Rear seat stuck W203 estate

[KingsC320]

Hi all, im new around here.
I have gone to fold the larger section of the split rear seats and it is stuck solid, with the luggage cover firmly in place!
The release handle has a bit of resistance, so I don't think the cable has unattached itself but possibly stretched.

I have been searching the forum for others who have had the same problem on the W203 but have come up blank. (found lots of e class with the same problem)
Would getting to the release mechanism be very similar on the e class as my W203, so I can make a start at tring to fix it.

Any help/advice would be appreciated

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Hi all, I'm new around here.
I have gone to fold the larger section of the split rear seats and it is stuck solid, with the luggage cover firmly in place!
The release handle has a bit of resistance, so I don't think the cable has unattached itself but possibly stretched.

I have been searching the forum for others who have had the same problem on the W203 but have come up blank. (found lots of e class with the same problem)
Would getting to the release mechanism be very similar on the e class as my W203, so I can make a start at tring to fix it.

Any help/advice would be appreciated

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

Your problem has been discussed quite recently on the Forum, so I don't know what key words you used on searching, but it would be worth trying more - search seems to be quite specific in my experience!

Hopefully some of those involved in the last discussion will join in to help.

 

[KingsC320]

On further inspection last night, the secondary locking mechanism on the hinge by the armrest seems to be releasing ok, but the main catch is still stuck.

 

[television]

I will try and get some info on this if the fault is listed

 

[KingsC320]

I will try and get some info on this if the fault is listed

I appreciate any help you can give, the last thing I want to do is take it to the stealers and get bent over!

 

[whitenemesis]

Did a quick search and found this, might help?

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=72355&highlight=w203+rear+seat+stuck

 

[rpe2]

Have you folded the small section of the rear seat first?

If not, if the luggage cover is in place, you will need to fold the small seat section first, allowing the larger section (to which the load cover is attached) to fold.

 

[whitenemesis]

Have you folded the small section of the rear seat first?

If not, if the luggage cover is in place, you will need to fold the small seat section first, allowing the larger section (to which the load cover is attached) to fold.

Good call, this caught me out when I first had the car :Oops:

 

[KingsC320]

Have you folded the small section of the rear seat first?

If not, if the luggage cover is in place, you will need to fold the small seat section first, allowing the larger section (to which the load cover is attached) to fold.

Have tried with small section folded, still will not move.
In looking at the small seat catch mechanism (as i've managed to remove the handle pull surround) to see what parts should be moving, that has now stuck fast in the upright position!
Thanks for the links, have already had a look at them to get some ideas.

I have put some WD40 down into the mechanism to see if that will free anything up (wishful thinking, I know!) before I start to remove the seat leather and carpet.

As the luggage cover is firmly in place, has anyone got an idea how you can fold the fabric on the back side of the rear seat (ideally without cutting it) to be able to gain access to the mechanism?

I've only had the car a few weeks and its reduced carrying capacity is starting to annoy me

 

[television]

I will look this evening to see if there is anything that will help

 

[television]

I have quite a lot of info on this but I cannot print it off for a few days

 

[whitenemesis]

I can't find anything that doesn't start with the seats folded....

 

[television]

I can't find anything that doesn't start with the seats folded....

Info on removing the covers and replacing the cable, it is a matter of using the info so that you do the least damage, once you know where all the fittings are it can make a difference, there is nothing else to be had

 

[KingsC320]

I've managed to get the seats to fold!

The only problem is I now need 2 new catch mechanisms! The only way I could see what was wrong was to break the handle to gain access to release the vertical rod to the catch.

 

[Jeffj]

Hi everyone.

Did anyone have any luck doing this without breaking the handle? I also have the same problem. The larger section center catch is releasing, however the catch next to the door will not.

Any input at all is greatly appreciated.

 

[jjayp]

Sorry for Bumping this but I'm struggling here. C230 2.5 estate, jammed passenger side rear seat release. Pretty identical to all the others, drivers side releases fine, it's only a toggle lever on the top of the seat, passenger side the seat is is locked in place but the indicator is still up. There is tension in the toggle lever so it's not likely the cable is broken. Any suggestions except for sledgehammer or kicking the living daylights out of it.

 

[jjayp]

Sorry for Bumping this but I'm struggling here. C230 2.5 estate, jammed passenger side rear seat release. Pretty identical to all the others, drivers side releases fine, it's only a toggle lever on the top of the seat, passenger side the seat is is locked in place but the indicator is still up. There is tension in the toggle lever so it's not likely the cable is broken. Any suggestions except for sledgehammer or kicking the living daylights out of i

 

[Blobcat]

Sorry for Bumping this but I'm struggling here. C230 2.5 estate, jammed passenger side rear seat release. Pretty identical to all the others, drivers side releases fine, it's only a toggle lever on the top of the seat, passenger side the seat is is locked in place but the indicator is still up. There is tension in the toggle lever so it's not likely the cable is broken. Any suggestions except for sledgehammer or kicking the living daylights out of i

Has the seatbelt got caught in the mechanism?
I’d be tempted to give it a really good shove backwards to get it to lock. Wouldn’t be the first time somethings got caught in it stopping it closing