Tried this topic on the diesel board, but with no luck.

The passenger seat back on my W126 is stuck all the way back. Managed to remove the seat, but cannot figure out how to manually return the seat to the upright position.

After disengaging the motor from the white plastic gear, I applied 12v to the line and it would not spin. It smells burnt, also.

JV

Sounds like you might need a new seat motor. Now that you know how they are accessed you could procure one at your local salvage yard.

In the mean time you could use a portable drill motor to power the seat to the position you want. The drive shaft should slip out of the motor and gear. It has nice square drive ends. Chuck one end into your drill motor and hit the button. If the seat moves thew wrong direction just reverse the drill.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.