R129 Soft Top Module

[SL320]

Hi Guys

I am a newcomer to the forum and would like to ask your advice. I'm having problems with my soft top module and was wondering if someone can recommend a place to diagnose/repair it? I found a company called BBA Reman but do not know anything about them. Thanks

 

[television]

Hello and welcome ,, are you sure that it is faulty, what were the symptoms

We Have a guy on here called stats007 who knows these things quite well

 

[SL320]

Hi Malcolm
It started initially when i installed a new battery and have now discovered that this causes problems The roof and roll bar light were constantly on and i could not resync windows. I took the car to Alfie and Richard and they kindly ran the star diagnostic machine on the car.

Discovered one rear latch was reading as open so think it was stuck. We removed the hardtop manually and also put the soft top up and down. She seemed to be ok but problem is that sometimes when you start the car the lights come on again so need to resync. Also now the drivers door window is in drop position and does not come up when you close door.Passenger door is fine? Have a gut feeling that the soft module may have problem. Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[television]

I would like to have a read through the faults

your car, is it a 129063 or 4

 

[grober]

BBA Reman are a well established firm specialising in repairing ECU'S /ELECTRONIC MODULES for several makes including Mercedes. They normally offer a 2 year warranty on all their units. As Malcolm says its important to establish what is causing the fault first before spending money on expensive replacements.

 

[SL320]

Hi Malcolm
My car is a 129063. As far as i know the only fault that came up was the rear latch apart from that the rest of the switches/sensors were ok. If need be i dont mind having it put on the machine again to double check.

BBA said if the unit is sent to them they can diagnose if there is a problem and then advise cost of repair hence why i was wondering if anyone has used them or can recommend someone if need be.

Also wanted to ask if my car has got a limit sensor or a sensor on the window motor? Just thought if she doesnt know where the windows are she might be confused

 

[television]

The one thing to remember is that the roof will do nothing if it does not know where the windows and roll bar are.

All of the window info is stored in the window module in the door I believe done by a switch most of then window have a reverse sensor should the loading be to great or something trapped in the window.

Let me read through it first.

Nothing wrong with that firm

 

[SL320]

Thanks for that Malcolm if switch/sensor is faulty will it come up on the star diagnostic or is it a part that needs to be removed and tested?

 

[television]

Thanks for that Malcolm if switch/sensor is faulty will it come up on the star diagnostic or is it a part that needs to be removed and tested?

The 063 car is reasonable for use plugging into STAR the chances are that I will print off maybe up to 30 pages and Email them to you to look through.

You can then ask questions

It depends on my workload but I hope tomorrow

 

[SL320]

Thats great i have PM you my email address

 

[BTB 500]

The roof and roll bar light were constantly on and i could not resync windows.

Just for info. ... I had identical symptoms after (very) low voltage at start up one day.

The solution in my case was simply to get the fault codes erased, there was no actual problem with the control unit or any of the sensors.

That incident prompted me to buy a maintenance charger, so my battery is always 100% now

 

[stats007]

You will have limit switches in the doors for the windows however 129063 lifespan bridges the 3 changes for the soft-top ECU - including the deletion of the seperate roll-bar ECU and rear axle tilt sensors.

I wouldn't have thought the ECU were at fault - best to take it to specialist or main dealer with R129 experience to reset all of the fault codes and cycle the top to see if any reappear. It's possible a rear latch needs adjusting as these can go out of sync if the roof pins aren't seated properly. A sensor may be at fault or worst case the ECU.

First thing to do is to get the windows working again if possible using the reset procedure in your manual.

 

[SL320]

Hi Bill

Maintenance charger is a good ideaas it will save me pulling my hair our next time where did you buy it and do you just connect it and just shut the boot(my car is kept in garage)

 

[BTB 500]

Maintenance charger is a good ideaas it will save me pulling my hair our next time where did you buy it and do you just connect it and just shut the boot(my car is kept in garage)

Yup exactly that - it's designed to be permanently connected, keeping the battery in top condition. Mine is an Accumate ... highly recommended:

http://www.accumate.co.uk/it010001.htm

Get the optional wall mount and you can screw it to the wall next to the boot. It comes with a flylead that attaches permanently to the battery terminal bolts - this is readily accessible in the R129's boot. So the cable from the charger simply plugs in ... I just leave the boot slightly ajar - don't forget to turn the boot interior light off. You can just see the black cable running under the edge of the cover here:

 

[SL320]

Thanks Bill well worth the investment

 

[television]

I have sent the door info as I think that is where the problem is

 

[SL320]

Thanks Malcolm will look through them and give you an update

 

[SL320]

Hi Malcolm
I had the limit switches tested on the car and they seem to be ok?? The only thing i can think of now is that when battery was changed something must have corrupted the roof module?

As i mentioned before after resyncing windows she is ok for a few hours or sometimes few days but roof and roll bar light switch will suddenly stay lit and will not let me resync? Its as if module loses its memory!

I am now thinking of sending unit to BBA Reman to diagnose if there is a problem inside it. I assume this is a specialist job which cannot be carried out by a garage? Cannot think of anything else

 

[stats007]

What were the fault codes that caused the roll bar lights to illuminate?

Without knowing the full VIN it's impossible to diagnose properly. You may have a roll bar ECU that is at fault - or faulty tilt sensor for example.

 

[SL320]

Hi Problem all started when i fitted new battery. The car was put on to star machine and it was showing rear latch open even with hard top on. Removed h top manually and also same with s top. After star machine read no faults.

After a few hours or sometimes a few days i open driver door window drops, shut door window does not go up hence roof and roll bar light stay lit and i lose control of window switches?

My car is 1997 and there is a silver control unit under back seat, i take it that this controls roof, windows and roll bar??Have not checked tilt sensor, where is it? because star does not pick up any faults after speaking to few fellow members they think it might be roof module as star will not pick up if it is faulty inside, not sure though?? Any ideas?