I have a 2000 My SL500 that has been in storage for about a year. I have started it every 3 months and have used Gas Stabilizer.

I Am getting it out of storage now that we have better weather. When I tried to drop the top. The rear window retracted but the front did not retract at all. There also is no sound from the front of the soft top.

Any ideas what can be wrong? I would like to fix this myself but am also taking it to the dealer in a few days and will have them look at it if I can't fix it soon.

Please help.

 

might try locking down the top manually and trying again. does your manual show sychronization procedure for the top? there are micro-switches at each point in the sequence of opening and closing, they tell the controller what to do next. there is a micro-switch on the bow cylinder. does the storage compartment open? some switches/sensors can be tested easily in place, others not so easy. all can be tested at the controller harness.

 

Thanks all for the quick responses. I tried several of these and got the soft top to now retract. Glad that I did have to ask the dealer to work on this !!

 

I've attached a link below to our site's DIY tech articles on the R129 - this should help you in the future if you're going to be doing any maintenance or repair work!

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class R129 (1990-2002) Technical Articles - Pelican Parts

 

MI-Foodie I have the same exact year and the exact problem you had. Can't retract the soft top. What did you do?????? thank you len in michigan

 

Well fellow Michigander I am not sure that I can be of too much help. I took out the fuses for the soft top operation and inspected them. Nothing was amiss so I put them back. The next day the top retracted.

Good luck.