I have a 1998 S500. The rear seat vents behind the center console continually
leak cold air. I can reduce the amount by closing the vent control, but cool air
still comes out. This car does not have the climate control option for the rear
seats.

With the heater on or off, I only get cold air out of the center rear vents.

Is there a duct somewhere under the center console that may have dropped
off or is this controlled by the vent system under the dash?

Thanks for your help.

BOBB

__________________
'98 S500 W140.051 119.980

Not sure and I cannot check out my car because its too late to go out to the garage, but if I remember correctly, the rear central vents will only blow cold air (not heated) in the same way as the front central vents do. Hot air at the rear is usually only available from the vents located under the front seats.

On the front central vents (on W140s) you can have hot air blown through them if you push the small buttom with the red dot located at the center of the vents. Maybe if you push this buttom and the system is blowing hot air, you can get also hot air from the rear central vents. I'll try it tomorrow on my car and see.

__________________
A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

There is a simple cable adjustment unter the sliding cover below the armrest.
With the carpet removed in that compartment you will see the cables & how to adjust them!! Good luck & keep the back warm.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Thanks for the info, I did notice that the little curved plastic piece that covers the wires in the hindge of the arm rest was loose and will not stay on (I removed it). So I will have a look.

Thanks
BOBB

__________________
'98 S500 W140.051 119.980

I have the same problem and would also like to know how to remove the center bin?

Please help!

Cheers

First thanks to M.B. Doc for the info.

It's rather simple, lift up the main arm rest, open the
slide cover and remove all junk!!!

Carefully lift out bottom liner and you will see the cable
slide. It is a pressure lock connection on the cables.

What I did was to open the rear vent all the way, then take
some pliers and push the rear cable towards the front while
holding the connector (just a 1/4" or so.

Now close the rear vent and you will feel some resistance
before it "clicks" closed. Gently, but firmly, keep closing vent
until you hear the click. You will see the rear cable slide slightly
in the connector. You are done!

Make sure that the cable slide (connector) moves freely and
the cable does not slip. If it does, you may have to compress
the cable conneector around the cable. Remember, with all MBZ
parts, DO NOT FORCE! Mocho means $$$!

BTW, some S500's have climate control in the back, so there may be
more stuff under the box, and I do not know how that system is
controlled.

BOBB

__________________
'98 S500 W140.051 119.980

The 600s and some special order 500s had an entire heater/AC in the console. It made it very shallow and had individual dials. The vent never provides heat only fresh air or AC and as pointed out can be closed. the adjustment is under the carpeted bottom of the bin, pull it up, and follow the instructions.

Does this procedure work as laid out for other 140 models? I have a '97 S320 LWB with the factory phone installed in the console. When I empty the compartment under the arm rest, it doesn't appear that the "carpeted" liner will lift out. Is there a trick to this or do the S500's have a different config here? Thanks for any help clarifying this.

Rick in Raleigh

Rick,
Not sure! If you have climate control, there is a note describing that in this thread. On the bottom of the tray, can you gently try to pry the bottom up? Mine has a thin carpet/cardboard cover and under that is the cable system operated by the rear vent control handle.

BOBB

__________________
'98 S500 W140.051 119.980

Got it and the problem is now fixed! The bottom appeared to be part of the sides on first look - after you described "prying" the bottom off, I took my trusty Swiss Army knife very gently to the bottom and up it came. Fit so snugly that I would have sworn there wasn't a separate bottom.

Thanks so much for your help.

Rick in Raleigh