1995 SL500 Roof Stuck. Help!

[tmwsccsh]

Hi All,

Well, the summer is here - has been for a few weeks really.

Took the SL out today and put the roof down and up a few times. Got home tonight and went to put it back up again, the cover popped up, roof started going and stopped about a third of the way up. Nothing. It was noted by my partner that there was a fluid leaking from the passenger side (photo below) and I fear that this is the hydraulic fluid for the roof mechanism.



I got the roof back down again and tried again but it stopped at an even lower level. This is not good! At the moment, the roof is down and locked away. Fortunately I have a hard top so, worst case, will put that back on tonight and hope it will lock in place.

So, question 1 - What has happened and is this indeed the hydraulic fluid for the roof mechanism that has leaked out?

Question 2 - If the roof won't go back up (will try again in an hour or so), is there a way to manually get it back in place (it does seem a tad stiff to move!)?

Question 3 - Will the hard top lock in place if I put that on later?

Question 4 - How do I get this checked and, if it is the fluid, get it replaced and the leak sorted?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Regards

TMW

PS - Would you believe that as this was going up my fiancee asked "What would happen if it got stuck?". And, 5 seconds later, it did...!

 

[tmwsccsh]

All,

An update.

I found the following on another forum...

Roof Stuck, out of hydraulic fluid? - MBWorld.org Forums

... which gives an amazing amount of information and detail. Checked the pump in the boot and guess what - it's practically empty and well below the minimum. So off to the main stealer tomorrow to get a 1 litre pot of fluid.

With regards to the hard top, got it out and put it on but it wouldn't lock in - you can hear the whining but there's nothing there on the movement front. So for tonight I am leaving the hard top in position just not locked and will remove it again in the morning and go straight to the dealer to get the fluid.

Need to work out where the leaks are next, but for now let's get it all working again...

Regards

TMW

 

[tmwsccsh]

All,

A further update.

I am pleased to advise that topping up the reservoir in the boot has got the roof back up again - it was completely empty this morning and took around 800ml to fill it - £12.36 a litre from the local Main Stealer so that's actually not too bad at all. Had to top up again once the roof was back in place but I am assuming that is because the fluid obviously had to get around the system.

Leak is still happening I noticed (as shown below) but only when the roof is down so that should help a little with diagnostics - maybe...



Need to work out where the leak is coming from next - any ideas at all?

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Tim Watts

 

[dinoy]

need to change seals (to stop leak) otherwise have bootle top up so u r not stuck 1/3 open or closed

 

[tmwsccsh]

need to change seals (to stop leak) otherwise have bootle top up so u r not stuck 1/3 open or closed

Seal kit purchased - next job is to get it all apart and swap it!

TMW