SL (129) Soft top wont open. Or close for that matter!!

[justinb]

After just getting my SL 500 back on the road, the folding soft top has just stopped working....

Folded down ok, then refused to go back up. Ended up doing it with the spanner in the tool kit.

Hydraulic pump in the boot floor is ok, and ive checked the fuses but none have popped, and once roof is shut and locked it, when you press the close switch, it tries to pull the roof down as if it should work...


Could it be a relay or switch, or maybe sychronisation problem...its worked ok for the last 3 weeks with pretty much daily use....

Any advice guys?

 

[pascal]

Hi Justin, try this first (posted before)


If there's a fault with the soft top (when fully open or closed) it will only flash when trying to open or trying to close.

Direct from Manual

If the indicator lamp in the soft top switch flashes when the switch is pressed:

• The battery voltage may be too low -- allow the engine to run.
• The drive may be overloaded (eg if it is operated about 5 times in succession) -- it can be operated again after about 2 minutes.
• The voltage supply may have been interupted (battery disconected or discharged) -- the soft top cannot be opened or closed. To close the soft top, first remove key from ignition lock, wind the soft top back into soft top compartment by hand and re-adjust the side windows, see Interior. Before opening the soft top, re-adjust the side windows, see Interior.

So what they are saying is to do a window reset. You know how to do that?

• Close window fully whilst holding button in the up position for over 2 seconds
• Repeat this on passenger side

See here also:

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=10379&highlight=soft+top

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=10133&highlight=soft+top
Pascal

 

[justinb]

Hi Pascal,

Thanks for the reply, I'll give it a try. The strange thing is my windows have never opened or closed when the door has been opened and then shut...Concerning huh?!

I looked through the manual and started the engine, but still no luck so I guess its not the battery or a voltage drop issue as the light flashed but got no action, as it were!

Strangley enough, my owners manual says nothing about re-synching the windows, only the remote...I assume this isnt something that only applied to R129's after mine was made. It was registered 1st Jan 1992.

Anyway, I'll try what you suggest and see what happens. Watch this space in the next 20 minutes. Providing I can get away with messing with the car instead of putting the kids to bed!!

 

[justinb]

Forgot to ask, but does anyone know where I can get a Haynes manual for the SL? Or if they even do one for that matter...or a suitable alternative would probably do..

 

[pascal]

No Haynes for R129.

The window re-synching applies to all R129s as far as I know.

Also, even if your engine is running, a weak battery will cause light to flash.
See the other thread.

The strange thing is my windows have never opened or closed when the door has been opened and then shut...Concerning huh?!

Justin. I do not understand the above statement.

 

[justinb]

From reading some of the other stuff thats been posted, it sound that whenever the door is opened, the window drops down slightly and then when the door is closed, the window then closes tightly again.

I had this on an Audi TT where upon opening and closing the door the window was raised and lowered to avoid damaging the seal. Well my SL doesnt do this at all. I wasnt sure if it should or not, but judging by the other threads it seems that it should..

 

[aspire]

Hi, I think the "window retracting when the door is opened" was introduced for the 98 model year. I have one of these, and also the sales brochure for that year, it says:

"When the doors are opened or closed, a new window-prompter system briefly lowers the side windows and then automatically returns them to their original position. This system ensures there is always a tight fit between the windows and soft top. It also makes it a little easier to open and close the doors."

Good luck with the soft top.

Derek

 

[GregE240]

I've got a similar problem with my drivers door window (1990 500SL).

At the moment, if the window is completely in the "up" position, the door doesn't shut cleanly. Well, it will if you slam it. However, if you literally touch the window switch to drop the window a fraction (about 1/4 of an inch), the door closes just fine.

If I do this reset, it won't affect my problem. So I've no idea what I can do to solve my problem as its only a short term fix. That is to say, as soon as I lower the roof, I get the same problem back again.

Any ideas? The door seals look alright.

 

[pascal]

Well when you start to pull either outside or inside door opener it must triger the window. Not sure whether this signal goes to window computer, or has its own relay in the door. I would imagine it's the former. I would imagine that the window computer takes a signal from the door position, and as it knows that the window is in the top position, it drops it by 8/10 mm. And when you close door, it returns window to top position. If the widow computer is unsure of top position, and bottom position, it will not be able to drop window, as it will think the window is open already. I would try the window reset again, and failing that, remove door card for further examination. There could be a loose connection.

Does anyone know where this door position signal is taken from. It is not from the door interior light button, I checked. I imagine there are signal wires in the locking mechanism.

Greg, you do not mention you passenger door. It may be the case that they were only introduced in 98, but I cannot see how a proper seal could be made without this feature, especially with the soft-top. Also my 98 brochure (new brochure for the facelift & new engines) does not mention this at all. Afterall it is not new technology (is in the bm coupe for 15 years). Having had a 300ce coupe that did not need this feature, because the sealing system was completely different.

 

[GregE240]

Greg, you do not mention you passenger door. It may be the case that they were only introduced in 98, but I cannot see how a proper seal could be made without this feature, especially with the soft-top. Also my 98 brochure (new brochure for the facelift & new engines) does not mention this at all. Afterall it is not new technology (is in the bm coupe for 15 years). Having had a 300ce coupe that did not need this feature, because the sealing system was completely different.

Strangely enough the passenger door is fine! That closes without any effort at all. Looking at the window in its uppermost position, it seems that the driver door window is rising a fraction higher than the passenger one.....

 

[parkesie]

Hi
Following on from this I have a problem on my SL320 facelift with my "window prompter system" when I activate the door handle when teh car is left locked for more than 1 hour the window winds down to half way. This is on both sides.Then I have to reset by winding down and holding down teh button for 5 secs , then winding up to full height and doing the same. This works but it seems to revert after one hour of no use!!
What can I do. My battery seems fine by the way and I have the glass hard top correctly fitted.

 

[television]

Have you tried to re sync system. please Email or private message chassis number (20 variants)

Malcolm

 

[markmerc]

Hello all, it sounds like a hood controller problem. This is situated underneath the rear seats and costs about £750 for a new part. I advise taking it to your cheapest merc servce place and get their diagnostics computer to verify the fault.

 

[markmerc]

Have the hood controller checked out.

 

[Barcella]

Hello to all,

I hope this is the right place to post this query. I have the same problem as our colleague, but I don't understand what has happened or how to solve it.
My 300 SL 24v from 92, was working perfect, I have repaired the leaks in the cylinders and I have changed the hydraulic fluid. Everything was working perfect, but the problem is that now when I try to open the RST the rear blockers pull the RST down instead of releasing it so that it can be opened.
I release them manually by accessing the emergency release levers in the boot and everything works, it opens fully and closes. But when I try to open the rear locks again they don't open and pull down on the RST.

 

[LostKiwi]

How far through the opening process does it get?

 

[Barcella]

Hello,

The opening process when it starts, instead of unlocking the rear locks, it pulls the roof down and stays there, I don't keep trying because I think it may damage the system.
I then manually unlock the rear locks and it opens perfectly, and also closes. But if I try to open it again, the same thing happens, the rear locks do not open and the locks instead of opening pull the roof down.

This has been happening since I repaired the seals on these cylinders, but I think I have assembled everything correctly.

I don't understand what can happen, thank you very much.

 

[LostKiwi]

Does this help?

 

[Barcella]

I have tried everything and nothing, I don't understand what can happen, everything works but what happens is that the rear locks don't work and instead of opening they keep pulling down the roof.

Thank you very much.