500 sl soft top problems.

Soft top management on my 500-sl works intermittently. Most times when raising the top, it will get as far as nearly vertical, then stop. This then requires several attempts at cycling the procedure before it works. Conversely, when attempting to lower the soft top, the procedure will stop just before the front portion of the top is ready to raise from the windshield. Again, several cycles are required to accomplish. Any suggestions?

[Gilly]

There were a few different management systems on this car. By your description, I am guessing your car is between a 1990 and 1994 or so. These had a switch in the inside of each door that was closed by the window hitting the bottom of it's travel. If one of these switches didn't operate correctly, the top would operate as you state-it would stop in the vertical position, because the control module needs to see the windows in the full down position before going any further than the vertical position, or it could damage one of the windows. My guess is that the part of the window frame that contacts the switch has come out of adjustment.
When the top stops in mid travel, try gently pushing down with your hand on the top edge of the glass, on both sides, to see if the top will start operating again. Try it one side at a time to see if you can locate the side that is causing the problem.

Gilly

Originally posted by Gilly
There were a few different management systems on this car. By your description, I am guessing your car is between a 1990 and 1994 or so. These had a switch in the inside of each door that was closed by the window hitting the bottom of it's travel. If one of these switches didn't operate correctly, the top would operate as you state-it would stop in the vertical position, because the control module needs to see the windows in the full down position before going any further than the vertical position, or it could damage one of the windows. My guess is that the part of the window frame that contacts the switch has come out of adjustment.
When the top stops in mid travel, try gently pushing down with your hand on the top edge of the glass, on both sides, to see if the top will start operating again. Try it one side at a time to see if you can locate the side that is causing the problem.

Gilly

Any one knows how to fix the convertiable top on 1991 300SL, the fluids came out, and can't find the where leak came from, is this a closed system?

[Gilly]

It's a closed system. You have NO idea where the fluid went?
You probably need a hydraulic cylinder, it can be a difficult repair, depending on which cylinder is bad.

Gilly