trying to snap the 2 halves back together.

All told - R & R & R was less than 2 hours.
Satisfaction Rating for the First Day of the New Year - Off the Scale!!!!

Now I'm rebuilding the Power Antenna (letting a part soak in PB Blaster while I write this). This is going to be a good year...........

Stephen (Doing the Snoopy Dance)

I did that this summer on both of my switches and my power seats were working again.
I placed a towel on the working table so the small parts won't be flying all over the place

speedy300Dturbo · #6 01-01-2005, 10:11 PM

Reassembly of those seat switches is a million times easier if you tack the ball bearings to the springs using a tiny dab of grease.

Smooooth · #7 01-02-2005, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedy300Dturbo

Reassembly of those seat switches is a million times easier if you tack the ball bearings to the springs using a tiny dab of grease.

Great Idea - T H A N K Y O U ! ! ! ! !

Ramblin · #8 01-02-2005, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooooth

Now I'm rebuilding the Power Antenna (letting a part soak in PB Blaster while I write this). This is going to be a good year...........

Having repaired and rebuilt many power antennas (all kinds) the Mercedes antennas are most prone to being rebuilt of all the types. The only thing that actually happens to them is the buildup of dirt and salt in the base of the antenna due to clogging of the drain in the bottom of the antenna. The other thing that can happen is that there are some copper parts in the antenna and they can corrode because of salt. A new mast is always a good idea because the teeth in the plastic extension coil get worn and can cause problems. The gear is not usually the problem however as usual the presence of dryed lubrication is always a hinderance. Upon disassembly of the antenna cleaning of the inside of the base area is essential and relubrication of the parts will make it work like new. Don't forget to clean and renew the ground (-).

Smooooth · #9 01-02-2005, 08:01 AM

I just spent the morning, past 2 hours, tearing down, cleaning, and rebuilding the Power Antenna.

Crud Removal was the biggest thing.
Used White Lithium Grease on all the mating surfaces.
Installed New Mast........

Just curious??? How far UP should the Antenna Extend automatically???

Mine goes up about 16" to 18" then stops. Manually raising it from inside the car is not a problem. Once fully raised - It will retract completely automatically........

Stephen

Ramblin · #10 01-02-2005, 08:11 AM

As I remember the mast has to be installed when the antenna is in the fully extended position otherwise it will not raise to the full position. Take the collar nut off the antenna and turn the radio on so as to extend the antenna and take the mast out. Reinsert the mast coil in the antenna and have someone turn the radio off and feed the mast coil down in the antenna so as to get the full length of the coil fully retracted into the antenna. As I remember also some cars have an antenna switch that will allow the antenna to not fully extend. Make sure if you have one that it is in the right position. The antenna should go up at least 28-34 inches. Some antennas go up as high as 50".

Hatterasguy · #11 01-02-2005, 10:15 AM

Ha ha the same thing happend to me when I pulled apart my drivers side switch.

I opened it up then the springs and balls went everywhere. Luckly I had a junk spare to scavange parts off of. I need to do my passengers side switch to, the seat doesn't some forward well.

Can you get belts for the power antenna's? That seems to be something that would break.

Smooooth · #12 01-02-2005, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooooth

Just curious??? How far UP should the Antenna Extend automatically???

Mine goes up about 16" to 18" then stops. Manually raising it from inside the car is not a problem. Once fully raised - It will retract completely automatically........

RTFM!!!!!!! Had to have the Antenna Switch in the MAX position. In the center position - it only raises part way......

Thanks RAMBLIN for the hint......

Stephen

destiny · #13 09-04-2006, 04:47 PM

OK, so I'm a car DIY noob... what are the steps involved in removing the switch so I can clean it up. It moved backwards a couple days ago for me. Today I moved it forward to get a box into the back seat of my MB '89 300CE and now the seat won't go back again.

I've also heard about spraying contact cleaner in the switch to see if it will work. Is this worth a shot?

kmaysob · #14 09-04-2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooooth

Greetings.........

Well - First thing this morning I decided to tackle what I thought was going to be a little job. Disassemble - Clean - Reassemble the Drivers Side Power Seat Control......... Basically - the Seat Back control had partially failed. I could tip the seat forward but not back. Up until I replaced the Alternator I was able to rely upon the seat memories.

Removed the unit from the door and headed for the basement.

Carefully pried apart the 2 halves and then all H^%L broke loose.
Little parts started falling out..........

6 brass toggle levers, 8 small ball bearings, Plastic controls with loose brass rods and little springs, etc..............

At this point the mind focused on the problem at hand and grabbing the Digital Camera was the last thing on my mind - Sorry

Fortunately - 2 of the controls are fixed into place that I could use as a rebuild reference.

After completely cleaning all of the parts and contacts the reassembly began.

In short - with the Gray half on the table surface you must start stacking parts very carefully. Levers, then Controls, then Ball bearings. DO NOT BREATH, COUGH, SNEEZE, OR MAKE ANY SUDDEN MOVES!!!! Balancing the Ball Bearings on their respective springs takes a gentle touch. Add a piece of tape to hold the Green Button, and 1 & 2 from falling out of the Black half as you invert that piece to SLOWLY lower it onto the Gray piece. This unto itself was a challenge getting everything lined up and then trying to snap the 2 halves back together.

All told - R & R & R was less than 2 hours.
Satisfaction Rating for the First Day of the New Year - Off the Scale!!!!

Now I'm rebuilding the Power Antenna (letting a part soak in PB Blaster while I write this). This is going to be a good year...........

Stephen (Doing the Snoopy Dance)

did you get the new father feeling when done?

destiny · #15 09-05-2006, 02:35 AM

Wow... that was the first thing I ever really fixed on a car. The frail whirring sound of that stupid seat going backwards was the coolest feeling I've felt in a long time. I pulled my girlfriend out into the driveway at midnight to sit in the passenger seat and "feel" it go back and forward. "Look at what the man has done! I have fixed the car!"

So, yeah, thanks for the info.