1996 320SL Top, roll bar, windows, ATS, semi-inoperative.

[klauszenk]

I own a 1996 320 SL.
The battery became weak whereas the car would not start.
Once jump started the roll bar lower and raise switch light came on. The roll bar light on the dash came on, the convertable activate red buttom light on the center console came on ,
The convertable , roll bar and windows became inoperative.
Upon replacing the battery maintaing current to the car from another vehicle to maintain codes the problem persisted.
When taken to a local shop they put in another battery and the top worked one time to the down position. Once the top was stowed the lights all came back on agan.
Returned to the shop and they reset codes and put top up and windows up.
When I picked up car all the lights came on again and the same items were again inoperative, but with the windows up this time.
Any suggestions
I have checked all the fuses with an ohm meter except the 2 or three in the panel by the battery.
Fuses in the relays, by the battery are good and under the hood are good.
When first taking the car to repair facility the alternator light came on, Voltage check was made at 13.67.........

New information; The top has worked intermitently and then stoped.
Now with the windows 1.5 inces from closed which was dome by holding the remote lock past the unlock point. Was afraid to continue for fear the windows would end up in the down position and remain.
Now with the engine running there is a constant slow tick tick low in both door wells where the door lock meets the car body.
Suggestions please. Thank You
8/1The only thing that still works is the remote.
It allowed me to lower the windows, but I stopped for fear they would remain in the down position.
Pressing the windows for syncronization or roll bar has no effect.
8/5After a week the systems starting working again, but not before the
traction control system almost killed my wife by operating in some sort of random order and launching her into oncoming trafic.
The fact that the traction control system can develop a mind of it's own strikes me as U.S. Transportation Safty issue worthy of a recall?????
8/10 Now they have disconnected the battery and the computer will not let the shop mechanic back into the computer????
I think they blew the computer??? only becuase all these systems worked when dropped off.......
Can all the systems, roll bar , top and windows work if the computer is damaged??


Any new ideas?

Very best regards,
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Klaus D. Zenk

[wiggy964]

I have just seen your posting - we have a similar problem! Is your 320 fixed yet? - whatever you do please let us know if it is fixed and how it got fixed - I can't figure this one out and all I hear are horror stories about MB dealers not really knowing anything about this kind of problem. It seems common for them to just replace part after (expensive) part until they get it right. Hope the situation improves for you!

[klauszenk]

Sorry to take so long to answer..

Still have problem, But advised by my friend who was a master mechanic for Mercedes Benz for 5 years and his specialty was the SL model.
The procedure varies by year model.
If it is 96 or newer everything seems to be tied to the window memory.
The system learns specific sequences of events.
Disconnect the neg terminal and wait minimum of 15 minutes.
Reconnect ( you will loose the radio and will require your code).
Start the car and run the window up or down but start from the full open or full closed position.
If all the way up run all the way down and release for one second than press again and wait 10 seconds. You will hear the window go through some minor changes and slight movements. once released run the window to the opposing position, up if you were down or down if you were up.
once up, release for one second and hold for 10 seconds. repeat process with the other window. To validate you have done it correctly push the window down switch and let the window come down automatically. If the window automatic down does not work you will have to repeat the learning process until the automatic function works for both windows.
The top, and roll bar are dependent on the windows knowing what to do.
Everything should work after these procedures are followed.
This has worked to a degree for me but I am waiting on new info from my friend in Belgium. Will update when new info is available.