SL roof removal using tool problem

[merc300e]

Help - I was selling my SL500 - took it to a garage for an inspection requested by the purchaser - came away with the roof system warning light on and gong going. Cost me £300 for Merc to put right. Garage says not us - it just happened whilst we had it!. Can anyone answer these queries ? (1) Is it ok to use the emergency roof removal tool whilst the engine is running? ( Merc main dealer - and others - said it was known to cause problems. ) (2) It seems the problem was that the nearside windsreen header rail roof location had been forced out of position and had to be realigned. Would it be possible for this to have been caused by the ( over enthusiastic ) use of this tool? I am persuing the garage that did the 'inspection' to meet this bill. Thanks Julian Goodman.

 

[Arnie]

If the engine is running and/or the ignition key is in position II, then the hydraulic pump remains activated (for at least 10 mins) as long as the red roof-operating button is lit. The red button will light if any of the micro-switches indicate that the roof is not properly closed, such as when trying to open it manually. This could mean the mecahism is trying to keep the roof closed (hydraulic pressure, valves closed), while you are trying to open it.

But why was the manual (emergency) lever used??

 

[merc300e]

why too used

Arnie - thanks for that - I watched the technician doing this. He pressed the red button to remove the hardtop but then immediately said it wasn't working and got the tool out of the boot and removed the hardtop with it , engine running. I even said to him that I did it with the engine stopped ( suggesting he try this ) but he would not listen. As soon as he refitted the hardtop the fault light was showing. He was only instructed to do an 'inspection' he should have simply recorded a roof fault and left it at that. Whenever I have used that switch to remove the roof I always did it with the engine stopped. I think he simply did not wait long enough for the roof to start lifting. It always seemed to take a few seconds when I did it before anything happened. What annoys me is that the car went in with no warning light/gong and was handed back to me with both. I think he may have used too much force, or got 3 of the fixings free but not the one that became damaged and lifting the roof dislodged the header rail fixing point. I am just trying to get him to make a claim on his insurance.

 

[Arnie]

Well, I think you have a case but, as frustrating as it is, I suspect that it won't be easy to get him/the garage to accept it...

If the MB garage can state (that in their opinion) the damage was caused by improper use of the manual key, then you may be able use the legal aid on your insurance and get a solicitor to write to him.

(This of-course would also be more clear-cut if the roof mechanism had not shown a fault in trying to lift the roof, requiring the manual key to be used.)

Good luck!

 

[piestore]

sl roof

HI Merc 300E

To sort your questions in order:-

Yes it is ok to use manual release tool while engine is running

No over enthusastic use of tool could only result in tennis elbow

The crux of the matter is what did you pay for to fix it. As this would be evidence as to the cause, from what you have said it sounds like switches out of syinc or a control unit ?

As another note, your car should be returned to you in the same state as you delivered it to the testing garage If they broke it they fix it, It could be a coincedence that it broke while it was in there possesion but that ain't your prob it's very definatly there's