1997 Soft Top Stops About Halfway Up

[drteepee@yahoo.]

The soft top on my 1997 Sl 500 stops when the top is about at 90 degrees. The Mercedes dealer tells me that the problem is one of internally leaking latches (To start?). Is this probable, and do I really have a more serious problem such as a bad control module? The problem surfaced after I worked on the console, wrongly plugged in the connector to the top switch laterally displaced one set of connector prongs, and tried to operate the top. There was no observable response in this configuration. When the plug-in was corrected, the top only rose part way. I do not want to replace the latches and still have the problem .
Any help will be appreciated!!

[Mike Miller]

Doc,
Could this be the old window syncro. problem? Have you tried running your windows up and down full travel a couple of times? Then, with them down, try the top again. That's the first thing everybody says to do.

Your MB dealer would love to sell you a controller, all the latches, hydraulics and the Brookline Bridge. Mine just tried to sell me a new power steering pump ($500 dollars installed) after inspecting my car. They said it was leaking and had to be replaced. I took it to my indy and he said no, there was a 35 cent hose that cracks after heat and time. He changed it for free. No more leak.

[Pete Geither]

Agree with Mike. Just worked on mine and had the battery disconnected. First time I went to put the top up, it only went half way. I pushed it to get it to latch and resyncronized the windows, and all has been fine since then.

[Carlos Serrano]

Check the fluid level in the reservoir, mine stop 1/2 way after replacing the latches, took me too long to figure out what it was dee,dee,dee. anyways It lost enough fluid, topped the reservoir off and bingo

[Mike Miller]

Originally Posted by Carlos Serrano

Check the fluid level in the reservoir, mine stop 1/2 way after replacing the latches, took me too long to figure out what it was dee,dee,dee. anyways It lost enough fluid, topped the reservoir off and bingo

Carlos,
That is a great one. Sometimes we sit here typing away on the serious complications of our machines and bingo!!!.... the fluid was too low or something just as simple. Why does it take us so long sometimes to get there. Thanks for that one!

[locoman6]

When raised my top would not open,when lowered it would only raise half way.Used the trouble shooting guide to find code. Replaced switch in the door that senses when window is down. While doing so found broken wires on the switch leads. Problem solved!! Thanks to everyone on the site for thier input! Tom