ML-430 sliding roof problem - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Cue · #1 12-18-2003, 12:31 PM

I have a ML-430 that has the sliding roof in it, I think its called skyview?

Well it wont shut or open all the way and is stuck about 1/4 of the way open right now. I have taken the motors out in the rear and they work fine, its just the roof seems to get cocked to the side and jams. I can move it a few inches each way before ti does this.

Anyone know how to get the panels out of the roof or what may be causing this?

Gilly · #2 12-18-2003, 05:24 PM

There was a 3 or 4 hour training class on this "thing" at MB school, and that was with the whole sunroof removed and put on a bench.
More than likely it's a lack of lubrication, or one of the motors is weak (even though it runs) or probably both.
I wouldn't mess with it, really. Can you get it closed manually? Get it to a dealer, hopefully there will be someone there who was paying attention in class.

Gilly

Cue · #3 12-18-2003, 08:22 PM

I would never take any car to a dealer, I am a car dealer just not a new one

I took the roof completely out, it is not needing greased or anything like that, it has a broken slider part on each side, I ordered new ones for $40 and they will be here Monday.

Why would you say you wouldnt mess with it? Its not that complicated.

Gilly · #4 12-18-2003, 08:38 PM

OK, I thought you were a DIY'er, usually removing the whole roof cassette is beyond what I assume a DIY'er would do.
Ultimately these things fail due to lack of lubrication, I'm sure that's why you have busted parts.
It's strange you got this all figured out without any input at all. You did pretty good, as you just posted the question today and already have it all taken apart.
One other big pitfall will be the inner headliner material in the roof, real tough to get that in there right without damaging it.
Make sure to get the MB grease and grease both the slots and tabs (the slots on the individual panels or "lammelas" as MB calls them. Not much to grease on the frame, it's the panels that need lubing. They can be lubed easiest with the sunroof open, still hard to get them all.
There are these areas on the panels that like to rattle, I'm sure you'll see where I mean. MB's "mod" for that is to slip some rubber vacuum tubing over the rounded edges, over in the area where the headliner attaches on the underside.

Gilly

Cue · #5 12-18-2003, 08:42 PM

Yes I posted the question in hopes someone told me how to remove the panels before I removed the whole thing

But I just removed it anyway as I didnt get a reply after a while.

I figured the inner headliner is going to be a pain to get back in.

Gilly · #6 12-18-2003, 08:59 PM

Going by the training program, MB wants you to take those sliding panels out starting at the rear, I assume your problem is with the front one. I never got a chance to work on one in the shop, some of the guys in class said they managed to take the front one off, but don't remember how they said they did it. The instructors seemed a bit baffled as well, and the guys in class mentioned that the next time they'd probably want to do it the way they were shown. It's possible to do it incorrectly and scratch the outside of the panels.
MB will even sell you a jig to bolt the cassette into, lets you rotate it upside-down, etc.
It's easy enough as far as the principle, but pretty complex as far as taking it apart and reassembling it.
You might want to sign up for that Mercedes Tech Info website ($20/day) and print out some disassembly/reassembly instructions. I don't think there is very much required in the way of special tools to work on it.

Gilly

Cue · #7 12-18-2003, 09:05 PM

Actually the part that broke is near the rear, and I took off about 3 panels 2 or 3 in from the rear. The pieces that are broke though, all the ones in front if them half to come out first I think so I will probably have to remove all the panels.

What website are you talking about that is $20?

Gilly · #8 12-18-2003, 09:32 PM

Had to search high and low for this, here is the link:

http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/

That is an MB website. Research it yourself, but I believe you can buy this for $20 for a day. You can print out alot of info in a day. Unsure if you have to tell them which particular vehicle you need info on, or if you can search for info on more than one vehicle.
Check it out, it's all MB stuff.

Gilly

Cue · #9 12-28-2003, 01:24 PM

OK, got another problem. The roof is all back in, but the motors will only turn in one direction, closing. They wont open it and they wont turn in the right direction at all when removed, only in the closed direction. It worked before all of this so I don't know if it was a coincidence or ? that it stopped now. Here is what the one looks like, I am assuming that the control circuitry or the relays inside it went bad as I have power everywhere it should be, and I tested both the motors and they work in both directions by themselves, the switch is fine too.
Are these controllers known for going bad?

Gilly · #10 12-29-2003, 08:15 PM

Possibly the motors just need to be resynchronized, instructions should be in the owners manual right after where it describes how to do the emergency closing of the top, aka "Emergency operation of the Skyview top", should be right around page 226 in the manual.

Gilly

Cue · #11 12-29-2003, 08:57 PM

Don't have any manuals or books for it.

Gilly · #12 12-29-2003, 09:57 PM

Well I highly recommend gettng one. Call the 1800 FOR MERCedes # or the dealer can order one for you.
Heres what it says:

Important!

After manually operating the Skyview Top, a timing synchronization is needed for future electrical operation of the Skyview Top. To do so, turn the key in steering lock to position 2. Now push and hold switch until the Skyview top is fully closed. Continue to hold switch for additional 15 seconds.

Gilly

PS I think this needs to be done because you had the motors disconnected and it lost it's synchronization. This may occur also if you have the battery go dead or disconnect it, etc.

Cue · #13 12-29-2003, 10:11 PM

Thanks, I ordered the all-data on it and it said the same thing, that was the problem and it works fine now. That other website star tek info pretty much sucked, it was hard to navigate around and it didnt have any info on the roof that I could find.

I wouldnt order a book for this as it will be sold in a week, I just needed to fix the roof.