R129 Roof control module

[usernothername]

Hi everyone
Very pleased to say I have recently bought a 1997 SL320

However I now have my fair share of warning / error lights to deal with! Everything seems to be working fine with the roof and roll bar, and windows, but after I used the switch to put the roll bar up and down the warning light stays constantly on. An independent garage ran STAR on it and said its giving the dreaded roof control module error.

I'm going to try and change the fuse (just incase that helps, but doubt it will) so looking now for a replacement / repair. Anyone have recommendations? Or a spare for sale?
There is one place on Ebay listing repair service for £400: automotive_electronics_service. Has anyone used these guys? My module is part number 1298203926.

Also - the roll bar operation sounds quite loud to me. Difficult to explain, but like loud thumping / clicking. Nothing sounds to be straining or clunking, I'd just expect a more quiet operation from a Benz. So wondering if this could be something to do with the error code.

Lastly - the seatbelt light is constantly on but with no buzzer. I assume unrelated, but mentioning it just incase.

Thanks!

 

[davidsl500]

Carl at https://r129.co/ is worth a try for the module.

 

[Wearsafoxhat]

Have you checked the hydraulic fluid for the roof pump.. the roll bar might just need a reset, sometimes a longer hold in both up and down positions works..
These cars need a good battery at all times too, otherwise they play up

 

[usernothername]

Carl at https://r129.co/ is worth a try for the module.

Thanks they do have a refurb one but at £780 so thinking its worth trying to get mine refurbed, if I can get a decent job done for a lot less than that

 

[usernothername]

Have you checked the hydraulic fluid for the roof pump.. the roll bar might just need a reset, sometimes a longer hold in both up and down positions works..
These cars need a good battery at all times too, otherwise they play up

Thanks for the suggestions. The error was reset by the garage that plugged it in, but it came back after I put the roll bar up & down. But I'll try that again just incase. Battery I think is ok, its only 2-3 years old and interior lights don't dim at all when operating things like the windows. And the engine was running when I did the roll bar. Fluid level looks ok I think - not the most helpful I parked on a hill but looks about right to me - would it be just the level that you would be checking?

 

[usernothername]

What would you say your roll bar operation sounds like - quite quiet? I was thinking if the former owner rarely put it up, the mechanisms might be a bit crusty and giving more physical resistance than the system likes, which maybe could be causing the error. Just since mine seems to have some quite loud clicks

 

[Wearsafoxhat]

My roll bar is quite quiet when raising or lowering, more like a “whirring” which is the pump. It does clunk, click when it reaches the bottom, but no where near as loud as the front roof locks releasing..
if everything is working fine and you just have the roll bar light on, it could just be one of the micro switches playing up. Perhaps live with this for a while and use the car, roof and roll bar and see how it goes.

 

[usernothername]

Thanks yeah I might do that. I guess if the error could be something its detecting on the accelerometers inside the unit that trigger the release in emergency, I could leave it up when driving to be on the safe side. Interestingly I changed all the rear fuses and when I next started the car, the roll bar emergency deployed (that made me jump!) and the roll bar light and the roof operation button both stayed constantly lit. But the seat belt warning light had gone. Then after driving for a while, turn car off and on, all lights went out and stayed out for another long drive. Two days later started car and roll bar light is back on and stayed on after two long drives. I might try changing the front fuses too and maybe searching for earth connections & reconnecting with lube. I read somewhere about someone doing this as a standard procedure every time he buys an older car. In the meantime I have bigger fish to fry as I am now locked out of the boot and the engine temp gauge isn't working!