amgmercedes

Is this normal? Is this some kind of wierd safety feature on the SL?

Its such as hassle since I have to unlock the doors before I can roll the windows down.

99SL

No, definitely not normal. They should work even with the doors locked--well from the inside that is. There's no key trick that opens the windows or anything like some cars have. But if you're driving along you should have windows that go up and down even with the doors locked.

amgmercedes

Just as I thought, thanks.

How do I even begin to diagnose this?

Delfiki

Have you tried using different locking techniques to see if the result is the same?

99SL

well that's kinda the hard part; i wouldn't know why those two systems are even related. so you're saying that if you sit in your SL, parked, doors unlocked you can use the windows but if you then just lock the doors the windows don't work anymore? I'm thinking maybe the door locking might just look like the problem and perhaps it's something else that's changed while driving--like another electrical part that's getting involved.

Black129

My dad had a problem similar with his 98 sl500. He could not adjust the mirros or the seat when the door was closed. He took it to the mercedes dealer and they had to but a new door switch in (the switch that lets the car no the door is open or shut and loacted on in the door jam) and that fixed the problem. I hope this helps.

amgmercedes

Thanks for the input guys.

99SL, thats exactly how it is, when Im inside the car with doors closed and locked, I cant open the windows. As soon as I unlock the doors, the windows can now be opened. Im 100% sure the doors being in the locked or unlocked position is the one affecting the window operation.

I know its totally so wierd how these two seemingly unrelated things can be tied together, thats why Im totally stumped as to how I can even begin to diagnose this.

Black 129, Im not sure if this is normal or not, with the engine off I cant adjust my seats when the doors are closed, but I can when the a door is open. With the engine running, I can adjust the seats either with the doors open or closed.
I dont know if this has anything to do with my problem but I will check on the door switches.

White Knight II

Does your car have anything akin to a child-lock on the window controls? That might be programmed to stop both windows when the doors are locked.

amgmercedes

Nope, no child lock or anything like that.