1990 300SL Power Convertible Problem

I seem to be having a problem with my power convertible top onmy 1990 300sl. What seems to be happening is it runs and runs and runs until my battery is run down and thre is nothing left to draw. I can hear a noise that kicks on and off coming from the box in the right side of the trunk which i am assuming is my covertible top motor. If anyone can help me with fixing this problem i would appreciate it greatly. thanks ~alex

[Gilly]

This is a really confusing question. First, does it run and run all by itself, or are you trying to operate the top (pushing the console switch)? If you are trying to operate the top, are you trying to lower the top, raise the top, or take off the hardtop? In the trunk on the right side is the battery. There are also some soft top equipment in that area, but not much that would "click". The hydraulic pump is under the spare tire. You should try operating the top only with the engine running, if possible, due to the high current draw of the hydraulic motor.......Gilly

[BobH]

Alex,

I just had the same experience when I went to remove my hard top. Gilly is right, you really need to have the engine running because of the high current draw.

Bob

well...it seems to draw off the battery nonstop...whether the car is on or off. Even if i am not pressing any of the convertible controls. Now that i think about it...it can't be the convertible motor because the car has to be on to operate, but i wonder if this problem is occuring because of a problem i had about a month ago. A fuse blew on my dash and then all the gauges went out, and the radio went into that security block mode where u have to enter the pin. I wonder if this has to do with the security system somehow. Does the security system(lock) that kicks on after your radio is removed or whatever, turn on some time of system that draws from the battery to act as an antitheft type of ploy?

[Gilly]

No, none of this makes sense. Only thing over on the right side of the trunk is the battery. That's the only thing that I can think of over on that side anyways. This symptom I've never heard of before, at least not any description that sounds similar to this. As far as the battery-draining mode being part of the anti-theft system, no, not happening like that. I can't think right now where the power lock vacuum pump is, maybe it's something to do with that. Try to really find what is making the noise. As far as trying to do any remote diagnosis, I'm stumped until you can actually put your hands on the source.....Gilly

[MBenzNL]

My 1990 300SL has a kind of relays at the right side in the trunk behind the wheel well, above the battery. I had a problem with my (OEM MB additional) alarm system when I had just bought the car 1,5 year ago and pulled some of the connectors from this relays to get rid of the flashing indicators (I was 250km from home without my remote control (I hated it and didn't use it) and an alarm system that got activated as soon as I entered the car (although it hadn't been set)).
There is a device there that has something to do with the central locking/alarm system and it did cause some problems on my 1990 300SL. I have taken off some the connectors and haven't bothered to look into that ever after again...

If it isn't the power convertible top (like you presume right now), I suppose that the top is functioning properly and that your only problem is an activated motor that drains the battery?

greetingz,