By-pass soft top controller in 1991 SL500

[Gordan53]

Hello.
Does anyone out there know how to by-pass soft top controller in a 1991 SL500 - in Australia - or anywhere else for that matter?

Gordan53

[tdoriot]

Originally Posted by Gordan53

Hello.
Does anyone out there know how to by-pass soft top controller in a 1991 SL500 - in Australia - or anywhere else for that matter?

Gordan53

The only way to bipass is to take the emergency top wrench and manually open the top. The top needs a controller due to the complexity of 12 cylinders, and number of operations required to make the top work. It isn't like an old Mustang where it's up or down.

[tecqboy]

That controller is pretty rugged and not too complex, especially as compared to the ones which came in later year 129's. Have you been able to read and clear all the trouble codes? There is much info on this forum on how the controller works and how to read and clear faults. Unless the controller is completely dead electrically, it should report a code(s) which will lead you to the problem. If the hydraulics are OK, then it's just a matter of locating issues in the micro switch logics. The early controllers get "confused" easily, usually by the window up/down logic. I have to reset mine ( 1991 300SL) at least once a summer.