[R129 SL] Soft Top and Roll Bar Indicator Lights On - Soft TopControl Unit

[seitle]

I second Peter! Often just connector corrosion and poor solder connections 
are the problem. Dealers and many mechanics will just throw part at the 
problem. I get lazy and sometimes use bad judgment myself. The other day I 
replaced the auxiliary water pump that provides heat during idle. The lowest 
price was just under US$200.  After I replaced the pump, I took the removed 
unit to the bench and took it apart. The pump impeller is driven by a 
magnetic coupling from the motor. The motor did not seem to be openable 
without destruction. It did however roll off the bench and drop to the 
floor. I reconnected it to a 12 Volt source and it ran and never stopped in 
24 hours of test. I now have a spare I will never need again.

Spring is finally coming to the Pacific Northwest! But I think NZ would be 
the ideal place to go between January and March! I want to consider this 
next year.

Rolf Seitle
300E, 320SL

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter S" <joyce.pm at xtra.co.nz>
To: "SL Mailing List" <r129list at mbcoupes.com>; "Deneal S" 
<deneals at sbcglobal.net>; "Rolfe" <seitle at whidbey.com>; 
<jimc at windwireless.net>; <mercedes at mercedesmailinglist.com>; 
<simssj at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 3:02 PM
Subject: Re: [R129 SL] Soft Top and Roll Bar Indicator Lights On - Soft 
TopControl Unit



> Hi Jody,

>

> With electrical and electronic failures, the mileage has very little to do

> with the failures!  In fact in the older circuit configurations of the

> electronic 'goodies', corrosion/corrosion oxidisation, and capacitors

> 'drying out' are the main causes of failures.

>

> I actually pull apart the electronics and try to fix them.  Many of the

> older parts have discreet components (transistors, resistors, some mini

> chips etc) so I have fixed most of the parts myself (unless the vehicle is

> under a limited warranty).   At the moment, I am repairing a 'flasher 

> unit'

> for my 1983, W123 .  While I have some spare parts for most of my Merc's, 

> I

> like to find out the reason for failures, hence the inquisitiveness.   The

> Flasher unit has a dud transistor and a dud capacitor - just have to 

> replace

> them and the parts cost me about 20 cents 15 years ago. A replacement

> flasher is about NZ$300.

>

> If you have a circuit board out at all (or the auto electrician has it

> out!), spray the circuit board with CRC Zone 240.  This is good stuff and

> limits corrosion.  Note also that corrosion also occurs on plugs and

> sockets, so these also need to be maintained. True also for your fuse

> connections.

>

> I have repaired 2 x central lock controllers - reasons for failure - 'dry

> joints' (poor soldering by the manufacturer). Cars had travelled less than

> 35,000 miles!!!!  MB contract out all this stuff and Bosch do a fair bit 

> of

> manufacturing for MB.

>

> Note also that window switches fail as well.  There are only about 7 parts

> in each these switches, I have accumulated a lot of old ones, so I fix 

> these

> for people if I have the exact bits - and if they are club members!  Easy 

> to

> repair and saves a heap of $$.

>

> So Jody, sometimes mileage has little to do with electrical and electronic

> failures as atmosphere takes it's never ending toll on metallic parts.

>

> Well, getting colder in good old New Zealand as we are now in Autumn.  21

> degrees C, 2 days ago and now it is 8 degrees C.  Nearly time to put on a

> jersey!!!  Easter Thursday here, so a full weekend is planned with Easter

> Services and car/ motorcycle events.

>

> Have a good one wherever you are in the world.

>

> Regards, Peter S.

>

>

>

>

>

> ----- Original Message ----- 

> From: "Jody Techlin" <starfishsailor at mail.com>

> To: "Deneal S" <deneals at sbcglobal.net>; "Rolfe" <seitle at whidbey.com>; "SL

> LIST" <r129list at mbcoupes.com>; <jimc at windwireless.net>;

> <mercedes at mercedesmailinglist.com>; <simssj at gmail.com>

> Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2009 9:23 AM

> Subject: [R129 SL] Soft Top and Roll Bar Indicator Lights On - Soft

> TopControl Unit

>

>

>> Hello All,

>> The mechanic called this afternoon with the reason why my 1996 SL320's

>> roll bar light and soft top activation button light are lighted.  In my

>> case itr is the soft top control unit which has failed.  This just so

>> happend to coincide with when I had the car detailed but the detailer had

>> nothing to do with the units failure.  The trusted shop I use shopped for

>> the part, if we purchase the replacement part from the MB dealer network

>> it is $2100; if purchasing a remanufactured unit with the same 1 year

>> unlimited mileage warrenty the price is $925 so needless to say we are

>> using the remanufactured unit.  I am surprised the original unit failed

>> with so few miles on the car but age is age I guess. I would like to 

>> thank

>> the many people (Daneal, Jim, Rolfe, SJS and others) for their assistance

>> and advice. I was hoping the problem would be much less costly but I 

>> guess

>> that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Thanks again one and all.

>> Best regards,

>> Jody

>> 1996 SL320, 29k

>> Punta Gorda, FL

>>

>>

>> -- 

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>>

>> The MB Coupes Website!

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>



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