Anyone know how a 209 convertible roof works? :)

SteveX

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Hi Gents,

Wasn't sure where to put this, but the clonking on my roof has returned and is worse :(

There is a knocking / rattling from the front catches, I've removed the joints and rods that move the latches, padded the with grease and check everything round there, it's solid when shut, but the roof is flexing / moving causing the catches to 'clonk' or knock against the mounts that clip into on near the windscreen.

I'm thinking it's something at the back allowing the roof to move around. As there is now a creaking and mild clonking coming from the rear driver side of the roof. Perhaps that isn't locking somewhere or keeping it in place or pressure on it to push it to the front?

I'm a little lost on what to look for, I've put the roof half open and can just see a couple of latches for the cover and a hyrdaulic ram. Roof functions perfectly, open and closes all the way no problem. No noised when it's down, only when up, the noise from the back driver corner and then the roof moving slightly and knocking against the front catches as a result.

I've booked it into a mercedes / bmw 'specialist' in Swindon, but he didn't sound to confident about it just saying 'we can take a look'.

If there's anything I can check or anyone who has any ideas on what I could check it would be appreciated. As unfortunately I've just spent over 4k on my runaround to get it running and now the turbo has blown! So getting a little annoyed with throwing money at cars.


Thanks!
 

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There is a good MB Indy that contributes on this site . Ian from STAR Mercedes in Reading if you get stuck
 

LostKiwi

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I believe it works the same way as r129. If so it will have hydraulic rams that lock the roof closed at the front rail.
 
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SteveX

SteveX

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Thanks indeed it does, that part is working good and is solid it would seem. It clamps down well. I wonder if something on the back driver corner is lose / needs adjusting, but can't see anything there. I adjusted the front latches again, it was good for about 5 mins, then after a few roundabouts and such it started clacking again :(

I'll call STAR tomorrow too.

Any other ideas appreciated.

Thanks!
 

LostKiwi

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Have you tried lubrication on the rubber seals (silicone grease, krytox or gummipfledge)? Also a little grease on the latches perhaps?
 
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SteveX

SteveX

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Yep tried that one too, it's weird, as I said all operates just fine, just feels like the roof is twisting and moving where the catches are. The latches them self are fully engaged and not moving, its the roof moving and forcing it to black back and forth on the plates that hold it, no movement at all up and down.
 

star

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Gladly have a look, noises can be a pita and time consuming to track down. Have you sat in back whilst someone else drives?
 

ajlsl600

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Thanks indeed it does, that part is working good and is solid it would seem. It clamps down well. I wonder if something on the back driver corner is lose / needs adjusting, but can't see anything there. I adjusted the front latches again, it was good for about 5 mins, then after a few roundabouts and such it started clacking again :(

I'll call STAR tomorrow too.

Any other ideas appreciated.

Thanks!


take a good look at locking ram fitting and what it locks on to or around , including the anchor side over time there may a good amount of wear there ,and after a few hrs maybe the locking cylinder looses its hydraulic tension and then you get the rattles of locking clamp on locking pin or other mechanism. do you get the rattles from straight after you close the roof or does it start a while after its supposed to have locked . i must point out i have never seen that system ,but its what i would look at if were mine.
 

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I thought I read something a while ago about plastic "tabs" breaking on the rear hinges of the roof somewhere . Have you tried examining the roof at the rear from one side to the other as a comparison for looking for missing bits ?
 
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SteveX

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Thanks gents, plan on calling Star later, just behind with work atm.

I first close the roof and the creaking from the driver rear is still there, going down the road it seems fine, no cloning at front, seems solid if I put my fingers against the latches and hooks. Then over some bumps and round some corners and the noise starts to slowly appear (clonking). Then I can feel the latches clacking and shifting like a mm causing the noise on the latching plates. So maybe the fluid needs topping up? I did check all around the reservoir previously and rams already and saw no sign of fluid anywhere.

The marker is on minimum with the roof up, can't measure it at any other time as the boot is locked when the roof is operating, so not sure when to measure it.

I also bought additional pads from merc the other week that go under the latching plates, so they have three pads on each side now instead of two thinking it would help. I opened and closed the roof with the plates loose-ish so it could find it's way, then tighten them.

That post was my original one buddy :) The noise is identical and comes from the front latches, but I think it's now a red hearring, adjusting it and re-shimming or using the pads seems to only have been a temporary fix. Something is allowing the roof to move slightly and not be totally solid, maybe it is a pressure thing as mentioned, IE the pressure drops over time when I am moving and allows the roof to squirm around a little.

Still no clue what that creaking noise is at the back corner of the roof though.

Also one of those plastic centre guide hinge thingies is broken, on the left side, the bit in the middle, I am told some people just remove them. It will need sorting but it shouldn't effect the actual roof as far as I know.
 
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SteveX

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Does anyone actually know how to measure 209 fluid? While I think of it, the issue I have is that I don't want to use or drive the car too much in case it wears out other parts.
 
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SteveX

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Sorry also yes did re-lube all the seals, the clacking is 100% the roof moving / latches at the front, the creaking again no clue.

I haven't actually sat in the back and got someone to take it for a spin no, but it's pretty easy to hear in the front, it's literally a creaking with the odd tap noise.
 

star

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If someone sits in the back, they can feel for the noise and possible alter it by pressing on things to narrow down the area.
 

ajlsl600

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if it actually goes thru the whole close and lock cycle i doubt it a low fluid level issue , i still feel its likely related to my earlier, whichever ,do let me,us know the final outcome.
 
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SteveX

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Sorry for the late reply, have been a bit tied up, just got my other car back after an engine rebuild and a ton of other work and the turbo blew! So had to spend time removing that and such :/

I found the creaking at the back, it was the luggage hatch, nothing to do with the roof lol.

I re-adjusted the front catches while at it now just the passenger side makes the odd noise, think everything just needs adjusting by someone who knows the procedures.
 

crippo2

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Sorry for the late reply, have been a bit tied up, just got my other car back after an engine rebuild and a ton of other work and the turbo blew! So had to spend time removing that and such :/

I found the creaking at the back, it was the luggage hatch, nothing to do with the roof lol.

I re-adjusted the front catches while at it now just the passenger side makes the odd noise, think everything just needs adjusting by someone who knows the procedures.

We had exactly this on our A209 CLK. Mechanically the roof opening & closing works fine - no hiccups. After a few days, with the roof closed, when going over even a small bump, we would get a sharp metallic sounding clonk from the passenger side of the car. For months I chased it around the car, prying this, lubing that, until one day a friend in the passenger seat jammed their fingers in the gap between the front of the roof and the top of the windscreen. Bingo the noise was gone.

Partially opened the roof and silicone lubed everything on both sides, inside both the roof catches and the windscreen grips - including removing, cleaning and re clipping the small plastic parts within the screen grip wells. Quiet as the grave for 6 months since then. My thoughts are that pre-lube the roof clamps were not moving/gripping/seating fully on the small rotating tubes attached to the screen grips, leaving some slack. Certainly getting those to turn freely was the biggest part of the job.

hope this helps you
 

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