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

SL/R129: Soft Top Inop after Battery Change

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Old Apr 25, 2026 | 08:05 AM
  #1  
Breezing's Avatar
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1999 SL500
Soft Top Inop after Battery Change

Hi All, I have a '99 SL500 with 47k miles. Everything worked beautifully until I had to replace the car's battery. After replacing the vehicle battery, my soft top is now inoperative, throwing a fault code "fault short circuit to positive limit switch signal illogical". I am able to clear the fault using the diagnostic tool, with it showing "pass" afterwards, but as soon as I try to raise the soft top, it throws the code again. The windows and rollbar are all operating fine. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you in advance.
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Old Apr 26, 2026 | 05:59 AM
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SL 500, CL 500
Try to manually operate the top, then try electric. It may reset the micro switches.
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Old Apr 28, 2026 | 03:12 PM
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From: Lutz, FL
1997 MB SL600
It sounds like the top needs to by cycled as suggested above.
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Old Apr 28, 2026 | 03:39 PM
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1999 SL500
Thanks for the suggestions! I received the following from another owner and it WORKED!!! Good to know for the future!
"How to reset the roof, always try this before asking a garage to look at it.
Make sure battery is fully charged, this is essential, then do one full cycle on battery only, ignition on but don’t start the engine this resets the roof and windows. Have done it many times when the battery drops below a certain level. Even with engine running it will not work until the battery is fully charged.
It only works with ignition on but not on running engine.
Let me know how you get on 👍
You have to reprogram the module with window reset procedure and rollbar reset procedure after battery discharge.
Car on doors closed
Hold one window switch in down position while the window goes all the down. Once all the way down continue to hold button in down position for 3 seconds. Then hold in up position ask the way while window rolls all the way up, once fully up continue to hold button in up position for 3 seconds.
Repeat for passenger window.
After windows hold roll bar button in up position for 3 seconds, then hold it in down position until bar is fully down for 3 seconds (you may hear clicking i can't remember)
After that make sure to push in on your nose with your left pinky while saying "Benz baby!"
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