Folks, I wonder if any of ya'll have messed around with the power seat motors/cables on a 124 series.

The passenger seat in my '87 300 td is stuck in the aft position. The switch checks out good-(the motor is receiving 12v at both switched poles). The cable jumps a bit when switching the seat back further aft , but it won't do anything if I click it to go forward. I'm assuming the gearbox is jammed, but it looks like a bear to remove and service, if this can be done at all. I've got the repair CD, but it appears worthless for this endeavor.

Any thoughts or advise?

Thanks

Well, I delved further into this little problem and discovered much to my dismay that the switch was the culprit. After pulling the seat and removing the drive motor, I realized that I had misinterpreted what kind of motor these units utilize. I hadn't diagnosed voltage inputs correctly...d'oh

The short of it is...don't immediately assume the worst case scenario.

I ended up then pulling the switch, cleaning each contact surface, and then delicately re-assembling the intricate device.

Now it works like a dream!

Zeitgeist - if you're still around, could you tell me how you got the power seat switch out?

Mine is doing the same as yours - stuck in position. I have been pulling at the plastic cover of the switches, but it doesn't seem interested in coming out (I have the switch knobs off)

I'm at paul at pauldrayton.com if you can reply. I dont' check the messages at mercedesshop much, so please send to that email address rather.

my seatback would recline but not come back up. The switch was the culprit but all I did was remove the buttons then spray contact cleaner (from Radio Shack) around the switch stalks the work them furiously. It fixed mine pronto.

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Muleears
'07 E320 Bluetec 133K my DD
'04 Jaguar XJ8 VDP, 34K
'10 Hyundai Accent 60K Grocery Getter
'02 VW Golf soon to be on the road again
'97 E300 Diesel Son's DD
'61 VERY tolerant wife

Hampton Roads, VA USA

Gone but not forgotten:
'67 250S 95K
'86 300SDL
'87 300D Turbo, 364K! R.I.P.
'98 E300 Turbodiesel, 213K
'02 S420, 164K
'01 Prius 138K

take the seat 'parts' off the switch first, then pop the cover off and you'll see two phillips screws. be very careful if you're going to open the switch up and fix it yourself, lots of tiny balls and springs to go flying. 9 times out of 10 though, all it needs is a cleaning.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

Yup, I had the same problem with my 1987 300D when I bought it. Stuck in the forward position. Cleaning the switch solved the problem.

__________________
1987 Mercedes 300D ~200K (Greasecar & Biodiesel)
1993 Ford F-250 7.3 IDI diesel 165K (Biodiesel)
1996 Thomas/International Bus with DT466 engine

THanks guys.

Mule - I like the spraying and furious switching idea. Contact cleaner it is for me. I'll be a hero (it's my wife's car), but I won't let her know how I did it.....

I found another post on how to get the cover off the switches, so if the furiousness + spraying doesn't work, I might be brave enough to take the switch box out.

Thanks again for the replies and ideas.