W208 Convertible top problem - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JGB123 · #1 08-28-2008, 10:20 PM

I have a 2000 CLK 430 Cabriolet.
When I took the car out of the garage this spring, I naturally wanted to put the top down....
But When I Twisted the handle, the handel just got loose and fell off.

there were no loose pins, or screws connecting it, I don't even realy know how it stayed in their in the first place.

The next day I took the plastic cover off of the inside part of the top to reveal 2 black bars.

Since than I've been connecting the top handle to the black bars, twisting it to disconnect the top as usual, take the handel back off, than putting the top down, but recently it has not been working correctly, either it stops going down halfway, or it doesnt want to at all, I don't know if these 2 things are connected or its a seperate problem.

So I guess I will be forced to have to fix the top for real now.
My mercedes mechanic doesn't know anything about the tops, only the mechanical and electrical aspects of the car, and every top guy I go to has no idea what to do, so I might have to take it to a mercedes dealership and get ripped off.

So my question is: Does anyone have any Idea what needs to be done, how much it will approximately cost, will I have to order a new top handel or motor, or even the 2 bars?

Any advice or comments would be appreciated, or if anyone has had a similar problem please give me some information, thanks!

BTW this is my first post, I'm a newb!.

G-Benz · #2 08-29-2008, 05:23 AM

I haven't had the handle fall off in my hands yet, but when you twist the handle to release the top, and the "open" operation begins, does the front of the top pull back on its own, or does it land back onto the top of the windshield after the rear canopy door opens and the rear window is retracted?

Actually, I should ask, how far along the operation do you get before it quits working?

Try pushing against the front of the top gently while it begins it operation, leaving it airborne until the mechanism "grabs" the top and retracts it on its own. I believe there is a cable adjustment that is required to keep it aloft, and when it doesn't do it's job, some microswitch somewhere prevents the top retraction from occurring.

This is the issue mine has. Rather than going back to the dealer (already had to shell out $2200 for a bad pump motor two years ago), I just live with coaxing the top at the beginning of its operation...it closes up fine on its own.

mbdoc · #3 08-29-2008, 08:12 AM

G-BENZ there are 2 cables that tension the top & keep it in that slightly open position.

They aren't $$$ and are not hard to install.

For JGB123 you need to have codes read if the top stops in the same position.

JGB123 · #4 08-30-2008, 12:36 AM

Sometimes it doesn't start opening at all, sometimes it is almost finished.
it gets stuck at almost random posistions, but no matter where it gets stuck I can close it fine, but it won't open anymore.

My top has also always had the same problem you have, it gets stuck almost instantly after starting to open, but I just give it a push and starts working, but that is something seperate from whats happening here.