2000 SL600 soft top stuck half way

[mikem8]

I have a 2000 SL600. The soft top is stuck half way up. The front part of the top is locked to the windshield top. The rear portion of the top is not latched down. The top raise lower switch is illuminated (when the engine is running). When I push the switch either way it blinks slowly ~ once/sec and nothing moves, nothing heard.

Windows work fine - resynced 'em that didn't help. Roll bar is down. Roll bar doesn't move when activating the roll bar switch.

I tried resetting things by disconnecting the battery and disconnecting cables from the controller (or what I believe to be the controller - behind passenger seat in that compartment). This had no effect.

It entered this state when I was raising the top in my driveway and I erroneously inched forward a couple of feet while it was raising, or rather after the front part latched but the rear part had not. At that point the top stopped moving and hasn't moved since.

I had this happen once before when it was new. The dealer sent a mechanic out and I think all he did was stick a screwdriver into the holes where the rear part of the top latches in - and he did something with the screwdriver - unlocking or flipping something and that fixed it. Of course I've tried poking around looking for anything that will latch or unlatch to no avail.

Any clues appreciated. Thanks, Mike

[Kebowers]

look in your owners manual. It clearly explains (and has photos) of how to manually lock (or unlock) the rear latches. The computer system simply does not know where the top is--so it sits and waits for you to sort things out for it. Engaging the rear latches should do the trick.
The manual 'latches' are painted RED and are located on each side toward the very front on the trunk compartment. One inserts the jack handle into the cavity in the RED assembly and moves it to the locked position (its obvious) That actuates the microswitches telling the computer where things are.

[mikem8]

Originally Posted by Kebowers

look in your owners manual. It clearly explains (and has photos) of how to manually lock (or unlock) the rear latches. The computer system simply does not know where the top is--so it sits and waits for you to sort things out for it. Engaging the rear latches should do the trick.
The manual 'latches' are painted RED and are located on each side toward the very front on the trunk compartment. One inserts the jack handle into the cavity in the RED assembly and moves it to the locked position (its obvious) That actuates the microswitches telling the computer where things are.

Are you sure what you describe refers to a 2000 SL? My owners manual has a procedure for manually raising the soft top and it clearly states that the rear part cannot be manually locked. Also, I have no red assembly.

But anyway you're suggestions gave me the idea to try poking at the latch mechanism while my brother was holding the switch in the lowering position.

Well that didn't do anything but in the process of poking at the latch mechanism I found myself pushing the rear part of the top up and forward to get it out of the way. Low and behold once I pushed it far enough (about 90 degrees) it apparently hit a switch mechanism and at that point the whole thing came to life and it's working again.

Thanks!

[lynns]

Originally Posted by mikem8

I have a 2000 SL600. The soft top is stuck half way up. The front part of the top is locked to the windshield top. The rear portion of the top is not latched down. The top raise lower switch is illuminated (when the engine is running). When I push the switch either way it blinks slowly ~ once/sec and nothing moves, nothing heard.

Roll bar is down. Roll bar doesn't move when activating the roll bar switch

When was the last time that you checked the soft top/roll bar hydraulic fluid level that is located in the trunk under your spare tire?
The fluid level should be between the min. and max. level.