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Lumbar switch & function
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Posted 11/21/2011 5:02 PM
koly
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Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA
Vehicle(s): 2000 G500
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Lumbar switch & function

Couple questions about the Lumbar switch:

1. Is there anywhere I can purchase just the broken piece (the toggle switch itself that is missing the complete loop to keep the switch connected to the contacts, img_0994.jpg) highlighted in my photos?

2. When you adjust the lumbar, is it supposed to stay at that position/inflation? Mine releases over a brief period of time.

Edited by koly 11/21/2011 5:05 PM




(IMG_0991.JPG)



(992.png)



(IMG_0994.jpg)



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#196991
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Posted 11/21/2011 6:47 PM
DUTCH
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RE: Lumbar switch & function

koly - 11/21/2011 5:02 PM

Couple questions about the Lumbar switch:

1. Is there anywhere I can purchase just the broken piece (the toggle switch itself that is missing the complete loop to keep the switch connected to the contacts, img_0994.jpg) highlighted in my photos?

2. When you adjust the lumbar, is it supposed to stay at that position/inflation? Mine releases over a brief period of time.


1.) That little switch is pricey as hell. I was able to repair mine by tieing it together with very fine stainless wire. Just wrap it around the switch in the valley of the rocker. It'll pivot just fine.

2.) It's supposed to stay inflated. You probably have a leak in the bladder or the valve is leaking.
#197001 - in reply to #196991
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Posted 11/21/2011 7:44 PM
koly
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RE: Lumbar switch & function

DUTCH - 11/21/2011 4:47 PM
1.) That little switch is pricey as hell. I was able to repair mine by tieing it together with very fine stainless wire. Just wrap it around the switch in the valley of the rocker. It'll pivot just fine.


Yeah, when I see you have to purchase the whole switch pack for $180++, I thought I'd check to see if just the rocker was available.

2.) It's supposed to stay inflated. You probably have a leak in the bladder or the valve is leaking.

That's what I was afraid of.
#197009 - in reply to #197001
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Posted 11/21/2011 8:59 PM
DUTCH
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Correction

Well, I lied. I repaired the switch by wrapping it with two turns of fine leather sewing cord.

If you like a photo of what I did, I'll post one in the AM. Let me know if you'd like a pic.

I saved the repaired and fully operational switch as a backup. (I bought a new one back in 2002 when the switch cost "only" about $70.). The repair would have been usable for a very long time, especially at today's price.

PS - My old one broke in the exact same place as yours.
#197014 - in reply to #197001
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Posted 11/21/2011 9:16 PM
koly
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RE: Correction

Yeah, if you have a spare second and could post a pic of your fix I'd appreciate it. No rush, as I'm not ordering a new switch and have stolen the switch from my wife's side of the truck

I'd guess that repairing the bladder involves removing the seat cover? Maybe when I do that I'll get some perforated leather and install those air-cooled seats I was craving last summer...
#197017 - in reply to #197014
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Posted 11/22/2011 7:22 AM
DUTCH
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Here You Go

Sorry for the slight blur to the pics. That's hand held early in the morning. If you look closely at Pics 1 & 4, you'll see that it broke exactly as your switch did.

The cord is the same that is used to repair leather, shoes, etc. The trick to hold it in place is to cross the double wrap at the top of the switch - see Pic 2. There are notches in the bottom of the switch which are perfect for routing the cord.

For as often as I use this switch, the repair should last a very long time.





(Switch1.jpg)



(Switch2.jpg)



(Switch3.jpg)



(Switch4.jpg)



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Attachments Switch1.jpg (107KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments Switch2.jpg (141KB - 0 downloads)
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Attachments Switch4.jpg (154KB - 0 downloads)
#197034 - in reply to #197017
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Posted 11/25/2011 11:19 AM
Aircruiser
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Date registered: Aug 2011
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Re: Lumbar switch & function

Imagine that, I have the same problem! Except I don't have the switch cover anymore. When I bought it, Russ L. said it was a known problem that the lumbar switch operates 98 1/2 + or - 3 times before failure. He also said that a standard window rocker switch will work and is much more reliable and affordable. I haven't thrown my included window switches in the lumbar position yet. Any one have experience with this mod?

BTW, my lumbar bags hold position perfectly and I haven't had a desire to change the inflation.
#197187 - in reply to #196991
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Posted 11/25/2011 11:59 AM
koly
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Re: Lumbar switch & function

Thanks for the pix Dutch!

Aircruiser - 11/25/2011 9:19 AM
... a standard window rocker switch will work and is much more reliable and affordable.
Maybe I'll give it a shot this weekend.


BTW, my lumbar bags hold position perfectly and I haven't had a desire to change the inflation.

Mine doesn't (at least the driver's side).

#197188 - in reply to #197187
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Posted 11/25/2011 12:00 PM
Aircruiser
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RE: Lumbar switch & function

In my picture the window switches are on the right side and the Lumbar is on the left. The electrical pins are different between the two switches.

Can I use parts from the new window to rebuild the old lumbar? Doubtful or

Rewire the harness and plug to match the new window switch pin layout? Fairly easy.

Thoughts?



(g55 window.jpg)



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Attachments g55 window.jpg (68KB - 0 downloads)
#197189 - in reply to #196991
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Posted 1/30/2014 7:51 PM
Aircruiser
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Re: Lumbar switch & function

I'm going to bring this one back from the dead.

I finally got around to rewiring my lumbar switches today. Simple job. I used the factory window switches (1248209310 $22.41) to replace the expensive and fragile lumbar switches(4638200210 $225.12-$169.32). I used my multimeter to determine wiring and new switch function. The new window switches will not fit into the lumbar wiring block, different pin locations, so it's not plug and play. Open the wiring block and remove the wires with female contacts and attach to the window switch pins, wrap with electrical tape or modify the wire block and reinstall.

The lumbar system has three wires.

Brown Ground Pin 1
Brown-yellow stripe Bag deflate Pin 4
Brown-black stripe Bag inflate Pin 3





(g500installed.jpg)



(g500switchpn.jpg)



(g500switch pins.jpg)



(g500window switch.jpg)



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Attachments g500installed.jpg (95KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments g500switchpn.jpg (134KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments g500switch pins.jpg (125KB - 0 downloads)
Attachments g500window switch.jpg (126KB - 0 downloads)
#219827 - in reply to #197189
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Posted 1/31/2014 12:20 AM
Braingears
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RE: Lumbar switch & function

Amazing timing... Mine broke several weeks ago.
#219831 - in reply to #196991
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Posted 1/31/2014 2:13 AM
koly
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Re: Lumbar switch & function

I think about this thread every time I adjust my lumbar, since I swiped the passenger's side switch to replace the broken driver's switch.

And I have to adjust my lumbar fairly regularly, as there is a slow leak somewhere in the system [Which is better than the fast leak I found and repaired around the time this thread started (it was one of the supply tubes that had gotten dried out and rubbed against the cheesegrater-like mesh on the backside of the cushion)].

Great resurrection of this thread, and with a successful conclusion - Thanks!
#219832 - in reply to #219827
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Posted 1/31/2014 2:18 AM
koly
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Re: Lumbar switch & function

Question - how well does the window switch seat/fit in the housing/cutout?

Question (rhetorical) for those who know far more than us mere mortals:
if the window switch fits, works as well as the lumbar switch, will last longer, and costs 1/8 the price, why bother with the lumbar switch in the first place?

*off to ebay for a window switch*

Edited by koly 1/31/2014 2:19 AM
#219833 - in reply to #219827
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Posted 1/31/2014 10:32 AM
Aircruiser
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Re: Lumbar switch & function

koly - 1/31/2014 2:18 AM

Question - how well does the window switch seat/fit in the housing/cutout?

Question (rhetorical) for those who know far more than us mere mortals:
if the window switch fits, works as well as the lumbar switch, will last longer, and costs 1/8 the price, why bother with the lumbar switch in the first place?

*off to ebay for a window switch*


First question. The window switch fits perfectly, just like the old lumbar switch.

I can only speculate on your second question.

My daily email update from eBay had a good deal on them.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-CENTER-CONSOLE-WINDOW-SWITCHES-FOR-198...

Actually the part number above looks like it would be even more plug and play. It seems to be of the correct era and may mate with the harness wire block. You would only need to move the wires around to match the switch pins.

The problem with putting a project on hold for two years is that you loose stuff. I seem to have lost my 2nd spare window switch and ordered a new one from MBSATL.


Edited by Aircruiser 1/31/2014 12:15 PM
#219844 - in reply to #219833
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Posted 1/31/2014 10:49 AM
Aircruiser
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RE: Lumbar switch & function

Broken Lumbar switches seem to be the norm on prembusa 463 trucks. I though that no one had a functional pair, until our SE Treffen in November. DUTCH and Heinz had functional lumbar switch gear in their 2000 G500's and I was re-inspired.
#219845 - in reply to #219831
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Posted 1/31/2014 11:04 AM
DUTCH
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RE: Lumbar switch & function

Aircruiser - 1/31/2014 10:49 AM

Broken Lumbar switches seem to be the norm on prembusa 463 trucks. I though that no one had a functional pair, until our SE Treffen in November. DUTCH and Heinz had functional lumbar switch gear in their 2000 G500's and I was re-inspired.


But mine was a replacement. I kept the repaired one (see the photos earlier in this thread) as a spare.
#219847 - in reply to #219845
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Posted 1/31/2014 12:10 PM
Aircruiser
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RE: Lumbar switch & function

DUTCH - 1/31/2014 11:04 AM

Aircruiser - 1/31/2014 10:49 AM

Broken Lumbar switches seem to be the norm on prembusa 463 trucks. I though that no one had a functional pair, until our SE Treffen in November. DUTCH and Heinz had functional lumbar switch gear in their 2000 G500's and I was re-inspired.


But mine was a replacement. I kept the repaired on (see the photos earlier in this thread) as a spare.


I think it is certain that the original lumbar switches will fail unless modified like you have done. The question is how much do you want to spend fixing them?

If you still have functioning switches or have all of the broken parts to put Humpty Dumpty back together again then use two loops of Kevlar line and a square knot.

If you don't have all the parts, like me, the inexpensive window switch mod makes more sense. Factory fit and finish minus the black sharpie.

The idea of spending $300-$500 on the official switches then modifying them was just too daunting for me.

Edited by Aircruiser 1/31/2014 12:24 PM
#219852 - in reply to #219847
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Posted 1/31/2014 1:03 PM
WEBIII
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RE: Lumbar switch & function

hmm...lumbar support. I haven't missed it in my 460 seats. I guess ignorance is bliss?
#219854 - in reply to #196991
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Posted 1/31/2014 4:04 PM
DUTCH
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RE: Lumbar switch & function

WEBIII - 1/31/2014 1:03 PM

hmm...lumbar support. I haven't missed it in my 460 seats. I guess ignorance is bliss? :dunce:


It is in my case. Even though I have functioning switches, I never use them.
#219856 - in reply to #219854
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Posted 1/31/2014 7:12 PM
Otiswesty
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Re: Lumbar switch & function

Different sedan models have different pin out patterns on the back. It may be worth casting abou tand seeing if one of them is the same as the lumbar switch in your G
#219859 - in reply to #219852
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