recently purchased an 86 300sdl the back seat doesnt work i will look at switches but i was wondering how does it move? up or down or does it recline the manual dosen`t say which direction, also when a front seat does not recline you have to help it would it be a striped gear or a bad cable(or do they have these) never have taken one of these apart before so asking the experts worked on the 300D seats easy manual. by the way it is a nice -42 here with windchill no problem starting love the 0/30 synthetic

thanks

Rear seat bottom moves fore and aft. Driver's door needs to be shut. I had to work my switch back and forth quite a bit to get it to start moving.

__________________
1998 E300 +310,000K
1996 E300 +460,000K

Not in any MB I've driven. In fact the seat will move with the key out and the door open.

Sixto
87 300D

Weird. Won't in mine.

__________________
1998 E300 +310,000K
1996 E300 +460,000K

My SD uses cables for recline. Not sure you can tell without tearing it apart wether it's the cable or stripped something else.

Could be a bad diode -

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=135111

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=38768

I think it's in the main fusebox.

Sixto
87 300D

Hmm, so are all the seats supposed to operate this way? Or does the driver's seat have a open-door lockout? It made no sense to me that the rear seat wouldn't recline with the driver's door open.

__________________
1998 E300 +310,000K
1996 E300 +460,000K

Oh, and to CCPB -- If this car is a recent accquisiton, please replace all the fuses and make sure the fuse contacts are clean. Then proceed with further diagnostics.

Pretty sure Phil (Click the buy parts tab up above -- he sponsors this site) has a complete fuse replacement kit.

__________________
1998 E300 +310,000K
1996 E300 +460,000K

Each front seat should work without the key if that front door is open. So driver door closed, front passenger door open, key out, front passenger seat should work, driver seat shouldn't work. At least that's how it is/was in my 87 SDL, 87 300D, 91 300SE, 93 300SD, 95 S420...

I'm pretty sure the SDL rear seat worked with the key out and either rear door open.

Sixto
87 300D

thanks for the replies will look at the fuzes, they looked clean but would be an idea to change. the other thing does the rear vent control below the armrest always blow cold air? when i have the switch on with the EC marking next one to the off button and the temp switch set at 22.?? and last does anyone here have the rubber cover for sale that fits in the right wheel well at the rear at the front of the rear bumper, it acts as a splash guard. In the Merc. CD repair manual it is called a "cover in wheel house rear" i live in an area were there are no SD or SDL around if there was it would be a least 1000 miles away, if i am lucky.

excellent forum as usual............

The source of the rear console vent is upstream of the heater core but downstream of the evaporator. Depending on setting, you'll either get cooled air or outside air. Never heated air. Use the slide lever to close the vent. heat for the rear cabin comes from under the front seats.

I highly doubt that part is Diesel specific. You should be able to use a fender liner from na 81-91 300SE/SEL, 380SE/SEL, 420SEL, 500SEL or 560SEL.

Sixto
87 300D

I have a 86 300sdl with the rear reclining seats. They will only work when the ignition is on. I had problems with my rear seat and it turned out to be bad switches in the doors. Mine would recline, but not return. I opened the switches, cleaned the contacts and all is well.
By the way, if you ever have to remove the back seat, you must recline the seat first to remove the two bolts underneath the seat. The seat bottom bolts to the front of the seat frame that reclines. Under the rear seat you will see the recline motor and two cables. Make sure the cables and gear are lubricated well. A lot of junk falls under the back seat and gums thing up.

John

__________________
John
1986 300sdl
1985 380se