help: driver side seat controls don't work
 

I've only had my car for a few months, and all of sudden these controls stop responding. The window controls on the driver's door still work -- just not the seat and steering wheel adjustment controls. I even tried my spare key in the ignition, and it didn't have any effect.

Any suggestions?

Ring, ring...

Good Morning, Park Place Mercedes, how may I direct your call?
Yes, can you connect me with the Service Department, please?

Sorry to hear about the problem, but it sounds like there aren't any DIY answers for this. Do the controls on the passenger's side give the same bad results?

Nope, just the driver's side. Very odd. The window up/down controls on the driver's side work though.

When you think about it, all the cars have electric windows, while the seat memory package is an option, so my guess is they are on separate circuits. I'm sure the dealer can find the problem in no time at all. Just the time involved in taking the trip is such a pain, yes?

Well, the reason I posted the problem on this board is because I've heard of people have *specific* electrical problems due to defects in their keys. I was wondering if this fell into that bucket -- because if it did, that would be obviously much easier to take care of.

Yes, it could be the keys. But since you tried both SmartKeys and got the same result, I would think it's something onboard in the car, instead, since both keys shouldn't go south at the same time. This is all guesswork... You could call the service advisor and get a phone diagnosis, too. Let us know what they say.

I can't see how your smart key could have anything to do with the problem. Am I missing something ?

Yea, you are missing something. Smart key problems have been blamed for lots of adjustment/moonroof, etc, etc. problems.

Yes but the smart key can control the roof and windows through its infrared transmitter. I did not think the electric seats could be controlled with the smart key.

Almost everything on this car is controlled by the SmartKey, especially the memory seats. For example, if you adjust the seat to anything other than it's stored setting, and take the SmartKey with you when you leave the car, the key will remember this most recent setting when you return to the car and insert the key, moving the seat to the Non-stored setting. So, yes, the key directly interfaces with the memory package. It's just that some of the early keys had alzheimer's problems.