SL/R230: massage function
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
From: Lecanto Florida
SL500
massage function
I'm getting ready to sell my 55,000 mile 2003 SL500. I'v had no problems with it, except for the plastic shift linkage, which my independent mechanic replaced with a metal one. However, I do now have a problem with the massage function in both seats. My mechanic says that he would have to take both seats out and apart to fix this problem - that the source of the electronic malfunction is in the seats. My question is whether it is likely that the same malfunction should occur at the same time independently in both seats. That makes it seem more likely to me that there is some other electronic issue that is affecting both seats, such as, for example, a fuse. But the mechanic tells me he has checked the fuses. Any ideas?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 365
From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
There are a couple of possibilities. You might have a leak in the supply line to the seat. This will shut down both seats and throw a fault code in the PSE module. If you have no pneumatic functions in either seat, this is most likely the issue. If you have any part of the seat back system working, the pump is still supplying pressure and your problem is in the seats themselves. For the massage to function, all of the air bladders must be good. The Multicontour control will shut down any circuits that it detects as leaking and the massage will be disabled if any circuits are disabled. This will throw codes in the multicontour seat back modules. If you have problems in each seat, I think that the cost of repairs will be more than you can recover on selling price. It is common for these not to work and not a major issue for many buyers.
Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 230
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From: Northwich
R230 350SL
