cabrio hood stuck open w209
11-12-2013, 08:26 AM
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cabrio hood stuck open w209
hi my cabrio hood is stuck open all the fuses are fine the rollover bars are not deployed
the emergancy release procedure will not work. the dash is showing go to workshop
the emergancy release procedure will not work. the dash is showing go to workshop
it is currenrly raining hard in the uk l suspect it is locked does anyone have any idea how l can avoid another£1000
main dealer visit
11-13-2013, 12:37 AM
#2
MBworld Guru
What about the emergency close won't work? Are you unable to pull the soft top cover open with the straps? If that's it, you probably have an early model and it has different hydraulic struts that won't release easily. The trick is to open the trunk and remove the struts connection to the cover. This video may help with the manual close procedure:
http://benzbits.com/w209/soft_top/ManualClose.wmv
Also, here is the attachment of the strut to the cover (the cover is open, but you'll see something similar with it closed):
http://benzbits.com/w209/soft_top/CoverStrut.jpg
http://benzbits.com/w209/soft_top/ManualClose.wmv
Also, here is the attachment of the strut to the cover (the cover is open, but you'll see something similar with it closed):
http://benzbits.com/w209/soft_top/CoverStrut.jpg
11-14-2013, 12:49 PM
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Finally managed to log on . Hi Rodney thanks for your help I could not open the toneau cover to pull the hood up manually I had followed the instructions in the manual I have for the car it is a 2003/2004 model. It does not mention the black disc that has a small indentation in the manual it only talks about relaseing using the Alankey. I will turn this as shown in the video. if this does not work I will release the struts.
11-14-2013, 08:24 PM
#4
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Are you sure you have a W209? I know you guys across the pond have this "registration year" thing, but it's the actual "model year" that defines the car. a MY2003 CLK is a W208. The W209 cabriolet debuted as a MY2004 (introduced in the spring/early summer of calendar year 2003). Are your window switches on the center console? if so, you have a W208. If they are on the doors, then W209. The emergency close procedure is different on the W208.
Oh, and if this is a W209 and the soft top cover is stuck open, just remove the hydraulic struts so you can close it. The photo I posted shows them with the cover open, and they can be unclipped there. The struts used on earlier models were almost impossilbe to manually extend or retract due to different valves.
Oh, and if this is a W209 and the soft top cover is stuck open, just remove the hydraulic struts so you can close it. The photo I posted shows them with the cover open, and they can be unclipped there. The struts used on earlier models were almost impossilbe to manually extend or retract due to different valves.
Last edited by Rudeney; 11-14-2013 at 08:31 PM.
11-15-2013, 05:36 AM
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Dear Rodney,
Thank you so much for the video and your advice I now have a working hood and understand how to use the emergency proceedure I was completely unaware of the two locking valves that needed to be realeased as they are not mentioned in my handbook.
Kind Regards Peter Stringer
Thank you so much for the video and your advice I now have a working hood and understand how to use the emergency proceedure I was completely unaware of the two locking valves that needed to be realeased as they are not mentioned in my handbook.
Kind Regards Peter Stringer
11-15-2013, 12:33 PM
#6
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Model year 2003 W209 convertible
mrpwstringer,
rudeney's video really comes in handy for manual top operation, doesn't it? I'm glad that you have an operational top ("working hood") again. Do you know why the top now works? What made it operational again after you moved it manually? Have you checked the fluid level in the hydraulic pump? The pump is located behind the left rear tire.
Just for clarification: the first W209 CLK convertibles shipped were called model year 2003 outside of the US. While a model year 2003 CLK in the US would be a W208, many countries (if not all but the US) had model year '03 W209s. I don't know when the last W208 was shipped outside the US, and how much overlap there is between W208 and W209 convertibles for model year 2003 in other countries.
Peter, since you found the release buttons on the bottom of your tonneau cover lift cylinders, you have the newer version. The first version of the tonneau cover lift cylinder was p/n 2098001072 - a bad design that had friction designed into the bottom of the cylinder. That friction increases with wear, which makes it next to impossible to open the case cover aka tonneau cover manually at some point. That's where rudeney's picture comes in that shows you how to disconnect those cylinders on the top.
According to EPC, p/n 2098001072 was used only on chassis number < 009491 (last six digits of the VIN), which would be early W209s. We have had only a few cases of these cylinders in US vehicles, and all owners of those vehicles swore they had a model year 2003 - maybe they were imported before the W209 convertible was released in the US. P/N 2098001072 cannot be economically repaired, whereas p/n 2098001272 (the one with the release buttons) is routinely upgraded to better than new condition by Top Hydraulics. We upgrade the rod seal, piston seal, port seals, and the cup seal on the release button with better seal material for much longer service life under equal conditions.
Below is a picture of p/n2098001272 with the release button - the button is shown on the right side of the cylinder in the photo; it is on the bottom when the cylinder is mounted in the car.
Klaus
www.tophydraulicsinc.com
http://www.tophydraulicsinc.com/en/24-w209-clk
rudeney's video really comes in handy for manual top operation, doesn't it? I'm glad that you have an operational top ("working hood") again. Do you know why the top now works? What made it operational again after you moved it manually? Have you checked the fluid level in the hydraulic pump? The pump is located behind the left rear tire.
Just for clarification: the first W209 CLK convertibles shipped were called model year 2003 outside of the US. While a model year 2003 CLK in the US would be a W208, many countries (if not all but the US) had model year '03 W209s. I don't know when the last W208 was shipped outside the US, and how much overlap there is between W208 and W209 convertibles for model year 2003 in other countries.
Peter, since you found the release buttons on the bottom of your tonneau cover lift cylinders, you have the newer version. The first version of the tonneau cover lift cylinder was p/n 2098001072 - a bad design that had friction designed into the bottom of the cylinder. That friction increases with wear, which makes it next to impossible to open the case cover aka tonneau cover manually at some point. That's where rudeney's picture comes in that shows you how to disconnect those cylinders on the top.
According to EPC, p/n 2098001072 was used only on chassis number < 009491 (last six digits of the VIN), which would be early W209s. We have had only a few cases of these cylinders in US vehicles, and all owners of those vehicles swore they had a model year 2003 - maybe they were imported before the W209 convertible was released in the US. P/N 2098001072 cannot be economically repaired, whereas p/n 2098001272 (the one with the release buttons) is routinely upgraded to better than new condition by Top Hydraulics. We upgrade the rod seal, piston seal, port seals, and the cup seal on the release button with better seal material for much longer service life under equal conditions.
Below is a picture of p/n2098001272 with the release button - the button is shown on the right side of the cylinder in the photo; it is on the bottom when the cylinder is mounted in the car.
Klaus
www.tophydraulicsinc.com
http://www.tophydraulicsinc.com/en/24-w209-clk
11-15-2013, 06:50 PM
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No I do not know why it failed to go back up.or why it now works I suspect that I have a faulty microswitch of some kind. I caused electrical mayhem by charging the battery still connected. I have changed the hydraulic struts opening the tonneau about three years ago. Currently the hood does not talk to star diagnostics.
I am working on that now. I clearly need to give you guys vin numbers when I next have a query. But whist the hood /softtop is working and I can see no obvious faults I will continue to use it. And now I know how to get it up and down when it fails I feel more confident .I have reached the stage where the car is worth very little money so any expenditure is being kept to a minimum with the exception of safety aspect. The hydraulic fluid level was fine.
Thanks for your interest kr peterforgot toanswer part of question and failed to thank the guy
I am working on that now. I clearly need to give you guys vin numbers when I next have a query. But whist the hood /softtop is working and I can see no obvious faults I will continue to use it. And now I know how to get it up and down when it fails I feel more confident .I have reached the stage where the car is worth very little money so any expenditure is being kept to a minimum with the exception of safety aspect. The hydraulic fluid level was fine.
Thanks for your interest kr peterforgot toanswer part of question and failed to thank the guy
Last edited by mrpwstringer; 11-15-2013 at 06:56 PM.
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04-02-2017, 12:27 PM
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2003 W209 CLK 200 convertible
swop p/n 2098001072 for the later p/n 2098001272?
Hi, I've just found this thread as I have similar problem. Unfortunately my roof won't go down and it would appear to be down to the p/n 2098001072 lift cylinders having seized.
All was working fine a few weeks back but this week no mater what I try the tonneau cover won't budge. I managed to get it open manually by disconnecting the cylinders at the top and nothing else looks amiss, no leakages etc.
Can I do a straight swop of my p/n 2098001072 for the later p/n 2098001272 or do I have to change anything else as well?
Thanks in advance...
[QUOTE=Top Hydraulics;5844812]mrpwstringer,
rudeney's video really comes in handy for manual top operation, doesn't it? I'm glad that you have an operational top ("working hood") again. Do you know why the top now works? What made it operational again after you moved it manually? Have you checked the fluid level in the hydraulic pump? The pump is located behind the left rear tire.
Just for clarification: the first W209 CLK convertibles shipped were called model year 2003 outside of the US. While a model year 2003 CLK in the US would be a W208, many countries (if not all but the US) had model year '03 W209s. I don't know when the last W208 was shipped outside the US, and how much overlap there is between W208 and W209 convertibles for model year 2003 in other countries.
Peter, since you found the release buttons on the bottom of your tonneau cover lift cylinders, you have the newer version. The first version of the tonneau cover lift cylinder was p/n 2098001072 - a bad design that had friction designed into the bottom of the cylinder. That friction increases with wear, which makes it next to impossible to open the case cover aka tonneau cover manually at some point. That's where rudeney's picture comes in that shows you how to disconnect those cylinders on the top.
According to EPC, p/n 2098001072 was used only on chassis number < 009491 (last six digits of the VIN), which would be early W209s. We have had only a few cases of these cylinders in US vehicles, and all owners of those vehicles swore they had a model year 2003 - maybe they were imported before the W209 convertible was released in the US. P/N 2098001072 cannot be economically repaired, whereas p/n 2098001272 (the one with the release buttons) is routinely upgraded to better than new condition by Top Hydraulics. We upgrade the rod seal, piston seal, port seals, and the cup seal on the release button with better seal material for much longer service life under equal conditions.
Below is a picture of p/n2098001272 with the release button - the button is shown on the right side of the cylinder in the photo; it is on the bottom when the cylinder is mounted in the car.
All was working fine a few weeks back but this week no mater what I try the tonneau cover won't budge. I managed to get it open manually by disconnecting the cylinders at the top and nothing else looks amiss, no leakages etc.
Can I do a straight swop of my p/n 2098001072 for the later p/n 2098001272 or do I have to change anything else as well?
Thanks in advance...
[QUOTE=Top Hydraulics;5844812]mrpwstringer,
rudeney's video really comes in handy for manual top operation, doesn't it? I'm glad that you have an operational top ("working hood") again. Do you know why the top now works? What made it operational again after you moved it manually? Have you checked the fluid level in the hydraulic pump? The pump is located behind the left rear tire.
Just for clarification: the first W209 CLK convertibles shipped were called model year 2003 outside of the US. While a model year 2003 CLK in the US would be a W208, many countries (if not all but the US) had model year '03 W209s. I don't know when the last W208 was shipped outside the US, and how much overlap there is between W208 and W209 convertibles for model year 2003 in other countries.
Peter, since you found the release buttons on the bottom of your tonneau cover lift cylinders, you have the newer version. The first version of the tonneau cover lift cylinder was p/n 2098001072 - a bad design that had friction designed into the bottom of the cylinder. That friction increases with wear, which makes it next to impossible to open the case cover aka tonneau cover manually at some point. That's where rudeney's picture comes in that shows you how to disconnect those cylinders on the top.
According to EPC, p/n 2098001072 was used only on chassis number < 009491 (last six digits of the VIN), which would be early W209s. We have had only a few cases of these cylinders in US vehicles, and all owners of those vehicles swore they had a model year 2003 - maybe they were imported before the W209 convertible was released in the US. P/N 2098001072 cannot be economically repaired, whereas p/n 2098001272 (the one with the release buttons) is routinely upgraded to better than new condition by Top Hydraulics. We upgrade the rod seal, piston seal, port seals, and the cup seal on the release button with better seal material for much longer service life under equal conditions.
Below is a picture of p/n2098001272 with the release button - the button is shown on the right side of the cylinder in the photo; it is on the bottom when the cylinder is mounted in the car.
04-03-2017, 04:19 AM
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2003 W209 CLK 200 convertible
Brilliant thanks Rodney, I'm going to get it hooked up to STAR to check if anything else might be stopping the cylinders pressurising before I buy replacements. My battery is also weak so will replace that first also.
