SL/R129: Soft top motion sensor override??
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Sl 500
Soft top motion sensor override??
I have a 1995 R129. When I try to drop the top from first start, the red switch blinks and top does not open. I can take the neg battery post off, wait 30 seconds, put the post back on and start the car. Hit the switch and it works. Now, if I don't move the car, I can take the top up and down as many times as I want with no problem. If I move the car even a half block, when I try the switch it will blink red, and top will not operate again, up or down. I have to go back in the trunk, remove the neg battery post, wait 30 seconds, put the post back on, start the car and the top will work. Up and down, just don't move it. I remember a post that said something about a motion sensor switch. In other words the top sensor switch thinks the car is still in motion. Any way to over ride this? Please be nice in the instructions. I'm not a professional mechanic but can find my way around if needed.
Thanks.
Thanks.
SPONSOR
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 475
Likes: 41
From: On the beautiful Oregon Coast
03 SL Kleemann, 97 SL320 pano top, 95 Lorinser E320 Cabrio, Ferrari 360, Tesla X
front speed sensor
PatrickJohnson, welcome to the forum!
I have not seen any instructions to bypass the speed sensors. It is certainly possible (but it might be quite involved). After all, there are aftermarket modules that allow you to open the soft top at speeds of up to 30 mph. If it was easy to bypass the speed sensors for soft top operation, then many R129 owners would have done it already just so that they can move the top while in city traffic. Instead of bypassing the speed sensors, you would probably be better off finding out what is wrong.
I don't know much about the speed sensors, as I have never had a problem with them. I have heard that people have had luck cleaning the speed sensors in the front, and they were able to get the roadster top functional again that way - search something like "cleaning front speed sensor" on http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129-sl-class/
Klaus
www.tophydraulicsinc.com
I have not seen any instructions to bypass the speed sensors. It is certainly possible (but it might be quite involved). After all, there are aftermarket modules that allow you to open the soft top at speeds of up to 30 mph. If it was easy to bypass the speed sensors for soft top operation, then many R129 owners would have done it already just so that they can move the top while in city traffic. Instead of bypassing the speed sensors, you would probably be better off finding out what is wrong.
I don't know much about the speed sensors, as I have never had a problem with them. I have heard that people have had luck cleaning the speed sensors in the front, and they were able to get the roadster top functional again that way - search something like "cleaning front speed sensor" on http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129-sl-class/
Klaus
www.tophydraulicsinc.com
