SL/R129: front top latch stuck
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5
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94 SL500
front top latch stuck
Both of my front latches are stuck in the open position on my 96 r129, they will not move with an allen wrench unless I use a small screw driver to lift a spring loaded catch or cam that is towards the cylinder on the latch. If I lift this catch then I can open or close the top latch with an allen wrench. I have the left latch out on the bench and have been playing with it for several hours but no luck. This happened when I got caught in a rain storm and tried to put the top up. The front latches wouldn't latch so I used the tool to try and lock them and must have turned too hard or turned the wrong way and got the latches stuck, very strange that I could do the same thing to both of them but it did so the same fix should work for both if I can find it. The top has been working well but sometimes had to pull down on the front to get the latches to engage, the little magnet reed switch is working fine. Thanks for any help or suggestions, Jerry
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
You ought to be able to close the top manually by properly seating the roof prongs in their locks, pulling down to trip the catches, and then turning each allen wrench. If not, then perhaps you have damaged the locks.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
94 SL500
Thanks Bob, I played with the one I had out on the bench and found a small notch in the lock before it went over center and locked up. I think my problem started with the proximity sensor getting wet in the rain, some of the white putty like stuff on the sensor had rotted away and left some bare wires, the sensor still tests ok so I will repair that and test top this weekend. Thanks again, Jerry
