The roll bar on my 1998 SL500 is stuck in the half-way raised position. The hydraulics have failed and I have a pool of oil near the right side rear wheel so nothing associated with the roof functions now. I realiseI am going to have to get the cylinders reconditioned, but in the meantime I just want to be able to lower the roll bar as it obscures rear vision when looking in the rear view mirror. Can anyone help please

 

Greetings from Sharjah.

First of all reset window
lower windows and keep key pressed 8 sec
than up and again keep pressed
than look at the trunk for any burned fuse
try lowering/raising roll bar again.

I got the info from another forum: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129...roll+bar+stuck

There's a user named bobterry99 who seems to be a mechanicalSL genius

Thanks

 

Thanks for suggestion, tried window reset but roll bar still not functioning . Fairly certain the roll bar is hydraulically activated and will not work if there is an hydraulic leak. Just wondered if there is any way to lower it manually, or to raise it fully manually so that it doesn't obscure rear vision. Have identified two of the hydraulic cylinders which are leaking so I will attempt to get them reconditioned soonest, but still want to use the car in the meantime- the Dubai roads are dangerous enough as it iswithout not knowing what is happening behind you.

 

Everything fine now after removing all soft-top hydraulic cylinders and sending them to Dennis Ficken in the USA for reconditioning. Great service from Dennis, cylinders now re-installed, roof working great and roll-bar operating normally again.