201 heated seat problem - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

davidmash · #1 12-07-2005, 11:27 AM

I have a 1987 16 valve and the heated seas are screwed up.

The passenger seat will only go on low. (I got both lights to go on for high but only once). The driver seat will only go on high but the timer works and after it is on for about 5 min or so it goes down to low. I have switched the console switches but it does not change how each side operates. I swapped the control box things on the floor board with each other and it also had not effect. I had the driver seat cushion apart when I replaced the padding and did not see any control box on it. Also, when I turn the seats on I can hear a "clicking" sound comming from the area where the control boxs are on the floor board.

Any ideas?

Thanks

David

mctwin2kman · #2 12-07-2005, 11:55 AM

Could be bad relay!!!! That would be the clicking sound you hear, the relay's! I am not sure how many there are as I do not have factory heated seats, but on another forum someone mentioned that there are 3 relays. I would check them as relays normally are not too expensive...

davidmash · #3 12-07-2005, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mctwin2kman

Could be bad relay!!!! That would be the clicking sound you hear, the relay's! I am not sure how many there are as I do not have factory heated seats, but on another forum someone mentioned that there are 3 relays. I would check them as relays normally are not too expensive...

Does someone know if there is a third one? My shop manual only showed 2. Thing is, when I swaped the 2 relays from one side to the other. The seats still acted the same way. Drive High only and Passenger low only. I would have thought if it were the relays, they would carry the defect from side to side with them.

MB190D · #4 12-07-2005, 03:23 PM

Your car has one relay for each side, located underneath the floormats (and plastic grid). I had similar problems with my passengerside relay last winter; It would go on at will, and was almost impossible to control via switch. Sometimes it would just click like mad before settling to high or low after a few seconds. Considering the placement of these, they often rust, which will call for a resoldering (if lucky, replacement is next). I planned to do this, but before I got around to it the problem disappeared by itself. The seat is (or was, installed new seats which haven't been modified for it yet) fully functional still.

Edit; Just noticed that you had the same problem regardless of which relay you used; In that case the switches are probably defect - try swapping those around.

davidmash · #5 12-07-2005, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MB190D

Your car has one relay for each side, located underneath the floormats (and plastic grid). I had similar problems with my passengerside relay last winter; It would go on at will, and was almost impossible to control via switch. Sometimes it would just click like mad before settling to high or low after a few seconds. Considering the placement of these, they often rust, which will call for a resoldering (if lucky, replacement is next). I planned to do this, but before I got around to it the problem disappeared by itself. The seat is (or was, installed new seats which haven't been modified for it yet) fully functional still.

Edit; Just noticed that you had the same problem regardless of which relay you used; In that case the switches are probably defect - try swapping those around.

Been there and done that. I swaped both the relays and the switches. I'm thinking of buying 1 relay and one switch and seeing what happens. I wonder how much the relays are. I guess I could always sell a kiddney.