SL/R230 Lumbar support not working

Jan 22, 2011 | 10:51 PM

XRAY1

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 5

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From: NH

04 SL600, 02 C240

Lumbar support not working

hi, I just recently bought an 04 SL600. Beautiful car but the lumbar support doesn't seem to be working. After hours of reading throught the forum and troubleshooting this is what I know.
1) The central locking and the trunk closure seem to be working fine.
2) I've opened up the back of the seat and can see the air manifold for all of the lumbar adjustments. I can hear valves open and close when I press the various buttons on the lumbar support.
3) I've tried to reset the PSE by pulling out fuse #71.

Does anyone have a "wiring diagram" for the air system? I'm assuming the PSE drives the lumbar support but when I took the seat apart I can't find the air hose that connects to the seat. Can anyone tell me where the air input so I can trace it back?

Thanks

Attached Thumbnails

Lumbar support not working-lumbar-manifold.jpg

Last edited by XRAY1; Jan 22, 2011 at 10:56 PM.

Jan 23, 2011 | 10:17 AM

BMS

Former Vendor of MBWorld

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 827

Likes: 152

From: Simi Valley, California

2018 C63 Sedan

Just had the same problem on my 04 SL55. Had it fixed at Motorwerks-Commerce Township- 248-668-6793. They found the line for the drivers seat under the passenger seat and it had crimped and broken. Had to take out the seat to find it.

Jan 23, 2011 | 03:29 PM

XRAY1

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 5

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From: NH

04 SL600, 02 C240

Were both seats broken? Did your door locks and soft trunk closure work OK?

The car is garaged for the winter so I'm hoping to resolve myself before spring.

Does anyone know which is the input to the manifold in the picture and where the air supplies tubes run to the seat?

Any tips would be appreciated.

Jan 24, 2011 | 02:05 AM

jctevere

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 2,108

Likes: 7

From: Dix Hills, New York

2012 C250 Coupe

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRAY1

Do you have the issues you described in the first two lines? Both seats not working and soft close and door locks? If so, you just need to replace the appropriate fuse. I had this issue on my r230 SL. The fuse box is behind the passenger seat and is one of the last fuses if i'm not mistaken.

Jan 24, 2011 | 10:06 PM

XRAY1

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 5

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From: NH

04 SL600, 02 C240

The doors and soft close are working fine it's only the seats that aren't working. I tried to reset the PSE by removing fuse #71 in the fuse box behind the passenger seat but no difference.
My next step is to pressurize the seat line at the PSE and look for leaks.
Anyone have any recommendations on how to pressurize the air line or have any other troubleshooting ideas?

Thanks!

Jan 29, 2011 | 12:47 PM

XRAY1

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 5

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From: NH

04 SL600, 02 C240

So I've done a little more troubleshooting but need help. I got access to the PSE this morning in the right rear of the trunk. As posted elsewhere you need to unbolt the hydraulic pump disconnect the electrical connector and lift it up out of the way (see pics).
All of the lines to the PSE looked okay.
I reset the PSE and tried the lumbar controls. I could hear the manifold in the back of the seat click indicating the buttons are working but the PSE never turned on.
If there was a leak in the line I would have expected the PSE to turn on initially after being reset and then stop when it detected a leak.
I disconnected all of the connectors to the PSE and tried pressurizing with compressed air and I didn't detect any leaks.
I've read that there is a "comfort seats" setting in STAR. Does this mean it is disabled?

Attached Thumbnails

Lumbar support not working-dscn0624c.jpg

Lumbar support not working-dscn0625c.jpg

Lumbar support not working-dscn0626c.jpg

Sep 5, 2022 | 07:19 PM

tsx69

Newbie

Joined: Aug 2022

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

r230

My Lumbar issue and fix

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRAY1

Hopefully this will help you. First I purchased my car from the USA and brought it in to Canada in 2022 2004 SL600 although this fact is irrelevant it will explain my issue and my fix and perhaps help you with you issue. Second my issues were very similar to yours all my PSE items were working and when I purchased the car both the passenger and driver seat worked flawlessly. My issue, the pulse button would light up but I had not power to either my driver seat or passenger seat and as I read many threads on this site and others I realized there were a few of us that seem to of had the same issue. I looked for leaks and spent some good money trying to chase down the problem. A few months after having the issue I realized the issue started after I had my car in for service and had them reprogram my chip for Canada, KM's and Daytime running lights. I went back to the shop (not MB dealership) and asked if this reprogramming could of caused my seats to stop working. Answer was I don't see how it could have and he did a few things and came to the same conclusion that the pulse lights up but no power and of couse said I should book the car in and they will take a closer look. At this point I let it got. As I do lover the car the joy of driving my 500hp car I decided I would order the Renntech performance chip for the 630HP ( it is awesome by the way!). I installed the software and as immediately tried the seats after the update and guess what, BOTH SEATS WORKED IMMEDIATELY after the chip did it's thing.

In short if everything else is working look for a software issue, it certainly appears to be of been my issue. Hope this helps

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SL/R230: Lumbar support not working

SL/R230: Lumbar support not working