SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: First Problem: Top is stuck during operation
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
First Problem: Top is stuck during operation
Well, I'm having my first problem with my SL600 
Drove it to work this morning with the top down. When I got to work, I went to close it, and it got stuck after the first step. The trunk lid did it's reverse pivot and stopped there. The up/down switch became unresponsive and the MFD just showed "Top in operation". The flaps that cause most of the headaches, were still in their up/flush position. They never tried to flip under the trunk lid. Roadside assistance said they'd come close it manually for $175.00 which I thought was a bit absurd. So I called my friend at the dealer and he said that after 10 minutes of sitting with the car off and key out of the ignition, the hydraulics will release pressure allowing me to manually close the trunk lid. Sure enough, that worked. I was unable to latch it, but also unable to manually pull it open again.
I drove it to the dealer, 4 miles away, and they're taking a look at it. Hopefully the Fidelity aftermarket warranty will cover it. My S.A. thinks that convertible top operation is not covered. We'll see.
Here's where it got stuck:
Drove it to work this morning with the top down. When I got to work, I went to close it, and it got stuck after the first step. The trunk lid did it's reverse pivot and stopped there. The up/down switch became unresponsive and the MFD just showed "Top in operation". The flaps that cause most of the headaches, were still in their up/flush position. They never tried to flip under the trunk lid. Roadside assistance said they'd come close it manually for $175.00 which I thought was a bit absurd. So I called my friend at the dealer and he said that after 10 minutes of sitting with the car off and key out of the ignition, the hydraulics will release pressure allowing me to manually close the trunk lid. Sure enough, that worked. I was unable to latch it, but also unable to manually pull it open again.
I drove it to the dealer, 4 miles away, and they're taking a look at it. Hopefully the Fidelity aftermarket warranty will cover it. My S.A. thinks that convertible top operation is not covered. We'll see.
Here's where it got stuck:
Last edited by Benz-O-Rama; Aug 31, 2009 at 12:47 PM.
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From: Maryland
SL55 AMG
take it over to Hef...your warranty may or may not cover it but even if they don't hef oughtta take care of it for you. The Chryster Service Contract is not the end all be all; they have exclusions also...you just gotta read the fine print. either way it shouldn't be a biggie...others have reported this issue before...
is that the HNS parking lot over in Germantown? looks like it lol! I worked there as my first job outta college!
is that the HNS parking lot over in Germantown? looks like it lol! I worked there as my first job outta college!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Yep Hef's already got his grubby mitts on it. Something about a fuse that keeps blowing. Must be a short somewhere.
And yes that is HNS parking lot. Great eye! Been there about 8 years now
And yes that is HNS parking lot. Great eye! Been there about 8 years now
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From: Maryland
SL55 AMG
haha Clayton that's crazy man, that lot still looks the same...I knew it lol! What do you do there? which group are you in? I know a few folks over there still...I used to be in Direct PC/TV team back in the day...first job outta college I was a lowly product engineer...background is BSEE from VTech! how bout you? Engineering background also (lots of VSAT in that location)?
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'94 SL600,'05 SL600,'06 S65,'07 E63,'14 E63S,'09SL600 all sold, ‘15 S65,‘18 E63S,'17 SL65, '17S65Cab
Same thing happened to my SL600 while it was under the factory warranty. The cable had stretched out of tolerance causing the flaps to fold under too late in the sequence. The limit switches then shut down the motors. The service advisor showed me how to fold the flaps under by hand and then the top closure sequence completed. They replaced the cable under warranty.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
haha Clayton that's crazy man, that lot still looks the same...I knew it lol! What do you do there? which group are you in? I know a few folks over there still...I used to be in Direct PC/TV team back in the day...first job outta college I was a lowly product engineer...background is BSEE from VTech! how bout you? Engineering background also (lots of VSAT in that location)?
I'm sure we know a few of the same people in HNS. Pradman is still the CEO and enjoys his stable of cars, including his Aston Martin DB9 and Benz S550, amongst others....
Same thing happened to my SL600 while it was under the factory warranty. The cable had stretched out of tolerance causing the flaps to fold under too late in the sequence. The limit switches then shut down the motors. The service advisor showed me how to fold the flaps under by hand and then the top closure sequence completed. They replaced the cable under warranty.
Will update.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Good news and bad news:
The bad news is that one of the hydraulic pumps that operates the top has a short in it. More bad news is that the part is like 1500.00 plus 5 hours labor!
The good news is that the warranty company appears to be paying for it. They are, however, sending someone out to verify the work being done.
Will update.
The bad news is that one of the hydraulic pumps that operates the top has a short in it. More bad news is that the part is like 1500.00 plus 5 hours labor!
The good news is that the warranty company appears to be paying for it. They are, however, sending someone out to verify the work being done.
Will update.
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From: Maryland
SL55 AMG
Dang Clayton it is a small world...and your right I was at HNS in '99...looks like the VSAT initiative has come a long way. Good 'ole Pradman still running the show...we're (actually more my bro than me) are friends with Samir and others...yes your right probably know a lot of the same people...
So how's good ole HNS doing nowadays?
good to see you're on the way to having the top repaired...the last few days have bben PERFECT convertible weather!!!!
So how's good ole HNS doing nowadays?
good to see you're on the way to having the top repaired...the last few days have bben PERFECT convertible weather!!!!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Dang Clayton it is a small world...and your right I was at HNS in '99...looks like the VSAT initiative has come a long way. Good 'ole Pradman still running the show...we're (actually more my bro than me) are friends with Samir and others...yes your right probably know a lot of the same people...
So how's good ole HNS doing nowadays?
good to see you're on the way to having the top repaired...the last few days have bben PERFECT convertible weather!!!!
So how's good ole HNS doing nowadays?
good to see you're on the way to having the top repaired...the last few days have bben PERFECT convertible weather!!!!
http://www.absolutelydriven.com/foru...522#post112522
The last one was great fun and the route is very scenic. People were coming out of their houses and sitting on their front stoops to see the 40 or so Porsches, Ferraris, Benz, BMWs etc, rolling through. It's not something they were used to seeing.
Of course this week has been the BEST week so far for 'verts. Good thing mine is sitting in the garage at the dealer.
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From: Maryland
SL55 AMG
Yeah man, Hughes is doing well. We're the World's leader in satellite broadband by a considerable margin. Anyway, I'll talk to you about HNS offline. BTW, are you going to attend this:
http://www.absolutelydriven.com/foru...522#post112522
The last one was great fun and the route is very scenic. People were coming out of their houses and sitting on their front stoops to see the 40 or so Porsches, Ferraris, Benz, BMWs etc, rolling through. It's not something they were used to seeing.
Of course this week has been the BEST week so far for 'verts. Good thing mine is sitting in the garage at the dealer.
http://www.absolutelydriven.com/foru...522#post112522
The last one was great fun and the route is very scenic. People were coming out of their houses and sitting on their front stoops to see the 40 or so Porsches, Ferraris, Benz, BMWs etc, rolling through. It's not something they were used to seeing.
Of course this week has been the BEST week so far for 'verts. Good thing mine is sitting in the garage at the dealer.
u should attend the At Speed MotorSports show and open house on Sept 19th...that's gonna be a great event!
I know Hef's got your back but let me know if you run into issues in that arena.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
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From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
The warranty company sent out a dude to inspect the car today. According the dealer, they wouldn't do that if they weren't expecting to cover the job. My tech is telling me that they're trying to jip him on the hours to do the job though. Should be about 4.7hrs total, they only want to pay for 2.3
I guess there's a lot of behind the scenes dealings when it comes to aftermarket warranty work that the general population doesn't know. I have an inside man, so I hear all these goings on.
**Fingers crossed that they agree to cover it.**
Will update.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,615
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From: Maryland
SL55 AMG
Thanks, Jay
The warranty company sent out a dude to inspect the car today. According the dealer, they wouldn't do that if they weren't expecting to cover the job. My tech is telling me that they're trying to jip him on the hours to do the job though. Should be about 4.7hrs total, they only want to pay for 2.3
I guess there's a lot of behind the scenes dealings when it comes to aftermarket warranty work that the general population doesn't know. I have an inside man, so I hear all these goings on.
**Fingers crossed that they agree to cover it.**
Will update.
The warranty company sent out a dude to inspect the car today. According the dealer, they wouldn't do that if they weren't expecting to cover the job. My tech is telling me that they're trying to jip him on the hours to do the job though. Should be about 4.7hrs total, they only want to pay for 2.3
I guess there's a lot of behind the scenes dealings when it comes to aftermarket warranty work that the general population doesn't know. I have an inside man, so I hear all these goings on.
**Fingers crossed that they agree to cover it.**
Will update.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Clayton all waranty companies have hang ups bro...you're getting a good deal...and you have a high end car...that's the price we pay man...just bite the bullet and get it done...each day that car's in there is another day of convertible goodness in this FAB weather you miss!!!
Well, there's really no biting the bullet for me. I'll pay my $100.00 deductible regardless of whatever price the warranty company works out with the dealer. I was just saying that the warranty company is trying to say that they think the job should pay for X hours when really it's going to take Y hours. They're just trying to short change the dealer but apparently that's the S.O.P. for aftermarket warranty companies when it comes time to pay out.
Anyway, hopefully it all gets taken care of and I'm back to shredding tires by the end of the week.
The lesson here kids is DO NOT own one of these outside of warranty. My car is as close to new as you'll find in a used car and it only took one month of ownership before I would've shelled out 2 grand for a repair.
Last edited by Benz-O-Rama; Sep 2, 2009 at 08:52 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Warranty company paid, and it's done. Just got the text from my MB tech. Nice to get real time updates from the mechanic himself and not have to wait on the S.A.
Picking her up in a while. Taking my SA a bottle wine and my tech out to lunch tomorrow.
Picking her up in a while. Taking my SA a bottle wine and my tech out to lunch tomorrow.
