SL-Class (R129) 1990-2002: SL 280, SL 300, SL 320, SL 500, SL 600, SL 60 AMG

SL/R129: 1990 roll bar issue

Old Sep 4, 2016 | 04:57 PM
  #1  
karlr's Avatar
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1990 500sl, 1992 300sl
1990 roll bar issue

I am new to the r129 and have an issue maybe someone has come across before


roll bar works fine with the switch
rollbar lifts and lowers during top operation
roll bar light on switch blinks and roll bar light in instrument panel is on


if I connect the ( what I think) is the solendoid with the wire shown disconnected in the picture the solenoid at the top gets REALLY hot


the ram appears to move quite smoothly


any ideas are appreciated!


TIA
Karlr
Attached Thumbnails 1990 roll bar issue-lift-.jpg  
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Old Sep 5, 2016 | 09:31 AM
  #2  
bobterry99's Avatar
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
Originally Posted by karlr
roll bar light on switch blinks and roll bar light in instrument panel is on
Codes should be stored in both the soft top and roll bar controllers. I would retrieve them.

To read a code from the roll bar controller on an early R129 you short diagnostic socket #7 to chassis ground for 2-4 seconds and count the flashes of the roll bar malfunction lamp in the instrument cluster. After reading a code I suggest you erase it by shorting socket #7 again for 6-8 seconds.

The procedure for reading and erasing top controller codes is the same as for the roll bar except that the socket you short is #10, and the flashes you count are that of the top control switch.

You can look-up the meaning of whatever codes you find in the appropriate diagnostic manuals available here.

The location of the diagnostic sockets is mentioned in this current thread.
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Old Sep 5, 2016 | 01:04 PM
  #3  
karlr's Avatar
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1990 500sl, 1992 300sl
excellent info
I get the DTC 6
Roll bar deployment solenoid
now - when I connect the wires to the solenoid it gets REALLY hot


the question is: is the solenoid dead or the controller controlling the solenoid dead!


thanks again
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Old Sep 5, 2016 | 10:53 PM
  #4  
bobterry99's Avatar
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
Originally Posted by karlr
the question is: is the solenoid dead or the controller controlling the solenoid dead!
If you unplug the solenoid and measure the resistance across its pair of contacts you should get .5 - 1.5 ohms.
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