mioba
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2006
- Messages
- 8,263
- Reaction score
- 4,977
- Location
- Nottingham and Köln
- Your Mercedes
- W124/E200, W220/S320CDI, W205/C200, W251/R350CDI 4Matic
So for those in the know, the facelift W220 (around 2004) has a clever trunk lid switch on the boot (called a retractable tur griff - RTG) which when pressed a retracting handle pops out to stop the owner getting hands dirty when closing the boot, when closed the handle retracts and disappears.
So a few years ago when trying to open the trunk lid with the switch on the trunk lid, the operation started to become intermittent. Sometime the door would open, sometimes not.
The trunk lid would always open from the switch at drivers door and using the remote.
Eventually the use of the switch on the rear door led to nothing. No operation at all.
Based in the operation. I was convinced the problem was either in a vacuum line at the microswitch on the rear door or the microswitch itself , you can hear its a microswitch when you press it.
Having looked at the trusted W220.ee website as to how it all goes together, I didnt want to take out the entire unit initially for the want of a microswitch.
So, out came the contact cleaner, I opened the rear door to reveal as much as possible (handle pops out and switch mechanism drops - all very clever). I directed the jet of the contact cleaner to the microswitch, and anywhere near the area that was accessible while pressing the switch. Left it an hour then carried on, repeated twice.
Closed the trunk lid, presseed the switch, and bingo. for the first time in a few years the rear door switch works.
So if any other folks have this problem. Thats the first port of call. I assume after 15 years the switch dries up and or gets a coating of dirt on it making it inoperable.
So a heads up for fellow W220 owners with the RTG.
So a few years ago when trying to open the trunk lid with the switch on the trunk lid, the operation started to become intermittent. Sometime the door would open, sometimes not.
The trunk lid would always open from the switch at drivers door and using the remote.
Eventually the use of the switch on the rear door led to nothing. No operation at all.
Based in the operation. I was convinced the problem was either in a vacuum line at the microswitch on the rear door or the microswitch itself , you can hear its a microswitch when you press it.
Having looked at the trusted W220.ee website as to how it all goes together, I didnt want to take out the entire unit initially for the want of a microswitch.
So, out came the contact cleaner, I opened the rear door to reveal as much as possible (handle pops out and switch mechanism drops - all very clever). I directed the jet of the contact cleaner to the microswitch, and anywhere near the area that was accessible while pressing the switch. Left it an hour then carried on, repeated twice.
Closed the trunk lid, presseed the switch, and bingo. for the first time in a few years the rear door switch works.
So if any other folks have this problem. Thats the first port of call. I assume after 15 years the switch dries up and or gets a coating of dirt on it making it inoperable.
So a heads up for fellow W220 owners with the RTG.
