R230 SL - lumbar support inflates to max

clivebutton

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SL350/2008/3500cc
Whatever number I set on the dial, the lumbar support on the driver's seat inflates to its maximum over an hour or two. The only way to reduce the pressure is to set the dial to '0'. Is this a switch problem or passing valves somewhere? Any ideas would be very welcome - as well as a brief description of how this system works: is there a single, central compressor or does each seat have its own system?
 

LostKiwi

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'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Sounds like the main control in the seat had failed.
The seat compressor is in the boot and is the same one used for central locking.
An airline comes into each seat from below and is routed to a switched manifold in the back of the seat. The manifold is under electronic control but from the sounds of it one of the valves in the manifold is leaking this allowing the seat to pump up more than it should.
Do both seats do it or just the one?
 
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clivebutton

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SL350/2008/3500cc
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Sounds like the main control in the seat had failed.
The seat compressor is in the boot and is the same one used for central locking.
An airline comes into each seat from below and is routed to a switched manifold in the back of the seat. The manifold is under electronic control but from the sounds of it one of the valves in the manifold is leaking this allowing the seat to pump up more than it should.
Do both seats do it or just the one?
Thank you for the advice. Apologies for taking an inordinate time to reply: for various reasons I have been away from the forum for some time. To answer your question, the problem affects only the driver's seat. Is the manifold you referred to straightforward to access?
 
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