CLK (A209) Soft Top Problem

Parf

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Hi everyone,

I have recently bought a 2004 CLK55 convertible so this is my first post.

When I bought the car I opened and closed the roof and all seemed ok. I have only opened it a few times since but now with the weekend of hot weather I tried it again and I got a problem.

The roof appears to open ok at the moment its closing it where the problem lies. The bow lifts and the roof comes out, closes and locks but then I get the "Visit Workshop" roof error on the dash and the light on the switch. The roof stops at the position shown in the picture. The strange thing is if I cycle the ignition and try again it closes so I'm guessing a switch is timing out but the roof seems to close to that point at normal speed and doesn't seem slower than before.

2.jpg 1.jpg

So, what have I done.

With the help of this forum I managed to get some information. I have changed both the relays next to the pump as I thought that maybe the problem but it still happens.

I have bought a iCarsoft CR Pro but I cant find any option on it to diagnose the roof switches.

I have the WIS/EPC but find the WIS complicated to use.

Any help with be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Mark
 

Wighty

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Welcome to the forum buddy , sounds like a nice car . Can't help with any tech advice , but having a CLK myself ,
what's the oil level in the pump like ?
Also there is another micro switch above the top of the windscreen glass where the roof locking mechanisms are , I know this can get dirty and play up .
Maybe a general lube of all hinges as well .
Hopefully someone can chime in with some better advice .
Worth you finding a good local MB Indy who has access to MB Star diagnostic equipment . Where do you live ?
 
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Parf

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Hi Wighty,

Thanks for the reply. The car had a new pump in January and the fluid level is between the Min and Max when not in use.
Ill have a look at the switch on the windscreen and if possible give it a test. ill also grease all the hinges I can get to as you suggest.

I live in Swansea and I have found one but I don't know what their like. I bought the CR Pro because it was supposed to be an all Makes, all singing all dancing device but clearly not. It did reset my airbag light though.

The car is spot on apart from this, the engine is sweet so I guess I have to expect a few electrical problems as the car is 15 years old.
 

LostKiwi

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It does suggest a switch isn't being read.
Perform the sequence and see what the last item to close (or open) was. That will likely be the switch is not being detected correctly.
For example if the last action to complete was latching at the head rail then that's the switch not detected. In some cases it can also be the last item to move (if there is a switch to detect both ends of movement). So if roof head rail latches and the boot starts to close it could be either the limit switch on the boot or the latch at the headrail.
These things follow pretty simple logic.
Do this, wait for confirmation, do next thing, wait for confirmation, do next thing etc.
Some cars are a bit more clever and will do two things at once but the same logic is employed.
 

Wighty

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Hi Wighty,

Thanks for the reply. The car had a new pump in January and the fluid level is between the Min and Max when not in use.
Ill have a look at the switch on the windscreen and if possible give it a test. ill also grease all the hinges I can get to as you suggest.

I live in Swansea and I have found one but I don't know what their like. I bought the CR Pro because it was supposed to be an all Makes, all singing all dancing device but clearly not. It did reset my airbag light though.

The car is spot on apart from this, the engine is sweet so I guess I have to expect a few electrical problems as the car is 15 years old.
You have Steve at Avantgarde Mercedes , in Clevedon near Bristol who is a well respected Indy on this forum
 
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Parf

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Thanks for your replies. It is pointing to the windscreen switch as after the top locks the bow wont close. When I cycle the ignition the only steps left are close bow and lock rear screen.

Ill have a go tomorrow when I get home. Is there an easy way to test the switch with a multimeter?
 

Wighty

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Thanks for your replies. It is pointing to the windscreen switch as after the top locks the bow wont close. When I cycle the ignition the only steps left are close bow and lock rear screen.

Ill have a go tomorrow when I get home. Is there an easy way to test the switch with a multimeter?
Can't help with testing advice , in my 2009 car I think the switch is in the drivers side top catch , maybe try some contact cleaner on it , I think it's under a plastic cap next to the locking catch ?
 
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Parf

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If I can get to the connector it should be ok. I hope it is this switch as its a lot easier to get to than the ones in the boot.

Ill let you know how I get on just in case someone else has the same problem.
 
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Parf

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Hi all,

I just found this and I think it will be a great help in diagnosing roof problems. Not sure if I'm allowed to upload it but it is a great source of information.

This is showing me S84/11 - Soft Top Locked Limit Switch - A2098201151 is the last operation before my roof stops.
 

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LostKiwi

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Hi all,

I just found this and I think it will be a great help in diagnosing roof problems. Not sure if I'm allowed to upload it but it is a great source of information.

This is showing me S84/11 - Soft Top Locked Limit Switch - A2098201151 is the last operation before my roof stops.
Good guide.
Also check 84/15.
 
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Parf

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I tried the roof again last night and it stopped at a completely different place and also stopped when opening. After an ignition cycle though it continued. Looks like ill have to bite the bullet and take it to a specialist to have the switches diagnosed. I was quoted £45 plus VAT to have a STAR diagnosis but an independent. Is that good?

Does the roof opening mechanism have its own control module? The random stopping positions are leading me to believe either many sensors are faulty or the control module running them.

Must say I am very disappointed with the iCarsoft CR Pro. don't think it was worth £240 as it cant even do the soft top operation.
 

Wighty

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I tried the roof again last night and it stopped at a completely different place and also stopped when opening. After an ignition cycle though it continued. Looks like ill have to bite the bullet and take it to a specialist to have the switches diagnosed. I was quoted £45 plus VAT to have a STAR diagnosis but an independent. Is that good?

Does the roof opening mechanism have its own control module? The random stopping positions are leading me to believe either many sensors are faulty or the control module running them.

Must say I am very disappointed with the iCarsoft CR Pro. don't think it was worth £240 as it cant even do the soft top operation.
That's a good price for Star , MB would be £100 ish ? What area are you in as far as independents go ?
 

LostKiwi

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Must say I am very disappointed with the iCarsoft CR Pro. don't think it was worth £240 as it cant even do the soft top operation
When you say soft top operation do you mean live data or activations?
I'd be surprised if it couldn't read the live status if the switches.
Does the roof opening mechanism have its own control module?
Yes on most cars.
 
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Parf

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I'm in Swansea. There's an independent in Swansea and Bridgend. The Swansea one was who quoted me £45 + VAT, im yet to hear back from the one in Bridgend.
 
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Parf

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The iCarsoft CR Pro can do live data streams but you have to select the module you want it to monitor. When you do a diagnosis you have to go into each module individually and read the codes, its not intelligent enough to go through it for you and just pull the error codes from each module.

I need to know what module controls the roof. There are modules like IC, SAM, SRS, UCP, LCP etc. the closest one I could find was the roll over protection and it wouldn't connect to that module.

Hopefully the STAR will tell me everything that's faulty.
 

LostKiwi

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Roof is RST I think (it is on Star for r129 anyways).
Could also be CST, CV or RV.
 

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Parf

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Thanks.

Ill have a look for it when I get home. I cant remember seeing that though.
 
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Parf

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Ok so its been a while but I finally have an update. I contacted iCarsoft and told them I couldn't connect to the RVC module. They have now come back to me with new software and I can now connect.

I read the fault codes and there wasn't any so I opened the roof and it stopped. The error code I was given was B1731 - The temperature sensor signal line has short circuit to positive or an open circuit.

Has anyone had this before or know where it is so I can try to diagnose and fix it?

Thanks
 
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Parf

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Is there a way to type the error code in to the WIS/ASRA?
 


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