Some help with code reading please - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jubie · #1 09-28-2006, 02:17 PM

Hi All ,
once again trying to get my convertible top down on my 500sl , I got this electric reading tool with black and red hookups I want to reset my codes to get the top down so I can put my hard top on for the winter , the tool I have is a Craftsman reader of some kind its got all these buttons , range , data hold , relative , ohms, vac, vdc, cap, f, c, freq % duty ma , a ac/dc and so on , can someone describe better to me on how to reset the code #10 to get my top down , were do I put the red wire and were do I but the black wire and how to reset ?? Thank you
I read this part but don't quite understand it ::::::::::::::::::

The tool I have is a Craftsman Auto-Ranging MultiMeter , is this the type of tool that I need to read and reset the code ????

To read top codes on a pre-'94 car you don't even need a "blink" tool! Just watch the flashes of the top switch, since it is wired in parallel with the diagnostic socket. To trigger the flashes, you must short the diagnostic socket #10 to chassis ground for 2 to 4 seconds. The flashes you see when you activate the switch have nothing to do with reading codes.

The diagnostics are wired to sockets of the car's main "diagnostic connector", X11/4 located just behind the left-side strut mount. It should have a plastic cover over it. The sockets are numbered from 1 to 16. The top control system diagnostic is socket #10.

Codes must be read one at a time. That is, you ask the system to issue a code, you read the code, you ask for another code, and so on. You ask a particular system for a code by electrically shorting the diagnostic socket to ground for 2 to 4 seconds. A second or two after the short is removed, a series of electrical pulses will appear at the socket. The number of pulses corresponds to the number of a code. The ignition must be switched-on for this process.

There are many ways to view the pulses for counting and reading codes. The simplest method is to watch the lamp inside the top switch flash. This is possible because one side of the lamp is wired to the diagnostic socket for the top control system.

Once you have read all of the codes, you may wish to go back and erase them. They are erased individually one at a time. To do this, read a code, wait a few seconds, and then short the diagnostic socket to ground for 6 to 8 seconds.

Gilly · #2 09-28-2006, 07:28 PM

What is the top doing wrong, when does it stop working......forget the codes for now.
Gilly

jubie · #3 09-29-2006, 09:26 AM

This has been a long progess with my top , when it comes down to it , the top won't go down because the ABS light is on in the dash ,

Gilly · #4 09-29-2006, 07:50 PM

ABS light has nothing to do with it. So you are saying the top is up right now, all the way up and everything is latched? When you try to lower the top are the windows lowering, or not even that? Is the roll bar up or down?
Gilly

jubie · #5 10-02-2006, 12:03 AM

Nothing happens ,,,,,,,,,, the windows don't go down , and the convertible top button just flashes , in the past when the ABS light was not on the top went down and up ,, no problem ............. any ideas ?

Gilly · #6 10-02-2006, 09:20 AM

What year is this SL?
The windows have to drop first. I have another guy on a thread here with real similar problem. I suggest disconnecting the 3 connectors on the RST computer to reset it. For some reason these computers can "lock up". Worth a try if you're up to it. It's under the floor in the storage compartment behind the passengers seat, only takes a 10mm socket and handle or ratchet to remove the floor, remove the computer, then disconnect all 3 connectors, reconnect it and try it then. Does the express-down feature work on the windows, if not you might want to synchronize the windows and then try it before trying this.
Gilly