I just purchased a low mileage 1989 560SL and began having two problems. The first is that the drivers seat will no longer adjust downwards. It originally adjusted upward, I believe, six positions and upon depressing the lever arm the seat would shift downward to its lowest position, accomodating my height. It now shifts up and down one position only, seemingly the highest position. I can see no problems with the gears under the seat. It appears that all of the mechanism is a part of the seat and so removing the seat should not create a problem, but I am not sure. I cannot visualize the mechanism between the seat and the floor/body without removing the seat.

Second problem is that antenna does not fully retract when turning radio/ignition/switch off. Can you advise? Thanks so much for your help!

Oops! I have a third problem.... the tape player does not work.

Thanks again!

Crazyschultzie!

Been there done that. The seat problem is most probably the switch in the door. The antenna is fixable, assuming that it is not bent. To remove it, turn on the radio, then unscrew the nut at the base of the antenna. While holding the antenna, have someone turn off the radio. It will try to retract. Let it do its thing. Then turn on the radio. It will start to extend. Hold on to it cuz it will push the slotted nylon rod all the way out.

I have had several antennas not work from dirt that accumulates in the telescoping tubes. Using solvent and grease, work the antenna in and out while trying to dislodge the dirt inside. Get it nicely greased up so it slides easily. Keep working it till it is totally free. Then the fun begins.

To reinstall, turn the radio on. Feed the nylon slotted rod into the antenna hole. Be sure that the teeth are facing forward. The rod will be curled and you might have to straighten it at the end by bending it in the opposite direction timm it is somewhat straight. You have to be sure that you push it far enough in to engage the gear inside that meshes with it. When you have made contast with the internal gear, have someone turn off the radio and it will begin to retract the antenna. Then put the nut back on. Easy as pie.

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I got too many cars!! Insurance eats me alive. Dave

78 Corvette Stingray - 3k
82 242 Turbo Volvo - Manual - 270k
86 300e 5 speed manual - 210k
87 420sel - 240k
89 560sl - 78k
91 420sel - 205k
91 560sel - 85k
94 GMC Suburban - 90k
97 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail - 25k
00 GMC Silverado 1 ton 30k

The seat is operated manually via a handle to the left side of the drivers seat and to the right side of the passenger seat. The malfunction in this case must be mechanical in nature. Have you ever removed the seats in a 560 sl or experienced this?

Thanks for the great advice regarding the antenna!

Take care.

Sorry I assumed the seats were power. I have no experience with manual seats. DId you get the antenna working properly ??

__________________
I got too many cars!! Insurance eats me alive. Dave

78 Corvette Stingray - 3k
82 242 Turbo Volvo - Manual - 270k
86 300e 5 speed manual - 210k
87 420sel - 240k
89 560sl - 78k
91 420sel - 205k
91 560sel - 85k
94 GMC Suburban - 90k
97 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail - 25k
00 GMC Silverado 1 ton 30k

Al,

The seat height is operated off of a sprocket gear; you may need to remove the seat to fix it.

To remove the seat, look for the bolts that hold it in, they are inside the slider track four total 2 in the front and 2 in the back; once you have removed the bolts the seat comes out (some what easy, yeah rite!). Make sure that the seat does not get caught on the center console and be very careful not to bang it into anything such as the door, hallway and console, which by the way is very easy to do. If you have a heated seat you will have to, unplug the heater lines.

It also may be a good idea to stop by your local MB parts shop and pick-up some new guides for the seat rails, they tend to wear out over time.

Good luck!

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Eric, 1983 500 SL

Al:
I'm pretty sure that the small spring for the pawl on the ratchet mechanism has come off, maybe broke. it's a 20 cent item, may want to order the MB one to get it right the first time. You can compare the drivers to the passengers side to see which spring it is. Maybe it's even still there, laying under the seat or hanging on to one side. Just fixed 2 of these this summer. It's do-able without replacing the seat, but be patient and persistant. There's a few different springs under there, this one is small, between and inch and two inces long when tension is released, really light, doesn't do all that much, just holds the pawl engaged to the gear when adjusting.
Gilly

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Just a note to thank you for your input regarding my seat malfunction.....the more I thought about the problem, the more it seemed to me that it had to be a purely mechanical problem. I had checked the spring which you had mentioned, removed same and tested its tension prior to replacing it. On my last try I was looking under the seat, operating the mechanism and pulled back the carpet which pressed against the lower part of the rail. I was about to give up when I noticed something black in color sitting under the rail. It was about 2/3's of the way forward under the rail on the left side and I could move it. Thinking better of this I checked the opposite seat and found no plastic piece. Returning to the drivers seat, I carefully removed the piece which was wedged under the seat rail, noting that there was an indentation in the floor where it had sat and leading forwrd to another indentation with a small depression between the two. It appears that the plastic cap had been wedged for some time and, on occaision, would move backwards, preventing the seat from pivoting downward. It is a small black cap with a small gummed prominence inside the cap, presumably to hold the cap on wherever it belongs. As to where that is.....at this time I have no idea! The seat now works great! Thanks, again for you assistance!