can't lower soft top-95 SL500 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Gary Ganaway · #1 10-24-2007, 02:35 PM

I cannot lower the soft top in order to put on the hardtop. I think it is out of sync somehow as the passenger window will not lower. When pressing the top button I can hear the motor trying to do its thing but it will not release from the top rail. I can use the tool to unlatch the top rail cylinders but that is about it. I do hacve a slight leak in the drivers side top rail cylinder but don't thinks this is causing the problem..plenty of fluid in the reservoir.

Didn't have a problem until I took in for trade in appraisal and about 2 weeks later atried to lower top and discovered the problem.

Any ideas and has anyone else had to have top mechanisim worked on ?

thanks

Gary Ganaway · #2 10-24-2007, 03:05 PM

STUPID...STUPID...STUPID look for the easiest things first which I forgot to do

It was the stupid fuse for the passengers window.

Pete Geither · #3 10-24-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Ganaway

STUPID...STUPID...STUPID look for the easiest things first which I forgot to do

It was the stupid fuse for the passengers window.

You got that right. I took a wiper assembly apart, and the climate control apart in the 400 and all it needed was the fuse right up by the front fender,,,, DUH!!!

larryz · #4 10-31-2007, 02:23 AM

Also look under your spare at the hydraulic pump resevoir. it may be low on fluid. it happen to me and I had a leak on one of the pistons that works the soft top. If the fluid is low it will not let you operate the top. There is a plastic cover that the spare sits in, there are three screws that holds the cover in place. remove the screws and lift the cover and you will see the pump and resevoir.
Good luck.

Terry McNeilly · #5 11-11-2007, 02:03 PM

I have the same problem with my '95 SL500. Drivers window won't go down, top won't release. But where the heck is the fuse? I've checked all the fuses in the trunk and in the engine compartment. The engine compartment fuse cover locator sheet does not mention anything about power windows, so I assume it must be in the trunk, but they all look good; and the cover is missing so I don't have a locator diagram for the trunk fuses.

My DVD drive is dead so I can't read my DVD based service manual.....

Can anyone tell me where to look for the fuse??

Gary Ganaway · #6 11-11-2007, 05:49 PM

as you face the trunk they are on the right side jsut below the top opening edge. Mine had a cover on it. The fuse for my right windo was blown and another one fell apart when I accidently dislodged it trying to take out the defective one.

MB-Dude · #7 11-11-2007, 06:36 PM

FYI… In anticipation of this problem – for emergency situations, such as its raining and you need to get the top up – Mercedes created a manually-operated method of raising and lowering the soft top. First, you will need the tool. It’s MB p/n: 129.581.00.66 List price is US$15.00 It is quite possible you have one in your trunk, along with the spare tire. If not, order one from your local dealer. I’ve attached a pic of the tool. Sorry, not sure of the name of the tool; the invoice just says “Special Wrench”.

In addition, I have scanned the little plastic sack that the tool originally came in. (Unfortunately, the above p/n does not include the plastic sack.) It provides step-by-step instructions, in crude pictorial form, of the 10 steps to raise the soft-top. The MB part number for the plastic sack is 129.585.01.86 But alas, MB doesn’t have any more stock of the plastic sack. Tool is readily available for MB.

Cheers,
Jeff