Problem with lumbar support on R230

[Ian J]

I've had my 2004 SL350 for just over a week and despite the seats having a huge range of movement I still can't get completely comfortable as there doesn't seem to be enough support in the lumbar region.

There is a control on the seat for adjusting the lumbar support but it doesn't seem to do anything. What is rather odd is that the lumbar support control on the passenger seat doesn't seem to do anything either.

Is there supposed to be a large range of adjustment and is it electric or does it control some sort of air pump as did an older CLK that I used to have.

Hopefully it is something simple as I would hate to have to get rid of the car after only a couple of weeks just because I can't get comfortable.

 

[television]

I've had my 2004 SL350 for just over a week and despite the seats having a huge range of movement I still can't get completely comfortable as there doesn't seem to be enough support in the lumbar region.

There is a control on the seat for adjusting the lumbar support but it doesn't seem to do anything. What is rather odd is that the lumbar support control on the passenger seat doesn't seem to do anything either.

Is there supposed to be a large range of adjustment and is it electric or does it control some sort of air pump as did an older CLK that I used to have.

Hopefully it is something simple as I would hate to have to get rid of the car after only a couple of weeks just because I can't get comfortable.

Hello ian, there could be a pipe from the boot to the cab squashed or the PSE pump is not turned on.

You do need to get it plugged into STAR and do not be fobbed off with them saying that you have a leak until they have been to the menu and checked that the backrest are activated.

I got caught out on this.

 

[television]

Testing = key to 1 have someone listen in the boot while you turn the control, if the PSE pump is activated then you will hear it run for a few seconds, this being the case and it runs, then you need to modify the pipes. As the fault is on both seats I think it is not activated. Or if the pump runs the the reservoir tank in the near side rear wheel arch is leaking or a pipe off

 

[Ian J]

I've just returned from the local dealer and it doesn't sound too promising. They confirmed that there was an air leak but said that the pump could be knackered as a result. The air assisted boot closing also runs off the same airline which is why I have been having trouble closing the boot too.

It's a couple of hours work to strip down the seats to trace the leak and then it could just be a 50p air line that needs replacing but if the pump has gone too that is another £400 for the pump alone.

Luckily it will be down to the supplying dealer to rectify these problems as I've only had the car for three weeks but as he is 40 miles away it will be aggravating at the very least.

 

[television]

I've just returned from the local dealer and it doesn't sound too promising. They confirmed that there was an air leak but said that the pump could be knackered as a result. The air assisted boot closing also runs off the same airline which is why I have been having trouble closing the boot too.

It's a couple of hours work to strip down the seats to trace the leak and then it could just be a 50p air line that needs replacing but if the pump has gone too that is another £400 for the pump alone.

Luckily it will be down to the supplying dealer to rectify these problems as I've only had the car for three weeks but as he is 40 miles away it will be aggravating at the very least.

Sadly you dealer does not know how they work, the PSE pump is SAM controlled and the valves only open for the circuit that has been activated, so the seat has not caused the fault.
It would appear that leak in the drivers seat is a standard default setting.

One does not have to dismantle the seats as the air line can be taken off at the front of the seat, and either the seat or punp can be checked.

If water has got into the boot this can fake the PSE pump malfunction

 

[Ian J]

I was going to make a further comment but see that you have the dreaded "banned" appearing under your name which is a tad unusual for anyone who has been thanked 3,110 times for his useful posts.

As you are the only one here who has answered any of the questions that I have asked perhaps I would be better off asking at the other MB forum

 

[Ian J]

I took the car back to the dealer that I bought it from and his workshop repaired the fault which they said was a faulty airline that had become disconnected. I'm glad that I didn't spend a fortune with the main dealer.