Accessing Rear Heat Ducts

[rjfjr1]

This may sound rediculous, but I've been hearing a rattle under the pass. seat upon change in momentum. For a variety of reasons, including daughter's constant frustration at completing the colors of the rainbow. I suspect a Crayola marker has become lodged in the heating ductwork under the seat.

Any clues on how to access the duct? I can remove the plastic fascia, but this gives minimal incremental access. Seems like I need to get in to the meat of it, remove seat, remove carpet etc. Any other ideas? I've read the posts about front suspension rattles and I'm fairly certain the Crayola is at fault. I'm pretty sure it's the green one.

[Michael]

Remove the passenger front carpeting and take a look-the duct that the rear seat vent plugs into is right there, close to centered below the front seat. I'm pretty sure if you remove the rear duct (held in place w/ 1 screw) then you'll be able to wiggle the front duct out from under the seat where it passes through the chassis. If this doesn't work, pull the front seat (4 bolts & 2-3 electrical connections) and go from there.

Good luck!

[JCE]

You are probably correct - in my case (87 300E) it was a ball point pen. My tech accelerated the car to a relatively slow speed speed (less than 15 mph) in his parking lot, hit the brakes hard to make the pen slide forward, drove slowly into a parking stall, and took out the carpeting in front of the seat and retrieved the pen from the duct at that area (didn't have to remove the seat). Might work for you, and easier than taking out the seat.

I suspect this happened a lot. The defrost slot on the early w124s is wide enough for a ball point to roll into (The pen had my dad's name on it). Later w124s I have seen had a toothed grill in them.

[rjfjr1]

Excellent! I'll give it a go this evening.

Thanks.

[rjfjr1]

I was wrong, it was the Red one!

Your two responses saved me alot of unnecessary work. After a bit of wriggling, front duct separated enough for me to reach in and find the offending pen. A bit of digital gymnastics to get it properly oriented for extraction and I had it. No need to remove rear duct, but helpful to know had the front not snapped back into place.

Thanks...I'm now rattle-free.