SLK PSE failure

[ladydriver]

When the autoelectrician diagnosed the central locking problem on my 1997 SLK as PSE unit failure (due to water ingress) I immediately looked it up on here and found it to be an extremely common problem with a huge amount of helpful info - THANKS to everyone who contributed.

I wanted to share my experience:

1. MB can't source a replacement PSE unit in the UK or Germany. I've had to 'commission' one to be built for me and they think it will take at least 6 weeks to arrive (gives me a bit of time to save up the £380).

2. The pins on the unit were so corroded that one broke off when the white connector was removed and is now stuck in the connector. I'll need a new connector anyway but would like one of the extended wiring harnesses that people have mentioned. Has anyone ever bought one of these? MB deny its existence! I'd love a part number if anyone can help.

3. Without central locking I've been having to use the key to lock the doors. What I didn't realise is that using the remote control doesn't only lock/unlock, it also tells the car to drop the windows a fraction at unlock and raise them again on locking - this makes sure that the glass is seated correctly in the door seal when the door is closed. By closing the door repeatedly with the glass in the 'up' position I've damaged the door seal quite badly. So a note to any convertible-owner whose central locking is out of commission...... don't forget to adjust your windows manually!

4. I've been using the car with the PSE unit entirely disconnected and the indicators are working (which I didn't expect) but I daren't try the roof in case it goes down but won't go up again. Anyone got any experience of this scenario?

 

[colechelle]

dont happen to have the part number do you, got one here for sale brand new
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=39433

might be the same??

 

[ladydriver]

OOooohhh - tempting! But I've already ordered one from MB.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Graham Lee]

I was not aware that the windows lowered when using the remote control for unlocking the car. Are you sure, my SLK does not appear to have this option.

 

[ladydriver]

The windows don't lower all the way down, only about a quarter of an inch (it's not really noticeable from either the inside or the outside) - it's just enough to make sure the glass goes under the door seal without damaging it.

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

they dont lower when you operate the key, they lower as you open the door so when closing it does not catch on the seal as you have experienced,

as per roof question, you should be ok to use roof as normal, it works on hyrdraulics not pneumatics like the locking,

 

[Tim Green]

Being a "new" SLK owner (SLK is 8 yrs old), I'd be interested to have a brief run-sown of what this is about and how one checks that the PSE unit is working and is dry and OK. I did notice the other day, when the car was out in the rain and I moved it into the garage, a large amount of water came from within the car somewhere (not in the cabin!) onto the garage floor. Must have been several gallons. What is that all about? Could be nothing, but it worried me a bit.