Hello,
I have 93 500SL with a problem, the soft top will not operate. I push the button in the center to fold the top and nothing happens, also the rollbar will not come up either. When I power the ignition on, both buttons light up for a few seconds then go out. But when I push the button for the top it just lights up, and the rollbar button does nothing. I just got this car so I'm not too sure if I'm doing something wrong, I hear something about synchronizing the rollbar and the top, but my understanding is that this only applies to the windows. I have the circular plug so I can't pull codes, I'm not sure to start. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Regards,
Tee

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Welcome to Mercedesshop.

Have you checked the fuses?

I'm not familiar with the SL, but I know my top won't operate (up or down) until the latches are opened at the header. Is your top latched manually when up?

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

Hello,
Oh yeah I checked the fuses awhile ago, that was the first thing as a matter of fact. It's just like I said you hit the button for the top and it lights up momentarily goes out then nothing, you don't even hear anytyhing being driven or whatever, the rollbar switch illuminates when the key is first turned to the start position but after that it will not illuminate anymore. I'm going to check the limit switches next, for I've already checked for power at the pump voltage is there and the relay is good. So I'm still looking, it looks like someone has tampered with the car before so it seems a little suspect. I'll post my findings... Thanks all!
Regards,
Tee

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I basically checked the power inputs and ground at the soft top controller module and they're all good. I have acess to an AST scan tool, I tried to retrieve codes from the soft top module controller and it gives me an error, I can retrieve codes for all other modules like the engine and do a base module check with the scan tool, but when I go to access the soft top control module it repeatedly gives me this error. "Is ignition on?" since this is the only module that won't talk to the code retriever and I've checked the inputs from the limit switches at the controller plug itself with continuity on all but two switches, and continuity for both positions on the soft top up/down button and the rollbar manual up/down switches. The soft top control module is starting to look like the culprit, the only switches I haven't got continuity for are the top overhead switch and the roof up switch, I think that's what they're called. Those seemingly would be made with the top up. I'm not too sure though, I was told that hard codes would possibly cause a situation where the soft top control module would go into a "default" mode where it would do nothing. I'm not sure though, as I cannot pull codes. I'll let you know what I find. Until then...
Regards,
Tee

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Hello,
I just wanted to let whoever know, the problem was a bad soft top control module. I basically checked all the limit switch inputs, power inputs,ground on the module and the operation of both the softop and rollbar up/down switches. I finally figured it couldn't be anything else other than the control module. I got another control module switched them and walla! It worked.
Regards,
Tee

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Thanks for the followup. It's kind of gutsy to buy a non-returnable item, hoping that it'll fix an electrical problem.

Have you checked the solder joints inside the old module?

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

Initially I didn't buy another module, I was able to try one out of a car with a working softtop and rollbar. Basically it couldn't have been anything else. I of course didn't bother the rollbar control module which really just deploys the rollbar in an emergency situation, normal operation is actually through the soft top control module. The point I knew it was the module was when the AST unit would communicate with everything on the car but the module, it was basically a process of logical deduction combined with the prior testing.
Regards,
Tee

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Tee,
I might have to buy a soft top control module for my 97 SL600 sport, I was wondering where you found it for a decent price
Thanks,
Robert