BenzIsWin

Hello fellow MB owners and forum surfers. I'm new to the forum and I have a 2009 SL550 that I purchased about 2 months ago. I dropped it off at the dealership for the first time yesterday to have everything checked out and I asked them to make sure that the convertible top is functioning properly, as I had not done so since I purchased it. I wanted them to check it while it was there, so any potential issues could then be addressed. Anyway, they did so and said it goes up and down no problem and they tested it several times while it was there. I'm like, GREAT, so I go to pick up the car and went to drop the top, but it does nothing. I put it in park, pull back on the the lever, and the windows immediately go down and I can hear something in the trunk initiating for about 3 seconds (soft close kind of sound), but then nothing. The service guy was still with me and he had me try a few things, but no luck. So if it was working perfectly earlier in the day (if I'm to take their word for it), I can't imagine that something has suddenly gone rouge. So I'm asking the community for assistance. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Is this asymptomatic of anything in particular? Fuse, motor, hydro pump? Any information or direction will be greatly appreciated so thanks in advance.

Terry.

MBCO

Did you take it to a MB dealer? If so, they should have MB Star Diagnostic tools to evaluate error codes, and exercise the electrical and hydraulic systems. Seems very odd. I would get a thorough diagnosis and avoid throwing parts at it.

sean65

IMO, there is a first time for a failure and a last time that it worked correctly. If the Universe has aligned on this, then maybe it's good that it failed in front of the service advisor. As @MBCO has stated, have them hook it up and find out what's wrong. I'm going to guess that there's either a switch or fluid issue.

BenzIsWin

Yup! That's why I didn't activate it UNTIL I was at the MD dealership. And the service guy confirmed that it was working while it was there and before I came to pick it up. But as MBCO stated, gonna have them run the Star Diags on it when I go back to pick up the additional key I had made. But THANKS for the response guys!! I appreciate it!!

F1BHP

Try messing with the boot storage flap. It could just be the sensor thinking the storage is up.

BenzIsWin

Yeah, I tried that. I opened it and the display alerted me that it was open. So I closed it and tried again, but no change. But thanks for the suggestion though.

BenzIsWin

Just in case anyone is still following this thread, I wanted to update and say that the roof is now working!! I followed the directions on this YouTube video, and viola!!
However, there is one small issue remaining. Since the top opens and closes flawlessly and the roll bar goes up and down, I'll just assume (dangerously) that the PSE pump is functioning as well. However, the trunk soft close still does not work and the button that raises the top slightly so you can add or remove items from the trunk (when the top is down) is not illuminated or working as well. It makes sense that the top won't operate if there is a leak at the latch, which causes the PSE pump to time out and not initialize. But all the leak points on the latch were sealed up tight with 100 silicone and pressure tested, so I know the seals are good. So this soft close thing is making me .

But this is not a deal breaker by any means, and I don't think I'll pull a hammy by manually closing the trunk. It just bugs me that everything is almost working, and not fully working. So if anyone has any ideas, please let me know. Also, if anyone knows exactly which fuse to pull to reset the PSE pump, please share that as well. I pulled what looks like the same fuse as the one in the video, but his car is a 04 SL500 and mine is a 09 SL550, so there's likely a difference.

Thanks in advance.

sean65

Keep in mind that the rear wiring harness also runs through the trunk and the loom can bend enough on the trunk lid that it can snap wires inside the casings.

bobterry99

The soft-close feature has nothing to do with the operation of the roof, so a pneumatic leak is no cause for your past or current problem. Of course the trunk lid must be completely closed, however, and if the soft close is not working, then the trunk lid must be slammed shut.

If the button that operates the roof load assist feature is not illuminated, then possibly the trunk lid is not fully raised, or the switch which detects the fully-raised position is faulty.

For a MY2009 or newer car I recall fuse #71 being the the one for the PSE, but I could be mistaken.

DavidCA

No, fuse 54, f54, which is the lower of the three horizontal fuses nearest the transmission tunnel.
Hope this helps.

BenzIsWin

DavidCA FOR THE WIN!!!! I just pulled the fuse you suggested, and BAM!! Soft close is now working!!!

Now I have to ask, where did you find that info on the correct fuse? I've downloaded several "Fuse Map" .pdf files, but they all seem to be for older SL500's or other models? Is there a r230/ 2009/ sl550 .pdf file that you know of, or are you a mechanic with shop manuals or something? Just curious.

But no matter what, THANKS for the information!! Now it's on to addressing the rough idle/check engine light situation. Fun times!

bobterry99

Fuse charts for all model years are here courtesy of Rodney: http://benzbits.com/r230/Fuses/

BenzIsWin

Ok GREAT!! Thanks again for the great information! Was EXTREMELY helpful!

Frederick NL

Don’t want to spoil your party - but pulling that fuse is only a temporary fix for the pse pump controller shutting of the softclose circuit. If it happens again you probably still have a leak in there.
Slamming the lid by absence of the soft close function might eventually crack your 3rd brake light housing (plastics do age). Water penetrating through it may affect electric parts in your trunk lock...
Sorry mate!

BenzIsWin

I suppose we'll have to wait and see what happens in the future. But for now, the soft close has been working flawlessly. Again, it's early. But so far, so good.