Ken Silver

When the roof is up on my 2004 SL350, there's a small clacking noise every second or so from the trunk/boot, and since the boot doesn't soft close I'm assuming it is that common problem.

It is pretty much continuous throughout my drives, only stopping after 20 minutes or so.

However, when the roof is down the noise doesn't start at all.

What's the connection between the open/closed roof states? Will a superglue fix do the trick, or is it something simpler? I've already pulled the fuse and done all the checks from information on the posts here.

I really would like it to be a simple fix before I head off to the MB fixit gods.

Ken Silver

No-one has any ideas? Just seems odd that when the roof is down the noise stops. That precludes it being the soft close issue I would have thought.

I can't drive round every day with the roof down, as pleasant as it is.

Rudeney

Do you hear the noise in park? If so, I'd open the trunk and see if that makes it stop. If so, then it may be in the latch, and since the soft close function does not work, then possible related. There's a sticky at the top of the forum about repairing the vacuum system for the soft close. Just a thought!

next2pool

It almost sounds like the soft close cycling and not getting the lid down far enough to latch.

Ken Silver

Rudeney, next2pool, thanks. The noise stops both with the roof down and trunk open. I'm aware of the glue fix but didn't want to do that if there was another option - which it seems there's not.