SL/R230: 2003 SL500 hood closed sensor
#1
2003 SL500 hood closed sensor
Red light on dash keeps coming one when driving, goes off if stopped. Shows to be on the driver's or left side, but can not find. Part is not expensive. How do you get to it? Thanks.
#2
MBworld Guru
I believe it's part of the latch. Mine does this sometimes, too. I have found that dropping the hood to close from about a foot high gives it enough of a "thump" to trip the sensor.
#3
Thanks. Tried that several times with no luck. Might have to replace the sensor. Anyone know how to take the port hood latch out without messing up the cables? Is the sensor under the latch. There is no 'silver bar' like most Mercedes.
#4
MBworld Guru
Here's the WIS doc:
http://benzbits.com/r230/HoodCatch.pdf
As I suspected, the sensors (S62 and S62/1) are on the bottoms of the latches. The latches are easy to remove - just a few bolts on the top. You will need to disconnect the cable, but that's fairly easy as there is a junction point on the left fender (part #6 in the diagrams).
http://benzbits.com/r230/HoodCatch.pdf
As I suspected, the sensors (S62 and S62/1) are on the bottoms of the latches. The latches are easy to remove - just a few bolts on the top. You will need to disconnect the cable, but that's fairly easy as there is a junction point on the left fender (part #6 in the diagrams).
#5
Member
Hey Rodney,
I've also been getting this sporadic red "WARNING: THE HOOD IS OPEN" picture on my display. It mainly shows up when I press the gas pedal a little bit more than normal. Does yours still do it? Or does it just take one 'heavy drop' of the hood for it to go away, until the next subtle close? Perhaps it was the vibrations of my bad engine mounts that caused it to become unstable.
It's not that big of a deal, unless the hood were to just fly up mid-drive... heh
I've also been getting this sporadic red "WARNING: THE HOOD IS OPEN" picture on my display. It mainly shows up when I press the gas pedal a little bit more than normal. Does yours still do it? Or does it just take one 'heavy drop' of the hood for it to go away, until the next subtle close? Perhaps it was the vibrations of my bad engine mounts that caused it to become unstable.
It's not that big of a deal, unless the hood were to just fly up mid-drive... heh
#6
You can see a micro switch at the catch on the core support. There is one on each side. My passenger side was cracked away from heat. I pinned the switch down with a small cable tie. Drivers side was still good and feel it is save enough have one working. I guess if it cracks apart I'd buy one, but this is the first car I've had that checks the hood his close. Kinda thought that's what the safety catch is for.