Should my seat move?

[dozypillock]

Had the car (C209 CLK320) for a while now. Bought it for my own enjoyment, so never had anybody in the back.
Yesterday, was asked for a lift. No problem, I thought. Two fairly burly chaps tried to get in back, and had major trouble, same with getting out.
Am I correct in thinking the seats should move forward when tilted, to allow people in the back?
If so, what could be wrong? where are the sensors/switches etc, or do I need to power car up, and then move the memory seats forwards manually?

Neil

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Yes, they should move forward when you tilt the backs. Sorry, I don't know how to fix them.

 

[Rashman]

Yes, the whole seat will lift and tilt forwards after you have tilted the back rest forward, making it easier for people to get in the back.

However, the seat has to be a certain distance away from steering wheel/ dash in order for it to give you use of this tilt feature.
I believe this is to prevent you getting the headrest wedged against the roof lining, which in turn will cause the seat to get stuck.
It may be that your seat is too far forward.

Go and try it.
Use the seat controls to move your seat backwards abit.
Then use the handle to tilt the seat forwards, as if letting someone in the back.
Once the back rest is tilted forwards, you should be able to lift and tilt the whole seat forwards.

Hope this helps.


Incidentally, you can also lift the bases of the rear seats if you ever wanted the rear seats to lay flat.
There are handles to the sides of the rear seat bases.

 

[rifiki]

My CLK has manual seats and if set too far foward the head rest jams on head lining.
Lower the head rest would stop this. The rear seats have only used twice in 2 1/2 years I have had the car.

 

[Rashman]

My CLK has manual seats and if set too far foward the head rest jams on head lining.
Lower the head rest would stop this. The rear seats have only used twice in 2 1/2 years I have had the car.

Yeah, this is what I believe is causing the OP's seats to refuse to tilt forward.

I suspect OP's seats are too far forward, preventing the tilt feature from being available.

Incidentally, electric seats automatically lower the headrests when you tilt the backs forward.
Even with the headrests at their lowest setting, tilt and lift won't work if the seats are positioned too far forward.

 

[dozypillock]

Yeah, this is what I believe is causing the OP's seats to refuse to tilt forward.

I suspect OP's seats are too far forward, preventing the tilt feature from being available.

Incidentally, electric seats automatically lower the headrests when you tilt the backs forward.
Even with the headrests at their lowest setting, tilt and lift won't work if the seats are positioned too far forward.

Right. Many thanks for the responses. The headrests do go down (well, if they up) when I tilt the seat. The seats do not move though, either of them.
My headrest does not move, as already fully down normally, and my seat (being slightly vertically challenged 5'8") is further forward than the passengers. I put it fully back, and same with passengers, and neither move when tilted. I left both on memory 3, as only 2 of us (well she drove it once for 2 minutes) ever use it, so happy to play with settings.
Does this feature only work with key in?
Does it only work in certain memory positions?

Thankfully, I do not normally carry passengers, but it makes it almost impossible to anyway, as it stands, without the hassle of putting key in, and risking losing seat/steering wheel, mirror settings if you press the wrong buttons.

Neil

 

[sjmaxwell]

I believe on the W209 CLK that the actual movement is manual not electric as on the W208 so if by lifting the handle you were hoping that the seat moves electrically forward then no it doesn't work, you have to shove it forward to move it out of the way for rear access.

 

[Rashman]

Yes, as Steve said, you will need to place your hand under the base of the back of the seat and manually lift the seat to get it to lift forwards.

Give that a go.

Can't think why your seats wouldn't be lifting..

 

[dozypillock]

Yes, as Steve said, you will need to place your hand under the base of the back of the seat and manually lift the seat to get it to lift forwards.

Give that a go.

Can't think why your seats wouldn't be lifting..

Just been out and checked, and you and Steve are correct. It does lift up and forward. If only I had known the other day. Both the chaps got in and out passenger side as drivers side had moving traffic. Looking now, I can see why they struggled....lol
Seat lifts first, after tilting, and does not just push. They tried that.
Many thanks. Sort of seems obvious now that I know what to do. I think I may grease what I can find though, as very stiff (I don't think its hardly ever been used)

Neil

 

[sjmaxwell]

Never understood why on the W208 it moved forward electrically and then on the W209 you had to manually lift it - certainly wasn't progress!

Glad it's sorted for you

 

[Rashman]

Just been out and checked, and you and Steve are correct. It does lift up and forward. If only I had known the other day. Both the chaps got in and out passenger side as drivers side had moving traffic. Looking now, I can see why they struggled....lol
Seat lifts first, after tilting, and does not just push. They tried that.
Many thanks. Sort of seems obvious now that I know what to do. I think I may grease what I can find though, as very stiff (I don't think its hardly ever been used)

Neil

You dozy pillock.