SLK roof starting to play up

[Rtaylor8]

Hi All

Having had no problems for the last two years with the SLK roof (2004 R170 model), as soon as the sun comes out, it’s starting to play up a bit. It has now happened 3 times but I’m concerned if I don’t do something it’s going to get worse. The problem is as follows

The roof will go both up and down however what it won’t do is as follows

1. Going down everything works fine, but it will not put the front windows back up. Usually this happens once the roof is settled and a few seconds have past.

2.Coming up (more concerning) what it won’t do is put the two little quarter lights back up and raise the windows again.

Each time the roof button lights up red and stays on… there is also a warning beep if you try to drive off…

Before I take it to the local Merc specialist, any ideas what to check/look for? Looking at the paperwork the roof was overhauled about 5 years ago by the previous owner

Any help gratefully received, I obviously want to be top down in the sun, but don’t want to worry I’m not going to get the roof back up When I park the car.

 

[grahamcol]

I wonder if there would be a fault code logged for this which Star might be able to show?
Either way good luck op and I'll be watching this with interest as l also own a R170. Luckily mine is OK but l like to learn as much as l can, just in case.

 

[harrye500]

I'm not terribly familiar with the 170 as I have a 207, but my bet would be on a faulty or broken sensor if your windows are actually working. So going down it may not be registering such (that your roof is stowed) so your front windows will not raise. Going up, a similar issue re your back windows, if it thinks the roof is not up and locked, your back quarters may not rise. I am sure a 170 owner will be able to offer better advice and as grahamcool notes there may well be codes logged that will help.

 

[Rtaylor8]

Thanks - interesting just tried the followping so maybe suspects switch? When raising roof, quarter lights not up so got out and took off the luggage compartment safety - let it go back into its holder then re-put it out - quarter lights came up straight away…..

 

[harrye500]

Ah yes, the luggage compartment switches / sensors - maybe find those sensors and check for looseness and also clean up? Check the wires too. It is worth a try and then see how you go longer term but it sounds like you are getting somewhere!

 

[Uncle Benz]

Check the switch on the header rail at the top of the windscreen. Generally the windows will only rise once it knows the roof is fully up and latched.
You’ll need to drop the headliner panel. Iirc the wires often break where the roof main panel meets the folding hinge, at the back of the main top roof panel, where it meets the back window

 

[davidsl500]

Also have a look on youtube for manual roof operation. The R170 is pretty easy to operate manually if you got stuck in the rain. The R171 is less easy and the R172 a nightmare.....

 

[antijam]

When you say the previous owner 'overhauled' the roof, are you sure he didn't fit a Cabrio Module? These are notorious for playing up after a while. If you don't know if it's there you might be unaware of the possible differences available in operation.

 

[Rtaylor8]

They had it looked at with a local Merc specialist- think the pumps got replaced/refurbished - would have to find the receipts. There is a lot of paper work with the car…

 

[Chrishazle]

By Cabrio Module, do you mean the Smarttop module which allows you to control the small side windows seperately? One of its tricks is being able to put these up when the roof is down - which to me was attractive as a way of reducing noise from the passenger seat, that was until I saw the price!!

 

[Rtaylor8]

UPDATE:
Thanks for everyone’s advice - my local Merc specalist (who is excellent and I would highly recommend) managed to squeeze me in this morning. He was surprised with the specific issue as he hadn’t seen it before. We had a look at the opening mechanism and he saw the boot wasn’t shutting fully on the nearside. Investigating a bit further the catch had worked loose (see photo) and he suspected that this meant the car didn’t think the mechanism was fully closed and so wouldn’t put the quarter lights and front windows up….

A quick tighten up and away it went!! will keep an eye on it but hopefully sorted…..and no charge which was great!

 

[harrye500]

Well done! So many sensors and gubbins in these roofs but a nice simple problem sorted, exceptionally technical but worth it when the suns out. Now get out and enjoy it!