Advice Buying 1999 500SL - soft top problem - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

stats007 · #16 12-01-2006, 09:32 AM

Sounds like the typical MB response of not having a clue. The operation you were doing was just freeing up the movement as mentioned - the tonneau cover sticks closed and requires more pressure to open it. The hydraulic system automatically shuts down because of this. Disconnecting clears current DTCs from the ECU. Have never seen a reference to air in the system from WIS or any other source. Even the owner's manual tells you to operate the roof manually in this instance.

iwrock · #17 12-02-2006, 03:27 PM

We had this problem last winter as well. Our mechanic told us to manually raise the top. We did so, and let it sit overnight, also with the computer unplugged. Went back in the morning, hooked it back up, lowered the top, all was well. Raised it, all was well once again!

skybound · #18 12-04-2006, 01:24 AM

Well, it turns out that not much was wrong with the top, just scared me a bit. The car was sent to the local MB dealer and checked out, lubricated latches, and cycled top and complete check and all normal according to the invoice. Sounds like there was air in the system just as noted in the previous posts here. I tried the top numerous times and it functioned flawlessly. Needless to say I couldn't resist and bought the car and I am not sorry one bit, It was always a dream car of mine and now I have one for real. Thanks for all the informative responses here.

Gilly · #19 12-04-2006, 05:26 AM

Really nice cars, good luck with it! The tech guys said if you can try to run the soft top (not latch and unlatch the hard top, the SOFT top) every 2-3 months it won't lock up like that. Again, it's an engineering problem, brand NEW cars were doing this. Usually they came in already sold, but if they weren't sold and sat around (typically the hard tops were just left on of course, unless they were in the showroom), then they soft top would do this if left down for a number of months (over the winter, here in WI that means 4months minimum).
Gilly

skybound · #20 03-04-2008, 06:51 AM

Update to previos problem with the soft top. No more problems at all. I had the hard top on for about 4 months now and took the hard top off and no problems with the soft top operation at all. Other than that I had the CEL (check engine light) illuminate due to my inadvertantly disconnecting a hose to the fuel vapor canister while changing the accesory belt and had 2 speakers fail in the doors. I can't say I am too impressed with Bose quality. I ended up changing the Bose speakers with Infinity speakers (luckily infinitity makes speakers with 2 ohm impedance that fit with minimal modification and much cheaper than replacements from the dealer). Other than that the rain sensor does not seem to funtion correctly and the wiper seems to function as it the windshield is always wet. I am not concerned with this though as I did not buy this car as a daily driver, just a summer car. Other than that no problems at all and a dream to drive. I am so looking forward to summer again, as I that is what this car was made for....summer time with the top down and some good music. A pleasure to drive and head turner as well.

aam · #21 03-04-2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skybound

Update to previos problem with the soft top. No more problems at all. I had the hard top on for about 4 months now and took the hard top off and no problems with the soft top operation at all. Other than that I had the CEL (check engine light) illuminate due to my inadvertantly disconnecting a hose to the fuel vapor canister while changing the accesory belt and had 2 speakers fail in the doors. I can't say I am too impressed with Bose quality. I ended up changing the Bose speakers with Infinity speakers (luckily infinitity makes speakers with 2 ohm impedance that fit with minimal modification and much cheaper than replacements from the dealer). Other than that the rain sensor does not seem to funtion correctly and the wiper seems to function as it the windshield is always wet. I am not concerned with this though as I did not buy this car as a daily driver, just a summer car. Other than that no problems at all and a dream to drive. I am so looking forward to summer again, as I that is what this car was made for....summer time with the top down and some good music. A pleasure to drive and head turner as well.

Hey skybound.
More details please.
What size were your speakers?
Are the one on the door or in the back?
Did you get the kappa?
Regards.
aam.

Gilly · #22 03-04-2008, 11:15 PM

Double-check how the rain sensor is supposed to operate (in the manual) and are you certain the car has the feature??
Gilly

skybound · #23 03-10-2008, 06:33 AM

To answer the last 2 questions in the post, as for the windshield wiper system, yes this car does have a rain sensor but unfortunately it does not work. As for your question Aam, the speaker that was bad was the lower door speaker. I ended up changing out both of the lower door speakers with Infinity Kappa speakers. I have the box they came in and if you want to know the model number send me a PM and I will get back to you.

donbenz · #24 04-15-2008, 07:51 PM

Gilly,
What did MB tech hotline tell you to do? I'm having the same problem with my 200 SL500 after a winter w/hard top on. I just took it off and wanted to put the soft top up and all I get is a flashing red light in the lighted switch to operate the top. The hard top came off w/no problem. I checked the fuse and was ok, checked battery and ok. Where is the control module to disconnect and connect back? Any details for the fix would be great. Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilly

We had this happen on new ones that sat on the lot without being sold, all winter. Salesmen had demonstrated the top to the new owners in the spring, with results like this. MB tech hotline said that this is what was happening. We did what they said and top worked fine the next day. Not really impressive to the new owners. Happened a few times. After that first one, we had a few owners of older 129s who were also reporting non-operation after taking off the hardtop after a winter of the softtop in the storage boot, we fixed them the same way, often after needing to disconnect and reconnect the control module, also per the MB hotline.
Gilly

Gilly · #25 04-15-2008, 10:33 PM

What year? You have "200" showing.
Gilly

Gilly · #26 04-15-2008, 10:36 PM

Assuming you have a 129, we got the soft top up manually and let it sit overnight, worked the next morning and fine after that.
Control unit is under the false floor in the right stowage area (floor behind passengers seat).
Manual instructions in owners manual, tool in trunk. Make sure rear latches are both "up".
Gilly

Earlybird · #27 05-23-2015, 01:32 AM

I have a 1996 500sl and that is the first year of the new top design. I had a dead battery over the winter. When I got the new battery in, the hard top came off easy and the soft top went up but the rear bow would not lock down but after being left up over night it stretched out enough to lock. The new battery went dead again in 1 weak (needed a prolonged low charge). The battery is OK now but all I get out of the soft top when I try to lower it is a blinking top switch (no solenoid or relay clicks or pump motor whine). I checked the fuses and the relays and hooked up the OBDII and cleared the codes (there were none). The top still does not respond to the switch. Tomorrow, I will manually unlock the top bow and disconnect the control unit and reconnect it. I hope that will fix it. Other than that I am fresh out of ideas.

tecqboy · #28 05-26-2015, 04:02 PM

Search this forum on how to reset the top controller. There are different procedures for 3 different model year periods. It looks like your car falls into the 2nd group. A low or dead battery is known to mess up the controllers sequence routines. Also, the top controller "talks" to the roll bar controller and the window controller, so an issue with one on these can also cause trouble.