SL/R129: Top controller location
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2005
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Top controller location
Hello, The dealer tells me that I need a new top controller for my 1993 sl500. The dealer price is very high for this item. Can anybody tell me the location of the top controller and how it can be removed and replaced? Thanks!!!
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 282
Likes: 3
From: Bradenton, FL
'87 560SL Sold, '99 SL500 For Keeps
emonce,
The top controller in your car is in a compartment behind the passenger seat under the parcel shelf.
Yes, these can be rebuilt if necessary. Did the dealer pull the trouble codes from the controller to make the judgement he did? Did he tell you which codes were present? Did he clear the codes and allow another diagnostic cycle to run.
You may not have the answers to these questions at your fingertips, but please try to find out by calling the dealer and post what you're told. Until you can determine what exactly is wrong with the controller you have, I'd suggest not pulling it out.
Another site has aggregated these controller issues into a very long, but thorough thread that I recommend you read through...
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129...ller-post.html
Bob
The top controller in your car is in a compartment behind the passenger seat under the parcel shelf.
Yes, these can be rebuilt if necessary. Did the dealer pull the trouble codes from the controller to make the judgement he did? Did he tell you which codes were present? Did he clear the codes and allow another diagnostic cycle to run.
You may not have the answers to these questions at your fingertips, but please try to find out by calling the dealer and post what you're told. Until you can determine what exactly is wrong with the controller you have, I'd suggest not pulling it out.
Another site has aggregated these controller issues into a very long, but thorough thread that I recommend you read through...
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129...ller-post.html
Bob
Last edited by BJonesFL; Jun 21, 2007 at 01:24 AM.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,982
Likes: 393
From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
I think you should diagnose your system for yourself to make sure the controller is bad. All you need is a paperclip. The procedure is simple and has been posted many times on benzworld.org and here.
If your module is bad, these people can repair it for about $375: http://www.bba-reman.com. But before sending it out, you might check to see if the problem with the module is something simple that you can easily repair yourself.
Send me an email if you want assistance with any of this.
If your module is bad, these people can repair it for about $375: http://www.bba-reman.com. But before sending it out, you might check to see if the problem with the module is something simple that you can easily repair yourself.
Send me an email if you want assistance with any of this.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2005
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soft top controller
Thank you both for your replies. This is what the dealer noted on the service order - Check and found codes 7 and 8. hydraulic pump not working, performed socket box test and found no output from control module when release button is activated. needs softop control module. May need other repairs after module replacement.
Before we took the car into the dealer, I tried the paperclip method of reading the blinks from the button light. The light just blinked continuously and so it went to the dealer.
Before we took the car into the dealer, I tried the paperclip method of reading the blinks from the button light. The light just blinked continuously and so it went to the dealer.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 282
Likes: 3
From: Bradenton, FL
'87 560SL Sold, '99 SL500 For Keeps
Thank you both for your replies. This is what the dealer noted on the service order - Check and found codes 7 and 8. hydraulic pump not working, performed socket box test and found no output from control module when release button is activated. needs softop control module. May need other repairs after module replacement.
Before we took the car into the dealer, I tried the paperclip method of reading the blinks from the button light. The light just blinked continuously and so it went to the dealer.
Before we took the car into the dealer, I tried the paperclip method of reading the blinks from the button light. The light just blinked continuously and so it went to the dealer.
Glad you got the actual codes...Bob Terry can help with the diagnosis/cure from that info!
The blink test Bob Terry(subject matter expert and all around good guy) was referring to is NOT at the top switch, but at the control module itself. As he suggests, if not familiar with the procedure to check, email/PM him.
Re: the hydraulic pump not working...you know that it is located under your spare tire in the trunk. If the dealer didn't, you may want to check that the power connections are intact and clean. Checking the appropriate fuse would also make sense.
Bottom line, get in contact with Bob Terry-
Bob J
