The backrest of the passenger side rear seat on my sons 300TE is stuck in the upright position.
We cannot put it down to use the great versitility of the wagon. The seat cushion flips up just fine.
I investigated it as best I can and when you put your finger in the release catch hole on the base , you can feel a rod which runs up to the catch, that is loose, unlike the drivers side. The rod runs behind the trim up to the seat back catch and it has clearly come off one or both ends.
The obvious thing would be to take off the trim, but I cannot see how it comes off!
Any ideas?

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

I've often dreaded this situation (rod is disconnected to the HOOK). My best guess is to cut a slit or rectangular opening in the material starting at the upper HOOK towards where it meets the door. This should allow you to insert special tool #imadeit (heavy coat hanger) to pull - push - twist & shout and release the HOOK.

Bob
PS There are two pdf files (68-475 & 68-478) in the CD Repair Manual. This will show how to remove the panel on the other side, so you can see how the HOOK mechanism in the wheel well functions and catches the LOOP in the seat back. I can email them to you, if you need them.

Thanks Bob, I sent you an email.

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

I didn't get your email. Try again with "300TE" (no quotes) in the Subject. Sometimes my email filters prevent receipt of email I do want.

I converted CD manuals two files to jpg. Maybe you you can get them here.
Bo

Attached Thumbnails

   

On our 89 TE you have to pull the 'knob' that is pressed in when the door closes to fully release the seat - I'll bet that's what it it - look about halfway between the bottom and top of the door opening, towards the rear, and you'll see it -

HTH

Brian
89 300TE 265K parked with bad transmission
92 300TE 155K

Thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. Sorry I am a little fuzzy on how these work, but what I remember is that there is the cargo cover that attaches to I believe the wider of the 2 sides. If that side isn't flipped forward first, the other can't move. Try opening both doors and flipping the other side forward first. Hope this helps. Yes as the previous poster mentioned, there is a plunger in each door jamb that has to pop out to allow the backrest to move, maybe try pulling out on the plunger a bit and see if you can get it to release.
Gilly
(EDIT; actually no the side the cargo cover ISN'T attached to folds forward first, then the side with the cargo cover can be folded forward)

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In my original post I forgot about the "plunger" same on my 94. The plunger locks the seat back in place while the door is closed. Hopefully, that's all it is.

Bob

Thanks for the input guys.
I saw a little plunger on the door jamb, but assumed it was for the interior lights. I will check.
The passenger door was open, but what we figured out, when we first found this, was that there is a lever that releases the latch on the backrest when the seat squab is lifted up... on the drivers side it works fine, but on the passenger side it doesnt.
By inserting a finger in beside the lower lever, you can feel a metal rod, like a door release lever that runs from the seat base lever upward to the seat back latch. On the drivers side, it is tightly attached at both ends... or feels like that, but on the pass side, it is loose and feels disconected , maybe on both ends!
I will take some pics.... but you gents with 17 year olds who have just passed their driving tests will understand... the car is never here when I am!

PS: Love that Sprite Gilly.... I am a Brit too!
Here is my other love... one good Blue and one Red basket case!
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/showthread.php?t=15691

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

The locked rear seat backrest is a common (well known) problem on S124s (Ts). It comes from a design flaw from the security pin that signal the release when the rear doors are open.

As far as I understand, it is required to remove the rear side AND rear floor panels to properly fix it.

The local dealer did two of the mentioned jobs on previous 124s I owned as a courtesy. When the lock failed on my E 320 T, they charged labor. As you can see, it is a common problem. It appears that there is a weak link or latch from the system that gets loose and the safety pin on the door post cannot unlock the backrest properly.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

Merkey, looks sharp, but I dunno...isn't that car a bit LARGE? Heh heh, 'course I get the same treatment from a friend with a Berkeley and a Messerschmidt.
Gilly

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Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay

Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold)

Here is a pic of the catch... not really much help.


Gilly.... yeah those Sprites are a bit on the small side... I get worried driving mine!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

With my sons help...
We unbolted the lower latch pictured above... the rod had become disconnected at both ends, so we pulled it out.
I unscrewed the carpeted side trim and levered up the wheelarch area to get at the upper latch.
Somehow... my son put a long screwdriver into the dark void and by looking with a penlight managed to push the latch up and release the seat!
YEAH!
We then removed the side trim and swiveled it out of the way.
The upper link plastic clip was good, but the lower was broken... we cheated... I threaded the rod end and put a nut on it... so it wont come off again!
We felt very pleased with ourselves!
Thanks for all the help guys!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec

Great to hear you were able to unlock it without using my suggested surgery. Hope you gave your son a big "addaboy."

Regarding A. Rosich's post of

[1] removing "the rear side AND rear floor panels."
Does anyone know how to remove these panels when the seat is in the up position?

And

[2] "there is a weak link or latch from the system that gets loose and the safety pin on the door post cannot unlock the backrest properly. "
Does anyone know of a preventive fix? Or is Merkey's "put a nut on it... so it wont come off again" the best?

Bob

In response, and I pretty well know now...
1/ You dont need to remove the floor panel. We removed the screws inside the drop-down side panel(Where the antenna/rear washer bottle and first aid kit lives), then the two screws holding the rear seat belt guide. Remove the clip.
Then we pealed back the door weather strip, and levered the clips off, so allowing space to see under the trip piece and see the mechanism.

2/ We wanted it fixed. I just used what I had to make it work... I think it will not come off that lower latch again... but I bet the upper will break first!

I will admit, I could not have done it without my younger son... its not his car, but he was keen to help and loves a challenge!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec