1998 SL500 Top Latches Not Releasing

[bbrewer]

Trying to help a friend that just bought a 1998 SL500 at an auction, and it has a few "issues"... LOL!!
We released the top for the first time, and the rear latches popped up, but the fronts did not release.
Tried to snug it back down, and realized the panorama roof doesn't seem to fit right. The center pins seem to be spread a little wider than the receiver holes in the body. Obviously it took some work by someone to get it into place in the first place... :-(
Regardless, now it won't go back in place in the middle or rear, and the fronts won't release....
For right now I'd like to just be able to release the front latches and then worry about how to make the hardtop slide in like it was designed to at a later time....

So.... Is there a way to manually release the front latches, and if so, how??

Thanks,

[SilverSL500]

Originally Posted by bbrewer

So.... Is there a way to manually release the front latches, and if so, how??

Thanks,

There should be a tool in the kit with the spare tire to unlock the front latches. This is outlined in the owners manual. If you/he doesn't have one, it can be downloaded in pdf from the MBUSA website. I can't remember the sequence, but I think you unlock them right, left, right, left.

S

[Carlos Serrano]

Have you checked the hyd. reservoir under the spare tire ithe fluid level may be too low.

[bbrewer]

Thank you both for your help.
I don't have a manual (most of the problem so far) LOL!! and the MB website doesn't have one for a 98 SL online yet....

I'm going to check for the manual releases when I get home this evening, but getting into the trunk is the SECOND issue....
You can't.... :-(
You can lock or unlock it (and hear the locks working), but it TOO, won't release. The interior release button does nothing, and the fuse is good...

But just being able to manually release the top is step 1...

Thanks...

[speace]

If yours is like my 92 all you need for the front is an allen wrench.
Un-snap the sun visors. Look for the two plastic plugs beneath the visors. snap out the plugs. Use the allen wrench to unlatch the front pins manually.
It takes two snaps of each one to release them fully. Do one side by one notch then the other side and repeat. all of this is in the owner's manual.

Also note that they are reverse rotation. Left vs right.

My top wouldn't release the front latches this spring and I just had to do this.

I believe my problem was caused by a microswitch that was out of position.

Once you have removed the hard top, try and operate the soft top.

If the storage compartment unlatches, but doesn't open itself, lift the cover manually and look for a microswitch on one of the top bows straight behind the driver's seat. See that that switch is working properly. Mine had slipped past the bow and was preventing my front latches from operating. Once I repositioned the switch everything began working properly.

Good Luck!

[SilverSL500]

Originally Posted by bbrewer

Thank you both for your help.
I don't have a manual (most of the problem so far) LOL!! and the MB website doesn't have one for a 98 SL online yet....

Thanks...

The manual I downloaded doesn't list years, just SL 500 and Sl 600. I'd think it would be very close, especially for stuff like this. My written owners manual has some older stuff in it also.

[TheV12pwr]

There is a switch on each door,... windows have to trigger the switch in order to unlock the front latches.One or both do NOT do the job.........

[jazzyd]

My '87 560 sl won't lay down to the body and I was told the rear pins need replacing. Where do I get them

[zulf]

Hello bbrewer try this, disconnect battery then reconnect after 10 mins then switch on ignition open and close all doors then start car and release soft top.