sl300 r129 soft stops working - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

blueshield11 · #1 03-08-2009, 08:05 AM

I have a sl300 R129model of which I have no books. I have problems concerning the movement of the electrical/hydraulical softtop. When it is on the way of getting to the front windshield it suddenly stops and I can hear the motor of my left power window working but the window does not come down.
The power window on the driver side is not working at all.

Is the not working window the cause that the soft top stops ?

thanks for any help on this.

tecqboy · #2 03-08-2009, 11:51 AM

The window must go down for the stop top to deploy properly. Find out why the windows don't go down ( Mechanical or electrical problem ). Check the window electrical fuses in the trunk. There is a seperate fuse for each side.

blueshield11 · #3 03-11-2009, 04:00 PM

I have found the problem why the window did not go down. It was the mechanism. I have put a good one in and the window works. I will check tomorrow how the soft top goes (hard top is on it now).

Can you or someone else tell me where I can find a manual which describes the working of the electrical soft top. There are no books in the car.
Can I find such a thing in Alldata ?

And how can I adjust the mirrors?

tecqboy · #4 03-11-2009, 04:45 PM

To adjust the mirrors...There is a little round knob on the console to the left upper side of the shifter. It is multifunctional. Turn it to the left for the left outside mirror, then push it up / down / left / right to adjust. Center position is for the inside rearview mirror, and of course right postion is for the right side outside mirror. The mirror positions are saved in memory along with the seat positions, so remember to store them with the green memory button on the drivers door.

blueshield11 · #5 03-12-2009, 03:30 AM

thank you tecqboy, this sure helps me getting somewhere.

blueshield11 · #6 03-12-2009, 09:15 AM

Great. switch for the mirrors is in working order. I will just have to figure out how to put it in memory with the green switch and the switches nr 1, 2 and 3.

I have the hardtop on the car now and the big switch in the middleconsole is burning. Is that okay? I still here a kind of buzzing sound for 2 seconds repeatedly coming from the backside. Has that something to do with it?

And there is a switch that I do not recognize (next to the switch to put the roll bar up and down). see picture.

blueshield11 · #7 03-16-2009, 02:30 PM

The switch I mentioned above was recognized: tyre with snow-chains.

blueshield11 · #8 03-19-2009, 06:30 PM

Soft Top is still not working. I have sync the windows. Put the right hydraulic oil in the reservoir. Have tried it numerous times. Still no luck.

Is there a simple way to RESET the whole soft top system.
I have read in the posts something about connecting pin 1 to pin 10. If so, is this also correct for a European SL300 1989 ?

thanks for the help.

sldan · #9 03-19-2009, 10:09 PM

Not sure if this applies to a Euro model but you must read and clear all codes. There are many threads about this. I had the same problem on my 1991 300SL.

Do a search and follow the instructions listed by Bob Terry.

blueshield11 · #10 03-20-2009, 10:11 AM

I have checked (by telephone) at the Mercedes garage here in Amsterdam and asked the chief technician how to clear the whole soft top system and if it was correct that what was written on this (USA-)forum also applies to a European SL300 from 1989. And he explained me how to read the codes and clear them. It is the same as in the USA. And as from what I understand the code that keeps coming back is the problem.

Thanks for your help so far.

Will post again when I know the problem that caused the soft top not working correctly.

blueshield11 · #11 03-21-2009, 05:17 PM

The only code I have got was a 3-times blink. So that has something to do with the lock on the soft top compartment cover on the right site.
That lock will not open electronically. With a lot of effort I got it unlocked manually.

Have tried again to let the soft top be unlocked to get it in the soft top compartment. The only thing it does is unlock at the front windshield, at the same time it locks at the end. The locks do not work properly, the powerwindows don't move (they work properly with the power window switch) and the soft top does not move.

Quite a mistery to me! Can somebody help me out with this??

tecqboy · #12 03-21-2009, 05:25 PM

These are the codes for my 1991 SL. They might not be the same as your year, but I'd suspect they are.

So your code 3 looks like either a bad limit switch or the lock is not releasing.

A code of "1" indicates no faults and no hard top in place, while a code of "20" indicates no faults and the hard top is assumed to be on the car.

2 = Limit switch, LEFT locked, soft top storage compartment cover.
3 = Limit switch, RIGHT locked, soft top storage compartment cover.
4 = Limit switch LEFT closed, soft top storage compartment.
5 = Limit switch RIGHT closed, soft top storage compartment cover.

6 = Limit switch LEFT locked, soft top fabric bow.
7 = Limit switch RIGHT locked, soft top fabric bow.
8 = Limit switch LEFT closed, soft top fabric bow.
9 = Limit switch RIGHT closed, soft top fabric bow.

10 = Limit switch LEFT front locked, soft top.
11 = Limit switch RIGHT front locked, soft top.

12 = Limit switch soft top storage compartment open.
13 = Limit switch soft top fabric bow raised.
14 = Limit switch soft top down in storage compartment.
15 = Limit switch soft top up ( secondary closing speed ).

16 = roll bar retracted switch.
17 = Left window failed to lower (limit switch open), bad fuse, or window relay on controller.
18 = Right window failed to lower (limit switch open), bad fuse, or window relay on controller

19 = Vehicle speed signal to controller missing or illogical.

20 = Hard top installed, no faults.

21 = Controller module / soft top switch circuit open.

22 = Roll bar switch activated.
23 = roll bar control unit not functioning.
24 = Roll bar crash deployed.

25 = contradicting switch inputs.

27 = insufficient voltage.
28 = Speedometer signal is missing.
29 = Wheel speed from ABS control module missing.
30 = Top operation disabled (due to #29).

blueshield11 · #13 03-21-2009, 08:35 PM

okay, that is what I mentioned about code 3.
I can see in alldatadiy that that limit switch soft top compartment at the right side is in the trunk and I have seen how I can adjust it. So I will try to do that.

In the meantime : why doesn't the windows come down after activating the soft top switch ?
And occasionally the locks at the front windshield works, but it gives a loud bang. is that normal?

tecqboy · #14 03-22-2009, 02:51 PM

I think the windows will go down after you erase / eliminate all the causes for the error codes. A loud "bang" is not normal, but on the other hand, the mechanism is not silent.

blueshield11 · #15 03-22-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueshield11

okay, that is what I mentioned about code 3.
I can see in alldatadiy that that limit switch soft top compartment at the right side is in the trunk and I have seen how I can adjust it. So I will try to do that.

I mean the limit switch soft top compartment at the right side in in the soft top compartment itself.