how to adjust steering column on 1986 500SEC?
Discussion
Hi Harry
No, nothing like that - no sign of any switches or buttons at all anywhere on the column or anywhere else on e.g. dash. Also no apparent way to adjust manually. Surely it must be adjustable somehow?
As you might have figured out - I finally, after 9 and a bit months, collected the SEC today. Don't even ask about the bill, I could weep.
John
No, nothing like that - no sign of any switches or buttons at all anywhere on the column or anywhere else on e.g. dash. Also no apparent way to adjust manually. Surely it must be adjustable somehow?
As you might have figured out - I finally, after 9 and a bit months, collected the SEC today. Don't even ask about the bill, I could weep.
John
report so far:
drove 3 miles back from workshop and the drivers electric seat backrest motor is playing up. It'll move forward, i.e. more upright, but will not recline at all, and is already far too upright.
Is there any sort of manual override that could put it back a bit?
I had the car home 4 weeks ago to do some cosmetics on body and wheels (even though it sounded like a bag of bolts) and it was perfect then, so this problem has just developed.
On the plus side it's now had ATF fluid and filter done and several other wee jobs (£500 in parts apart from the engine) and of course fresh engine oil. I like to change oil every 12-18 months even if the car only does a tiny mileage, but the mechanic spent about £120 on oil and says "you'll not be changing it again" so I'm not sure what's in there.
Also, the new old tyres I've just fitted are pretty bad, and it will need: some welding at front of nearside arch (nothing major I hope), repairs to n/s front and o/s rear arches and a complete new exhaust - it currently has no centre silencers.
When all that's done it should be 100% right - but it will have cost me way over twice what I paid for it, but that's old cars for you.
I now have to drive it for a bit ad see if I actually like it - 1st impressions aren't great to be honest. It's so obviously an older design than a W124 or W201. Maybe an R129 is the answer after all?
drove 3 miles back from workshop and the drivers electric seat backrest motor is playing up. It'll move forward, i.e. more upright, but will not recline at all, and is already far too upright.
Is there any sort of manual override that could put it back a bit?
I had the car home 4 weeks ago to do some cosmetics on body and wheels (even though it sounded like a bag of bolts) and it was perfect then, so this problem has just developed.
On the plus side it's now had ATF fluid and filter done and several other wee jobs (£500 in parts apart from the engine) and of course fresh engine oil. I like to change oil every 12-18 months even if the car only does a tiny mileage, but the mechanic spent about £120 on oil and says "you'll not be changing it again" so I'm not sure what's in there.
Also, the new old tyres I've just fitted are pretty bad, and it will need: some welding at front of nearside arch (nothing major I hope), repairs to n/s front and o/s rear arches and a complete new exhaust - it currently has no centre silencers.
When all that's done it should be 100% right - but it will have cost me way over twice what I paid for it, but that's old cars for you.
I now have to drive it for a bit ad see if I actually like it - 1st impressions aren't great to be honest. It's so obviously an older design than a W124 or W201. Maybe an R129 is the answer after all?
Edited by mccrackenj on Thursday 12th June 13:06
Its a nice machine to drive at least my 1983 one is. Being an older car though much of the trim shows its age and drags the show down.
Beautiful machines though and very well constructed. Ive seen the chassis tubs and the little star is marked into many areas. It was obviously designed with thought and care.
Beautiful machines though and very well constructed. Ive seen the chassis tubs and the little star is marked into many areas. It was obviously designed with thought and care.
Not all have an adjustable column. In fact, I didn't think any had it.
The seat problem is the switch. Waggle it like hell until it works. If that doesn't solve it, either replace the switch or rebuild it. The latter is easy if you know how. You need a bag, a clean surface, some emery paper and some grease. There's a how-to somewhere on the net which is essential. They're about £70 from the dealer. A drop in the ocean...?
Glad you've got it back. I hope it starts to give you pleasure soon.
The seat problem is the switch. Waggle it like hell until it works. If that doesn't solve it, either replace the switch or rebuild it. The latter is easy if you know how. You need a bag, a clean surface, some emery paper and some grease. There's a how-to somewhere on the net which is essential. They're about £70 from the dealer. A drop in the ocean...?
Glad you've got it back. I hope it starts to give you pleasure soon.
r129sl said:
Not all have an adjustable column. In fact, I didn't think any had it.
The seat problem is the switch. Waggle it like hell until it works. If that doesn't solve it, either replace the switch or rebuild it. The latter is easy if you know how. You need a bag, a clean surface, some emery paper and some grease. There's a how-to somewhere on the net which is essential. They're about £70 from the dealer. A drop in the ocean...?
Glad you've got it back. I hope it starts to give you pleasure soon.
Cheers R129. I can't waggle the switch too much as if I move it forward the seat goes forward some more - and I can't afford to have any further forward or I'll not be able to drive it. I'll try some more wiggling from the centre position backwards & forwards.The seat problem is the switch. Waggle it like hell until it works. If that doesn't solve it, either replace the switch or rebuild it. The latter is easy if you know how. You need a bag, a clean surface, some emery paper and some grease. There's a how-to somewhere on the net which is essential. They're about £70 from the dealer. A drop in the ocean...?
Glad you've got it back. I hope it starts to give you pleasure soon.
Do you mean the little back rest button, or the whole switch panel? I'll have a google when I get home.
If I thought a new awitch would sort it out I'd spend the £70. As you say, it's a drop in the ocean now . . .
mccrackenj said:
r129sl said:
Not all have an adjustable column. In fact, I didn't think any had it.
The seat problem is the switch. Waggle it like hell until it works. If that doesn't solve it, either replace the switch or rebuild it. The latter is easy if you know how. You need a bag, a clean surface, some emery paper and some grease. There's a how-to somewhere on the net which is essential. They're about £70 from the dealer. A drop in the ocean...?
Glad you've got it back. I hope it starts to give you pleasure soon.
Cheers R129. I can't waggle the switch too much as if I move it forward the seat goes forward some more - and I can't afford to have any further forward or I'll not be able to drive it. I'll try some more wiggling from the centre position backwards & forwards.The seat problem is the switch. Waggle it like hell until it works. If that doesn't solve it, either replace the switch or rebuild it. The latter is easy if you know how. You need a bag, a clean surface, some emery paper and some grease. There's a how-to somewhere on the net which is essential. They're about £70 from the dealer. A drop in the ocean...?
Glad you've got it back. I hope it starts to give you pleasure soon.
Do you mean the little back rest button, or the whole switch panel? I'll have a google when I get home.
If I thought a new awitch would sort it out I'd spend the £70. As you say, it's a drop in the ocean now . . .
Would prying the actul knob off and a liberal spraying of contact cleaner in th hole help?
mccrackenj said:
mccrackenj said:
r129sl said:
Not all have an adjustable column. In fact, I didn't think any had it.
The seat problem is the switch. Waggle it like hell until it works. If that doesn't solve it, either replace the switch or rebuild it. The latter is easy if you know how. You need a bag, a clean surface, some emery paper and some grease. There's a how-to somewhere on the net which is essential. They're about £70 from the dealer. A drop in the ocean...?
Glad you've got it back. I hope it starts to give you pleasure soon.
Cheers R129. I can't waggle the switch too much as if I move it forward the seat goes forward some more - and I can't afford to have any further forward or I'll not be able to drive it. I'll try some more wiggling from the centre position backwards & forwards.The seat problem is the switch. Waggle it like hell until it works. If that doesn't solve it, either replace the switch or rebuild it. The latter is easy if you know how. You need a bag, a clean surface, some emery paper and some grease. There's a how-to somewhere on the net which is essential. They're about £70 from the dealer. A drop in the ocean...?
Glad you've got it back. I hope it starts to give you pleasure soon.
Do you mean the little back rest button, or the whole switch panel? I'll have a google when I get home.
If I thought a new awitch would sort it out I'd spend the £70. As you say, it's a drop in the ocean now . . .
Would prying the actul knob off and a liberal spraying of contact cleaner in th hole help?
This page contains a link to a PDF file giving instructions on how to rebuild the switch. It also contains sensible alternative diagnoses and repair processes. Worth a read. The suggestion is that it might be a wiring break at the seat. I'd say this is worth exploring before pulling the switch apart. It's for a 124 but it is all the same on the 126. http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w124-e-ce-d-td-cla...
I have rebuilt the switch before and it was actually quite easy, despite there being hundreds of parts. If you dismantle the switch, do so in a transparent plastic bag, something like a freezer bag. That way you won't loose all the bits. And when you re-assemble it, use dabs of grease to keep the little metal balls in place. It would also make sense to do the re-assembly in a white box (something like an upturned jigsaw box lid, again to avoid loosing pieces.
r129sl said:
I have rebuilt the switch before and it was actually quite easy, despite there being hundreds of parts. If you dismantle the switch, do so in a transparent plastic bag, something like a freezer bag. That way you won't loose all the bits. And when you re-assemble it, use dabs of grease to keep the little metal balls in place. It would also make sense to do the re-assembly in a white box (something like an upturned jigsaw box lid, again to avoid loosing pieces.
I have re-built similar era (W123 in my case) electric window switches which sound similar. Good advice on dismantling with in a bag. Nothing complicated just lots of bits to potentially lose.Ben
r129sl said:
mccrackenj said:
mccrackenj said:
r129sl said:
Not all have an adjustable column. In fact, I didn't think any had it.
The seat problem is the switch. Waggle it like hell until it works. If that doesn't solve it, either replace the switch or rebuild it. The latter is easy if you know how. You need a bag, a clean surface, some emery paper and some grease. There's a how-to somewhere on the net which is essential. They're about £70 from the dealer. A drop in the ocean...?
Glad you've got it back. I hope it starts to give you pleasure soon.
Cheers R129. I can't waggle the switch too much as if I move it forward the seat goes forward some more - and I can't afford to have any further forward or I'll not be able to drive it. I'll try some more wiggling from the centre position backwards & forwards.The seat problem is the switch. Waggle it like hell until it works. If that doesn't solve it, either replace the switch or rebuild it. The latter is easy if you know how. You need a bag, a clean surface, some emery paper and some grease. There's a how-to somewhere on the net which is essential. They're about £70 from the dealer. A drop in the ocean...?
Glad you've got it back. I hope it starts to give you pleasure soon.
Do you mean the little back rest button, or the whole switch panel? I'll have a google when I get home.
If I thought a new awitch would sort it out I'd spend the £70. As you say, it's a drop in the ocean now . . .
Would prying the actul knob off and a liberal spraying of contact cleaner in th hole help?
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