1993 ce cab top wont budge - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

watut · #1 02-09-2012, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kestas

The top mechanism won't work if the roll bars are in the up position.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vexed

Kestas is 100% correct, the soft top switch won't light because the roll bar is up and therefore the top won't move.

Have you pulled the rear seat out and listened to what happens when you try the roll bar switch. There is a another switch in the rear of the center console for the rear passengers. Also the roll bar is not actuated by the hydraulic fluid pump, I believe there are solenoids that raise/lower it.

You should have a code. Are the two switches by the rear axle in the right position?

I have the rear seat out but don't hear anything when trying to lower the roll bars. I tried reading the codes again from port 9 under the hood. I got a code 8 (Roll bar malfunction indicator lamp (E30)), cleared it and I just get 1 flash now which means there's no codes stored. Now the roll bar light comes on when I first start the car then goes off (normal?) but the damn roll bars still won't go down. The buttons to raise/lower the roll bars are always lit?

When trying to pull codes from port 2 under the passenger floor mat, I don't get any flashes at all, not even 1. The red soft top switch is always lit up but doesn't do anything when pressed.

vexed · #2 02-09-2012, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watut

I have the rear seat out but don't hear anything when trying to lower the roll bars. I tried reading the codes again from port 9 under the hood. I got a code 8 (Roll bar malfunction indicator lamp (E30)), cleared it and I just get 1 flash now which means there's no codes stored. Now the roll bar light comes on when I first start the car then goes off (normal?) but the damn roll bars still won't go down. The buttons to raise/lower the roll bars are always lit?

When trying to pull codes from port 2 under the passenger floor mat, I don't get any flashes at all, not even 1. The red soft top switch is always lit up but doesn't do anything when pressed.

The button on the dash should be blinking at start up and then go out which is what yours is now doing. You should get one flash when you read pin 2 in the footwell if there are no codes stored

I am sure you have done this but are all of your fuses good? There are fuses for the soft top roll bar in addition to the standard set of fuses. It's possible your roll bar controller is fried but I don't know a way to test it other than swapping in a good one.

You probably have this page from the code book but just in case:

vexed · #3 02-09-2012, 11:09 PM

Check these fuses

watut · #4 02-11-2012, 03:33 PM

I checked all the fuses, they all seem to be ok.

Heres when I start the car...Is this what the light is supposed to do?

BENZ 001.MOV - YouTube

Here is me running the code off port 9 under the hood.

http://youtu.be/ooa6uTO48-o

Also, the red light for the soft top is always on. Is it only supposed to come on when you unlock the latches and push the roof up?

vexed · #5 02-11-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watut

I checked all the fuses, they all seem to be ok.

Heres when I start the car...Is this what the light is supposed to do?

BENZ 001.MOV - YouTube

No that light should blink at startup and then it would not be illuminated until you push it

Quote:

Here is me running the code off port 9 under the hood.

BENZ 002 - YouTube

Also, the red light for the soft top is always on. Is it only supposed to come on when you unlock the latches and push the roof up?

Soft top switch should only be lit as you said, latches unlocked and front of roof pushed up. A lit switch is like a "go" signal. When the top is down it should only be lit when the latches are pulled down.

I read on another forum that you bought this car as a salvage. I'm not sure what kind of condition it was in but there could be some deep hidden wiring issues that have to solved first. I saw the one blink but until you know the wiring and controllers are good I'm not sure the one blink tells you that much. You should have the rear seat and side panels out and be looking for anything that might be amiss. You have made sure the switches/sensors by the axle are present and not tripped?

watut · #6 02-11-2012, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vexed

No that light should blink at startup and then it would not be illuminated until you push it

Soft top switch should only be lit as you said, latches unlocked and front of roof pushed up. A lit switch is like a "go" signal. When the top is down it should only be lit when the latches are pulled down.

I read on another forum that you bought this car as a salvage. I'm not sure what kind of condition it was in but there could be some deep hidden wiring issues that have to solved first. I saw the one blink but until you know the wiring and controllers are good I'm not sure the one blink tells you that much. You should have the rear seat and side panels out and be looking for anything that might be amiss. You have made sure the switches/sensors by the axle are present and not tripped?

The car was hit in the right front corner, one of the rear axle switches had a broken "arm" when I bought it so I replaced that already.

More information - I just talked to the previous owner, they had it at the dealer a few times as the roll bars kept going up on their own, then the roof stopped working...(before the accident). They tried several times to adjust the sensors on the suspension, but it didn't work. He says the pump for the roof works, but it is something with the switches or wiring...