Rear headrests stuck up solution
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
1992 300SE
Rear headrests stuck up solution
My headrests have been stuck up for about 9 months. I finally figured out how to make the rear headrests in my 1992 300SE go down without tearing the whole back seat up. Apparently my rear headrest button on my dash is broken. What I did was take my seat bottom out to get to the central locking/unlocking bosch pump. I found the two headrest vacuum lines, labeled FKS they are white with blue stripe. I pulled the first headrest line and sucked hard and it fell right down. I repeated this with the second headrest line and it also fell right down. So I know know that the vacuum lines are good and I know the pump is working properly. So it has to be a bad dash switch which I will figure out later and report back. I will just keep my rear headrests down maybe for ever. I could not find ANY info on a fix for this problem short of tearing the back of the car apart so I hope this helps you guys. Any questions direct to jesse_b10@hotmail.com.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
1992 300SE
Update to rear headrest stuck up solution
I changed out the dash switch and they work like new again. Until you get your new dash switch, just follow the instructions that I already posted to make your rear headrests go down. Just suck the vacuum line like a straw and they will drop like a rock.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 65
Likes: 8
From: Fallbrook, California, USA
1997 Mercedes S420
I had the problem with the left rear headrest. After struggling with it for a while something possessed me to reach down into the cavity below the headrest support arms and low and behold there was a screwdriver that some mechanic had left on the parcel shelf to roll to the lowest point. Once removed it has worked just fine ever since.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, California
2004 W211 (E320)
Thanks, Jesseb10. I'd asked about that in a previous thread and didn't get a useful response. How much was that switch and did you install it yourself? I would hate to have deal with taking the dashboard area apart, and I don't often have back seat passengers, so it's not the highest on the list of things I'd like for the car.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX Area
2008 S550
Rear Headrest Stuck in Up Position S550
I have a 2008 S550. The rear headrest will not go down. I press the button on the dash, and you can hear the motor ticking in the back. The motor appears to be working. I realize it could be a vacuum line. But is there a way to "release" them and get them to lower. I have already pulled the panels out if the trunk. I am more concerned at this point messing around and breaking something else. Will I have to remove the back part of the back seat? HELP, before I have a wreck due to the headrest.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX Area
2008 S550
thanks for the response. I took the backseat out, and the cover in the trunk where the accessory battery is. I saw lines, but could not tell if thy were for the automatic trunk or headrest. When I press the button inside the car you here the motor click in the trunk. I just cant follow the vacuum lines without removing lots of components between the backseat and the trunk, Lots of motors, pumps, and electronics.
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Newbie
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX Area
2008 S550
S550 Rear Headrest stuck up
Okay folks, almost a year later and I finally got my Rear Seat Headrest down. I finally had to break down and pay my mechanic to fix it. I learned that not all Mercedes mechanics know how to fix the problem. In fact few do or want to fix it. Turns out my vacuum motor was shot. Which also explains why the lumbar's did not work. They work off of the same motor. To get to the vacum motor on the S550 you have to take the rear seat out. Not the seat, but the part you lean your back on. You can't get to it through the trunk. The part was $450.00. labor was $200.00 I did not want to pay the money, but I got tired of not being able to see behind me. I know I did not solve the problem for you. But a quick check to see if it is your button, line, or motor is to check your seat lumbar. Good Luck!
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Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
93 W140
My headrests have been stuck up for about 9 months. I finally figured out how to make the rear headrests in my 1992 300SE go down without tearing the whole back seat up. Apparently my rear headrest button on my dash is broken. What I did was take my seat bottom out to get to the central locking/unlocking bosch pump. I found the two headrest vacuum lines, labeled FKS they are white with blue stripe. I pulled the first headrest line and sucked hard and it fell right down. I repeated this with the second headrest line and it also fell right down. So I know know that the vacuum lines are good and I know the pump is working properly. So it has to be a bad dash switch which I will figure out later and report back. I will just keep my rear headrests down maybe for ever. I could not find ANY info on a fix for this problem short of tearing the back of the car apart so I hope this helps you guys. Any questions direct to jesse_b10@hotmail.com.
Can you tell us how you got the switch out?
