Hello everyone,

I recently replaced the fore/aft motor on my 2001 CLK320 (MBZ Part# 2088200842) with an OEM brand new one.

I was under the impression that this motor controlled the folding seat function which allows for easy in/out for rear passengers. I learned this morning (from the dealer I bought the part from) that there is a separate motor located inside the seatback panel which actually controls this function. It is called the "folding mechanism motor" as far as I know, located here:

Part #51

http://www.mbpartsworld.com/showAsse...roduct=7530103

Well long story short, I decided to swap my driver's side motor with the assumed broken passenger side motor, since they're interchangeable (same part number and verified by dealership parts guy).

So 2 hours later of tedious PITA labor, I swap the driver's motor into the passenger seat, throw everything back into the car, plug everything back in........ and BAM, the passenger seat won't actuate forward to allow for easy in/out of rear passengers. I was quite upset after all the labor I had put into this supposed quick swap.

I can hear a sound inside the passenger side seatback when I pull up on the side lever, almost like a motor is turning over, but not engaging.

I then threw the supposed "broken" motor from the passenger side into the driver's seat and put everything back together and what do you know? The driver's seat still works as before. So that tells me the motor wasn't bad in the passenger's seat afterall.

I'm kinda at my witts end here, I don't know what else to do.

It's obvious both motors are fine, since they both worked in the driver's seat.

I contacted the dealership parts guy where I bought the parts and he informed me the only other thing he could think of was the "Control Unit" (MBZ Part# 2088200626) for the passenger seat.

Located here:

Part# 45

http://www.mbpartsworld.com/showAsse...roduct=7603310


So my question is:

What do you think it could be? Anyone else ever ran into this problem?

I really don't want to have to replace the Control Unit, as it's upwards of $400 for the part alone.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks-

 

I don't have anything useful to add regarding other potential culprits besides the control unit, but they're are plenty of control units available on Ebay for $70-$150.
Good Luck.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/98-02-Mercedes-CLK320-CLK430-W208-Right-Passenger-Seat-Control-Module-2088200626-/151559275886?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2349a3056e&vxp=mtr

 

Thanks for the reply.

I think that's the route I'm going to have to go.

I'm also beginning to think that maybe my fore/aft motor wasn't bad after all and perhaps it was the control module this whole time.


I'm going to inspect the control module for scorch marks on the traces, as suggested here:

https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...pair-info.html

I'm also going to reinspect all the connections again and see if that helps.

 

you say that you hear the motor running when you pull the lever... to me that would not indicate a bad control module... what is the motor attached to to make the movements? is it one of the cables pictured (#46 or #47 bowden cable)? i dont have intimate knowledge of the workings of this but maybe its a broken cable?

 

It's not that I hear the motor actually running, it's more like an engaging sound, but nothing happens.

I think my best bet is to replace my seat control module with a used one, test it and see if that's the problem. I know there are many on eBay with return policies that would afford me to return it if that wasn't the problem.