2004 CLK Cabrio: Soft Top Compartment Cover Stuck
03-07-2018, 06:40 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
2004 CLK Cabrio: Soft Top Compartment Cover Stuck
Hi All,
Hope someone has had the same problem before:
The person who owned the car before me got the top out of sync, while trying to open/close it manually. I don’t think he snapped the cover down while the tensioner was in the boot, so the rear window was stuck and the top wouldn’t latch (I’m not sure), but they were able to unbolt the cover (??) and get it all situated. Now, the cover is stuck and I can’t use the straps to disengage the compartment cover - I’d like to try my hand at fixing it.
Does anyone have experience with getting these tops unstuck?
Important to note that the car had a current and stored B1923 code for a INTERLOCKED Limit Switch that is staying in the switched position. Could this be it?
Thanks in advance!
Hope someone has had the same problem before:
The person who owned the car before me got the top out of sync, while trying to open/close it manually. I don’t think he snapped the cover down while the tensioner was in the boot, so the rear window was stuck and the top wouldn’t latch (I’m not sure), but they were able to unbolt the cover (??) and get it all situated. Now, the cover is stuck and I can’t use the straps to disengage the compartment cover - I’d like to try my hand at fixing it.
Does anyone have experience with getting these tops unstuck?
Important to note that the car had a current and stored B1923 code for a INTERLOCKED Limit Switch that is staying in the switched position. Could this be it?
Thanks in advance!
03-07-2018, 11:21 PM
#2
MBworld Guru
Are you having a problem popping the rear edge of the cover up at the hinges, or lifting it open once that is done? If it's popping the hinges up with the straps, you just have to do a stiff upward yank on both straps simultaneously. if you are having problems opening the lid, that's because your MY2004 has the old style cylinders that are very hard to operate manually. You may need to disconnect them from the lid.
03-08-2018, 10:22 AM
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Hey Rudeney,
First off, thank you for your detailed posts about these tops in the past - I should have known you would be one of the first to answer!
The issue is getting the lip up. The previous owner had such a hard time with it that they got frustrated and started prying on the lid with a prybar: oops! Dings and dents all along the edges.
I am pretty sure that the cylinders have been detached. Would there be an interlocking aspect of the cover that keeps it from disengagement?
First off, thank you for your detailed posts about these tops in the past - I should have known you would be one of the first to answer!
The issue is getting the lip up. The previous owner had such a hard time with it that they got frustrated and started prying on the lid with a prybar: oops! Dings and dents all along the edges.
I am pretty sure that the cylinders have been detached. Would there be an interlocking aspect of the cover that keeps it from disengagement?
03-23-2018, 10:50 PM
#5
MBworld Guru
Pulling the back edge of the cover up by the hinges takes some strength, but there's nothing holding it down. If it doesn't pop up, then you're either not pulling at the right angle or the hinges are broken.
03-25-2018, 07:36 PM
#6
Member
Thread Starter
Hi Rudeney,
Cool. Maybe I’m just pulling too much “straight up” rather than “up & back”. At this point, I’m thinking a nice bit of lubricant will be the first thing needed on the hinges. I’m getting a bit weary of even attempting to bring down the top at all, as the last owner had a problem with putting the top back up out of sync.
I’ll check it out this upcoming weekend.
If anyone else has had this problem (I’ve gotten a couple PM’s about it), feel free to chime in with your fixes with the compartment cover!
Cool. Maybe I’m just pulling too much “straight up” rather than “up & back”. At this point, I’m thinking a nice bit of lubricant will be the first thing needed on the hinges. I’m getting a bit weary of even attempting to bring down the top at all, as the last owner had a problem with putting the top back up out of sync.
I’ll check it out this upcoming weekend.
If anyone else has had this problem (I’ve gotten a couple PM’s about it), feel free to chime in with your fixes with the compartment cover!
03-25-2018, 11:11 PM
#7
MBworld Guru
If you watch the video, they pull pretty much straight up. Make sure the straps are looped around the hinge at the top, where it bolts to the cover. Basically, you are pulling up on the cover itself.
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01-20-2019, 11:55 PM
#8
Member
Thread Starter
Alright all, the weather is getting nicer so I’m having another go at this.
Today, I went ahead and tried to engage the limit switches by turning the car on, disengaging the top hydralic via the provided Allen wrench, and bumping the “top down” switch to initiate, then hopping out and pulling the straps that had already been set up in the back.
I think that there’s something that’s preventing the tonneau cover from popping up and out. Which hinges are the ones I should try and lubricate to loosen the cover to start the process?
Any help would be great. I’m thinking something is locked up.
Rodney, the last time the top was down the previous owner got it all out of sync. The only way to fix it was to unbolt the tonneau cover and re-set it. Is there anything that would be preventing the cover from bumping out? I was going at it today moving my car with how hard I was pulling to no avail.
Thanks in advance!
Today, I went ahead and tried to engage the limit switches by turning the car on, disengaging the top hydralic via the provided Allen wrench, and bumping the “top down” switch to initiate, then hopping out and pulling the straps that had already been set up in the back.
I think that there’s something that’s preventing the tonneau cover from popping up and out. Which hinges are the ones I should try and lubricate to loosen the cover to start the process?
Any help would be great. I’m thinking something is locked up.
Rodney, the last time the top was down the previous owner got it all out of sync. The only way to fix it was to unbolt the tonneau cover and re-set it. Is there anything that would be preventing the cover from bumping out? I was going at it today moving my car with how hard I was pulling to no avail.
Thanks in advance!
01-21-2019, 10:54 AM
#9
MBworld Guru
The struts that operate the cover on the early models are very stiff and can be nearly possible to open manually. You might try disconnecting them from the under side of the cover.
