Problem solved: CLK cabriolet convertible top did not finish closing cycle
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03 SL Kleemann, 97 SL320 pano top, 95 Lorinser E320 Cabrio, Ferrari 360, Tesla X
Problem solved: CLK cabriolet convertible top did not finish closing cycle
I have been discussing a curious case with a customer, whose convertible top was not finishing the last step of the closing cycle. We narrowed it down, he found the problem, and he was kind enough to share the photos below with me for posting on this forum.
Symptoms:
Top opens without problems.
Top closing cycle goes almost all the way, just the last step is missing: front/top latches, tonneau cover (storage cover) comes forward, rear glass comes down, then nothing - the tonneau cover is not sliding forward the final couple of inches to complete the cycle.
All switches checked out fine when manually actuated. The last thing to check was whether the signals from the switches actually made it to the controller N52. The tonneau cover would not slide forward if the controller does not get the signal that the rear glass is down. Voila: a broken wire in the left tonneau cover hinge. That wire goes to switch S84/19 directly in the tonneau cover. The switch registers the rear glass (rear bow) being down.
See photos below.
First photo: broken wire (shown blurry in the foreground with tonneau cylinder 2098001272 more in focus).
Second photo: side view of wire on tonneau cover hinge - note the wrapping was partially removed to access the wire.
Third photo: switch S84/19 in the tonneau cover.
SDS might not show a problem at all when the cycle does not complete. Conversely, it could show an "improbable" readout from micro switches if the same wire creates an open circuit (showing rear glass is not down) while the tonneau cover is already all the way closed.
Klaus
www.tophydraulicsinc.com
Symptoms:
Top opens without problems.
Top closing cycle goes almost all the way, just the last step is missing: front/top latches, tonneau cover (storage cover) comes forward, rear glass comes down, then nothing - the tonneau cover is not sliding forward the final couple of inches to complete the cycle.
All switches checked out fine when manually actuated. The last thing to check was whether the signals from the switches actually made it to the controller N52. The tonneau cover would not slide forward if the controller does not get the signal that the rear glass is down. Voila: a broken wire in the left tonneau cover hinge. That wire goes to switch S84/19 directly in the tonneau cover. The switch registers the rear glass (rear bow) being down.
See photos below.
First photo: broken wire (shown blurry in the foreground with tonneau cylinder 2098001272 more in focus).
Second photo: side view of wire on tonneau cover hinge - note the wrapping was partially removed to access the wire.
Third photo: switch S84/19 in the tonneau cover.
SDS might not show a problem at all when the cycle does not complete. Conversely, it could show an "improbable" readout from micro switches if the same wire creates an open circuit (showing rear glass is not down) while the tonneau cover is already all the way closed.
Klaus
www.tophydraulicsinc.com
Last edited by Top Hydraulics; Jan 9, 2015 at 05:49 PM. Reason: clarification on S84/19
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
'85 W126 500SE, '03 A209 CLK 200 Kompressor
I have been discussing a curious case with a customer, whose convertible top was not finishing the last step of the closing cycle. We narrowed it down, he found the problem, and he was kind enough to share the photos below with me for posting on this forum.
Symptoms:
Top opens without problems.
Top closing cycle goes almost all the way, just the last step is missing: front/top latches, tonneau cover (storage cover) comes forward, rear glass comes down, then nothing - the tonneau cover is not sliding forward the final couple of inches to complete the cycle.
All switches checked out fine when manually actuated. The last thing to check was whether the signals from the switches actually made it to the controller N52. The tonneau cover would not slide forward if the controller does not get the signal that the rear glass is down. Voila: a broken wire in the left tonneau cover hinge. That wire goes to switch S84/19 directly in the tonneau cover. The switch registers the rear glass (rear bow) being down.
See photos below.
First photo: broken wire (shown blurry in the foreground with tonneau cylinder 2098001272 more in focus).
Second photo: side view of wire on tonneau cover hinge - note the wrapping was partially removed to access the wire.
Third photo: switch S84/19 in the tonneau cover.
SDS might not show a problem at all when the cycle does not complete. Conversely, it could show an "improbable" readout from micro switches if the same wire creates an open circuit (showing rear glass is not down) while the tonneau cover is already all the way closed.
Klaus
www.tophydraulicsinc.com
Symptoms:
Top opens without problems.
Top closing cycle goes almost all the way, just the last step is missing: front/top latches, tonneau cover (storage cover) comes forward, rear glass comes down, then nothing - the tonneau cover is not sliding forward the final couple of inches to complete the cycle.
All switches checked out fine when manually actuated. The last thing to check was whether the signals from the switches actually made it to the controller N52. The tonneau cover would not slide forward if the controller does not get the signal that the rear glass is down. Voila: a broken wire in the left tonneau cover hinge. That wire goes to switch S84/19 directly in the tonneau cover. The switch registers the rear glass (rear bow) being down.
See photos below.
First photo: broken wire (shown blurry in the foreground with tonneau cylinder 2098001272 more in focus).
Second photo: side view of wire on tonneau cover hinge - note the wrapping was partially removed to access the wire.
Third photo: switch S84/19 in the tonneau cover.
SDS might not show a problem at all when the cycle does not complete. Conversely, it could show an "improbable" readout from micro switches if the same wire creates an open circuit (showing rear glass is not down) while the tonneau cover is already all the way closed.
Klaus
www.tophydraulicsinc.com
Can my problem has the same root cause? My '03 A209 has the following issues. When I drive over a bigger pothole, or something similar, with the top closed, sometimes i get the message, lock top! in red, and top in operation displayed constantly. To clear this, I need to open and close the top. Opening is not an issue, but sometimes, it makes something similar, that you have mentioned. The front/top latches, tonneau cover comes forward (but not completly), but the rear glass is not coming down, and then nothing. I've also noticed, that if I pull down the top with my hand to the top of the a pillar, during latching the top, it closes without an issue. Is my thinking right, that the rootcause is the same switch (or the position of this, or the wiring) in both cases? If yes, which switch should i check, replace?
Thank you in advance!
Berti
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
CLK240 W209 2004 Convertible Cabriolet
Hello folks, I have recently become attached to the topics and threads here, it is great to see all the technical acumen and advise from all of you.
I have come across many threads that solve convertible top problems for CLK - eg boot lid closing problem and gas cylinders to hold the switch to close the top and others, however my problem is alittle different.
The top is actually now open, and I receive "top visit workshop" message and fails to close. Last year I had a complete overhaul of the hydraulic system which costed close to a fortune!
Thinking #1:
I thought there would be a problem in the boot partition lid as I have received messages before to close it even though I made sure it was, I tried to tape the switch (small switch left hand top corner on boot partition) and keep it pressed, did not work.
Thinking #2: I read in owners manual how you can reset the top operation by removing and reconnecting the fuse / jumper #28 (side fuse box), did not work.
Thinking #3: I disconnected the battery for some long time hoping it would reset any system faults and then I will be able to operate the top, failed.
Thinking #4: I disconnected the battery, removed the convertible top fuse, connnected the battery after some long time, connected the fuse again, failed.
Ps, During this I switched the car on before reconnecting the fuse, and I had a red warning message - Please release the rollover bar...
Thinking #5: I thought I would try to manually close the top as per the owners manual (removing the panel behind the center top indoor lights then use the allen key placed inside the owners manual case etc..) I could not remove that panel..
Hence, my top is still up and I really appreciate any advise or sharing previous experiences to help me close the top again.
Thanks and regards...
I have come across many threads that solve convertible top problems for CLK - eg boot lid closing problem and gas cylinders to hold the switch to close the top and others, however my problem is alittle different.
The top is actually now open, and I receive "top visit workshop" message and fails to close. Last year I had a complete overhaul of the hydraulic system which costed close to a fortune!
Thinking #1:
I thought there would be a problem in the boot partition lid as I have received messages before to close it even though I made sure it was, I tried to tape the switch (small switch left hand top corner on boot partition) and keep it pressed, did not work.
Thinking #2: I read in owners manual how you can reset the top operation by removing and reconnecting the fuse / jumper #28 (side fuse box), did not work.
Thinking #3: I disconnected the battery for some long time hoping it would reset any system faults and then I will be able to operate the top, failed.
Thinking #4: I disconnected the battery, removed the convertible top fuse, connnected the battery after some long time, connected the fuse again, failed.
Ps, During this I switched the car on before reconnecting the fuse, and I had a red warning message - Please release the rollover bar...
Thinking #5: I thought I would try to manually close the top as per the owners manual (removing the panel behind the center top indoor lights then use the allen key placed inside the owners manual case etc..) I could not remove that panel..
Hence, my top is still up and I really appreciate any advise or sharing previous experiences to help me close the top again.
Thanks and regards...
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
'85 W126 500SE, '03 A209 CLK 200 Kompressor
Hi Top Hydraulics,
Can my problem has the same root cause? My '03 A209 has the following issues. When I drive over a bigger pothole, or something similar, with the top closed, sometimes i get the message, lock top! in red, and top in operation displayed constantly. To clear this, I need to open and close the top. Opening is not an issue, but sometimes, it makes something similar, that you have mentioned. The front/top latches, tonneau cover comes forward (but not completly), but the rear glass is not coming down, and then nothing. I've also noticed, that if I pull down the top with my hand to the top of the a pillar, during latching the top, it closes without an issue. Is my thinking right, that the rootcause is the same switch (or the position of this, or the wiring) in both cases? If yes, which switch should i check, replace?
Thank you in advance!
Berti
Can my problem has the same root cause? My '03 A209 has the following issues. When I drive over a bigger pothole, or something similar, with the top closed, sometimes i get the message, lock top! in red, and top in operation displayed constantly. To clear this, I need to open and close the top. Opening is not an issue, but sometimes, it makes something similar, that you have mentioned. The front/top latches, tonneau cover comes forward (but not completly), but the rear glass is not coming down, and then nothing. I've also noticed, that if I pull down the top with my hand to the top of the a pillar, during latching the top, it closes without an issue. Is my thinking right, that the rootcause is the same switch (or the position of this, or the wiring) in both cases? If yes, which switch should i check, replace?
Thank you in advance!
Berti
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
2005 CLK500
Hello, hope all is well. did you solve your convertible top issue? Please, can you share if you did? I may have dislodge a switch while cleaning with the top down and now its wont closed. thanks
