SL/R129: Yet another wierd one . . .
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,028
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From: Massachusetts
2018 GLE350, 2014 G550, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
Yet another wierd one . . .
Lately the trunk on my 2000 SL500 opens spontaneously once or twice a week. It happens whether I'm driving or whether the car is parked. I just got back from a week long trip and the battery was dead because the trunk opened itself while I was gone and the trunk light drained the battery. I checked to make sure the trunk was closed before I left.
I'm not sure it it's a mechanical issue (broken latch, etc.) or an electrical issue with the power lock vacuum controller. The controller may be intermittent or it may being triggered by one of the external sources (remote interface or the console switch).
I have removed the trunk light to avoid the dead battery issue until I figure what the cause is. Before I start the diagnostic tree, has anyone experienced this strange one?
Thanks.
-FD
I'm not sure it it's a mechanical issue (broken latch, etc.) or an electrical issue with the power lock vacuum controller. The controller may be intermittent or it may being triggered by one of the external sources (remote interface or the console switch).
I have removed the trunk light to avoid the dead battery issue until I figure what the cause is. Before I start the diagnostic tree, has anyone experienced this strange one?
Thanks.
-FD
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 133
From: Massachusetts
2018 GLE350, 2014 G550, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
Well, after some looking, I'm 99% sure it's a mechanical issue. When I find the trunk unlatched, it's always flush with the fenders. But if the vacuum system is activated (such as with the key or the trunk switch), a vacuum plunger gently raises the trunk lid about two inches. This doesn't happen when the trunk opens spontaneiously, so I can only conclude the pneumatics aren't involved (the trunk release and the lift plunger are both on the same vacuum line and thus have to operate at the same time) so the latch must be letting go.
I readjusted the latch. We'll see.
- FD
I readjusted the latch. We'll see.
- FD
Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 107
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From: On an island in Washington State
1999 Mercedes Benz SL500 & 2009 E350 4Matic Wagon
Yet
Until you find a soluton to your open trunk problem, it might be helpful to lock the trunk from the outside with the key thereby making it impossible for the automatic opener to open the trunck -- see your owners maunal. 
Last edited by 2mbusa; Aug 18, 2005 at 12:37 AM. Reason: Spelling and grammer corrections
