I recently purchased a 86 300e and the front passenger seatback got locked
in the horizontal position. How do I get back to the upright position.

Lots of things could be going on, but to narrow it down a bit, I'll need some more info.

I'm assuming your car has power seats.

Do you have the key in the ignition and in a position which will allow the seats to work?

Does the driver's seat operate properly?

Does the passenger's seat move in any of the other directions (ie front to back, headrest, tilt)?

When you try to raise the seat up do you hear any noises?

When you try to raise the seat up, does one side of the seat back try to move, but the other side wants to stay put?

In a dark garage or at night: With the engine off, turn your headlights on.
-try to move the seat, did the lights dim?




My thinking is that either you lost your electrical connection somewhere on the circuit, or that the motor/driveshaft gears have become demated.
-If the driver's seat works, then that will localize the issue to the passenger's side.
-If the other functions of the passenger's seat work, then it may not be electrical.
-If you're hearing noises in the seatback when you hit the switch, but no motion then your gears have either been stripped, or have become demated.
-If only one side of the seat back wants to move (typically the side towards the door) but the interior side stays put, then you broke the rod which connects the two sides together.

None of these are fatal, but some are more of a PITA than others. Let me know what the results of those troubleshooting steps are and I'll see what else I can come up with. I've dealt with alot of seat fun in the past year with my Benzes. I replaced both buckets in my 78 300CD (and actually used the seat from a donor car, and the backrest from my car for a franken-seat) and I had to replace the rod which links the left side and right side hinges of the backrest in my 88 560SEL. You'd be surprised how much is similar between the power and non-power seats! I actually used a spare rod from the 78 to replace the rod that broke in the 88. Better than ever!


Good Luck!


Scott

CzarFC,

The answers to your questions ar as follows:
Power Seats - yes
Driver's side works fine
Passenger's side moves front and back, headrest also moves
No noise or movement when I try and raise the seat
No change in the headlights when I try and move the seat

What do you think?

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!

Jeff