500SL Hardtop

[webby]

Hi, is there anyone out there that can help me?

On my 1991 500SL when I try to release the hardtop (by pushing the red button on the centre console) the roof lifts, however as soon as I let go of the botton the top drops back into place. At the moment I need 3 people to remove the top.......any suggestions? It seems like a faulty valve or relay.
Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks

Webby

 

[Arnie]

Not easy to say what is wrong. But, the mechanuism is hydraulicly operated and it seems that you may have a problem with one of the valves not maintaining the pressure. It may be worth checking that you have not lost any hydraulic fluid from he unit. Does the soft-top open and close properly (and lock down)?

However it may be difficult to find the problem without detailed knowledge (worshop manuals) as these mechanisms take quite a bit of skill to diagnose, setup and adjust properly. Not even every dealer will get it right, so you may have to phone around and try to gauge what experience they have in sorting these type of problems.

 

[webby]

Thanks Arnie,

The soft top is working fine (up, down, lock etc.) the hardtop locks into position OK and the levels are good so like you say its a valve or something....I ordered a workshop manual the other day so I should get that next week, I'll wait till then....If that doesn't fix it I'll wait till I'm back in the UK unless you can think of a good specialist here in Belgium.....The main dealers here are dreadful.....took me an hour on the phone just to get the car booked in for a service! :?

 

[ouiska]

Webby,

Where did you order the workshop manual? I'm in Saudi at the moment with the similar problems, same car but all I have is an owners handbook in Arabic. Saudi mechanics smile sweetly and do nothing.

Kev

 

[webby]

Hi there,

I never recieved the manual, I had ordered off a company in the US called the drivers corner, I am currently trying to get a refund.
However I see there are a few places in the US where you can buy them.
Try looking on www.benzworld.org, the people in the forum are quite helpful and if you can't find a manual on the web they should be able to point you in the right direction.
By the way, whats wrong with your car?
I might be able to help, I'm begining to become a bit of an expert with these.

Good Luck

Webby

 

[ouiska]

HI,

Red light on the centre console is permanently on (not flashing) and problems locking the hard top down. The soft top works OK but is damaged (never likely to get used out here), the garage I aquired it from last week claim to have closed it manually, I'm assuming that has alot to do with the problem.

With not even an owners handbook I have no idea how to reset everything and am working round it slowly trying to find the various microswitches. Instructions on manual operation of the soft top would help too.

Any hint you can give will be more than welcome.

Cheers,

Kev

 

[ouiska]

Webby,

may have found a simpler soloution, while rooting around found the roof pump in the boot (like I said only had the car a week) and it's desperately short of fluid. What do Mercedes recommend for this and do you know how to bleed the system?

Thanks again,

Kev

 

[webby]

Hi Kev,

It does not sound like a fluid problem to me if the soft top is working OK.
But I believe that the system is self bleeding, although I have no idea what fluid it uses, it smells like a light mineral oil.
The first things I would check would be the latch micro switches, there are 4, 2 on the windscreen header rail and 2 at the rear.
To check the windscreen switchs, you will find a small round plastic cover about 10mm in dia. behind each sun visor, pop out the covers and you will see an allen bolt behind each one, play around with these using the tool supplied in the tool kit and ensure they are properly latched and also check if you try and pull the top tighter to the car that the red light does or does not go out. Repeat the same with the back, you can access the latches though the covers in the boot and try using the other end of the tool.
As for the soft top manual operation, just bear in mind it's not so easy and you can only do this a maximum of 6 times before the system will develop a hydraulic lock.
Using the tool you will find a latch each side of the soft top lid between the anti roll bar and the leather/plastic trim, unlock these by turning backwards, they take a while to find.
Open the soft top lid, it just lifts up.
Pull the soft top forwards and latch to the header rail.
Close the soft top lid and lock using the tool again.
Pull the rear section of the soft top down and lock in postiion.
You will have to do this with the windows down or the doors open.


I hope this helps

Webby