I went to start my car this morning and put the top up. I noticed some fluid in the trunk and when I went to close the top it seemed louder than normal. Later i went to put it down and it got really loud and seemed to close backwards or in an abnormal way. i got out and noticed the fluid seemed like oil or hydrolic fluid. it was heavierr on the drivers side and seems to have shifted around as I drove. Now the trunk won't open without the valet key and the top is 99 percent closed except for a little gap.. the little tooth seems to be off and not engaging at the back of the top. I beliive I have a hydraulic fluid leak in the top motor or a hose. is this possible. is there 2 pumps. if so it seems like the one one the drivers side is out. Now I get no sound from the top motor. Does this make sense or am i off. what should i do. Is this expensive?

Thank you in advance for your kind responses!

Paul

A bit more info about your car...year, model?

A 320 Cabriolet could be a E320 or CLK320...or perhaps even an SL320 or SLK320...

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

You have probably either ran it out of fluid or set so many codes because of timing issues it has decided to protect itself. Fill the fluid, find the leaks, fix the leaks, read and clear the codes and see what you have left.

Oh.... and yes this could get expensive. The hydraulic cylinders are what usually leak and some are quite pricy!

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

I have a 1999 clk320 cabriolet.

I am trying to figure out how to get to the hydraulics. do you go through the trunk or through the back seat. My trunk is tied to the top and I can't open the trunk without the valet key.

My mechanic is a friend and i try and troubleshoot as much as I can before I get him involved. It looks Like a nightmare.

Thanx again.