Hi I own a 2006 roadster and last week when I dropped the roof it did not lock or give the audible beep. The hydraulics seem to work fine, it goes down (but does not lock or beep) and the windows go down etc
Putting the roof up works fine and you get the beep. Im in the Uk so I only have the roof down 2 or 3 times a year when its not raining, hailing or snowing-I treasure the odd sunny day but feel wary about driving the car with the roof down when its not 'locked'

The roadside call out guy muttered something about a divider switch-

any ideas?

Thanks

John

 

The divider switch will prevent the system from moving the roof at all - that is not it.

I am suspecting a faulty sensor indicating the position of the Decklid hydraulic cylinders - it ALMOST sounds like the TCM is not getting the signal that the lid is completely closed, but then, if such was the case, you'd think the pump motor would keep running.

I'm at work, let me mull this over with the service manual (unless someone beats me to it) check back in 8 hours or so (about midnight tonight your time.)


EDIT: IF the divider is moving as the top goes down, and if the divider switch is not being pressed hard enough, the system COULD stall, but I think you'd get an error beep.

Again... I'll be back later and we'll see if we can get to the bottom of this...

 

Thanks for that-strangely enough if you keep your finger on the switch dropping the roof, the last part of the sequence when you get a beep, the motor still keeps running because the panel instead of locking tries to come back up!! so it just sounds like its missed the catch

Have a good day at work. im going to get some wood and start building an Ark! It only rained twice this week, once for four days and once for 3 days!

John

 

You have just about convinced me that it's the sensor on the cylinders that raise and lower the decklid.

But I'll dig into the manual tonight and see what else I can come up with. I also wonder if the sensor on the decklid lock might be indicating a false or locked condition.

IN ANY EVENT, this is a faulty sensor somewhere in the system. I am SURE of that. The only other thing would be a bad TCM but I REALLY don't see that.

 

My dear Senior Member PizzaGuy

I am just a brand new member from Dubai.

It is pretty sunny here. This is also first time I am in such forums writing a reply. It is because this car is special not like common porches and ferraris.

I have a problem with roof just like below and similar to how you explained.

Short Story of Car:

Since I bought, the roof was opening and closing nicely but with a sound from roof engines as if they are pretty pushing hard (sounds like Giiiiaaarrrrrrrr).

I use this car as spare car, so it is like once in weeks. Last week it gave problem with Crankshaft sensor out of blue. We fixed it.

Problem with Soft Top:
However, after this fix with dealer, the roof had pretty difficult time to open the first joint where the back window is attached to the trank. It did not open at first! and I did not hear that GIarrrr pushy sound like before but it was very silent and smooth sound (viyiirrrr). Then I tried pushing the button again towards down, then it removed the switch and started to give that Noisy Giiiaarrrrr sound again. (so, it works when there is noisy sound).
However, when I wanted to close, this time, it looked like it DOES NOT have enough power to push the window switch in. I had to push button again and again, then it closed by pushing slowly slowly.

Today, I tried roof again, No way it did not open like, then somehow, after pushing few times, it removed from the back window switch but could not lift the soft top. So I had to close back but it did not close as well. I CAN ALWAYS HEAR THAT ROOF ENGINE IS HUMMING but not moving the soft top. It felt that 80 years old powerless granny cant lift anything but trying with voice.

So this is it! It looks like, my roof system was loosing energy and power each time I try.

What to do my dear friends? (I am writing this after talking to Dealer in Dubai. They are stupids, their answer was - Replace all roof!)

Can you tell me what to do step by step? such as, check xyz, change hydraulic oils of 2 pumps, micro switch (what is it?) etc.

I would really appreciate.

And besides, whoever helps, it could be multiple people, please welcome to Dubai and be my guest. I will let you enjoy driving the Crossfire limited on Dubai streets

Thanks and regards.

 

My dear Senior Member PizzaGuy

I am just a brand new member from Dubai.

It is pretty sunny here. This is also first time I am in such forums writing a reply. It is because this car is special not like common porches and ferraris.

I have a problem with roof just like below and similar to how you explained.

Short Story of Car:

Since I bought, the roof was opening and closing nicely but with a sound from roof engines as if they are pretty pushing hard (sounds like Giiiiaaarrrrrrrr).

I use this car as spare car, so it is like once in weeks. Last week it gave problem with Crankshaft sensor out of blue. We fixed it.

Problem with Soft Top:
However, after this fix with dealer, the roof had pretty difficult time to open the first joint where the back window is attached to the trank. It did not open at first! and I did not hear that GIarrrr pushy sound like before but it was very silent and smooth sound (viyiirrrr). Then I tried pushing the button again towards down, then it removed the switch and started to give that Noisy Giiiaarrrrr sound again. (so, it works when there is noisy sound).
However, when I wanted to close, this time, it looked like it DOES NOT have enough power to push the window switch in. I had to push button again and again, then it closed by pushing slowly slowly.

Today, I tried roof again, No way it did not open like, then somehow, after pushing few times, it removed from the back window switch but could not lift the soft top. So I had to close back but it did not close as well. I CAN ALWAYS HEAR THAT ROOF ENGINE IS HUMMING but not moving the soft top. It felt that 80 years old powerless granny cant lift anything but trying with voice.

So this is it! It looks like, my roof system was loosing energy and power each time I try.

What to do my dear friends? (I am writing this after talking to Dealer in Dubai. They are stupids, their answer was - Replace all roof!)

Can you tell me what to do step by step? such as, check xyz, change hydraulic oils of 2 pumps, micro switch (what is it?) etc.

I would really appreciate.

And besides, whoever helps, it could be multiple people, please welcome to Dubai and be my guest. I will let you enjoy driving the Crossfire limited on Dubai streets

Thanks and regards.

 

it sounds like it may be that the fluid needs topping off or air in the lines. not enough pressure in the system.

 

I have got to agree with "Caught in a Xfire" !

Low fluid or bad pump - my best guess.

 

Thanks a lot Pizza guy and Caught in Xfire such names!

So how do I Top Up te fluids? In suspension alike piston workshops? In normal car workshops? Or I just top up the fluids? But then it would leak again. If it s leaking and needs to be oiled topped. How much do you think wld be a fair price for outside workshops? Thanks a lot gentlemen.

Regards

 

We have shops here, in many cities, that specialize in convertible (power) tops - most of these systems work in similar fashion no matter what manufacturer made the car.

I would look for a shop that has experience with these problems. A price is hard to quote, with taking the trim off and putting it back together, and time to inspect for leaks, I'd say a two hour labor charge would be reasonable. Over here, that would be $180US to $300US.

Remember the car is mostly a Mercedes, one thing I like to do is find an independent shop that works on a lot of Mercedes - such shops are usually very experienced with the Mercedes designs. Mercedes DEALERS do not always want to work on these cars, because they say "Chrysler" on them, this is not always the case, but often is.

I imagine Mercedes are quite common over there!

 

Thanks a lot!

Pretty much but mostly high end ones like Mercedes McLaren etc.

I found a garage and gave it. They apparently realized that problem is Oil Leak which relieved me but then they said if the leak is becaue of the little oil tank, then easy but if it is because of the pistons, then we need to change pistons and he advised that we change all 8 pistons even though it is leaking from one!!!!!!

Do you think, we need to change all when only one is leaking?

Let us see. I will keep you updated.

 

Hello my dears,

here are the update:

The problem is the left upper piston leaking oil, no oil left in the pump to open it.

They tried fixing the leak in the piston by themselves (FAILED), somewhere else (FAILED) and third other place master in pistons (FAILED) in the meantime of this waiting in garage for 2 weeks, apparently they have had the "CHECK ENGINE" Fault on the panel.

I was shocked, cos, I have just had the Crankshaft sensor changed a week before the roof failed. !!!

Anyway, now they advised that I should find and buy that pump from US.

I have the picture of which piston is needed to be changed. Link Attached - No 6 piston on picture rounded by blue pen. DropShots.com

Can you please help me finding a reliable source to buy it please? I would million times appreciate.

P.S. Any idea why also the CHECK ENGINE fault came again even after changing the Crankshaft sensor a week ago.

Thanks a lot.

 

Well, you may or may not have burned up the pump running it dry on fluid, so changing the pump is probably a good idea. I would just change out the leaking hydraulic cylinder and leave the others alone. As for the check engine light, we need to know what the fault code is to tell you why the light is on. The shop that is working on it should be able to tell you what it is. Have you had any luck finding the parts you need, or do you need help from us?

 

I see 7 of them listed on Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market under "Convertible Top Motor"

 

Hi again,

I dont know the code again, they checked and tried clearing the faults and apparently it is gone. If next time it comes, I will write down the fault code and let you know.

YES PLEASE, I need shop advise to buy one.

Thanks a lot.

 

Hi ALAXFIRE,

I checked the link you gave but it looks, all of them are motors - not the hydraulic pistons or cylinders.

Am I reading it wrong?

 

I was responding to

 

Hello everyone,

good news!!!

I have managed to operate the roof manually! Already opened the roof down and put it in trank in like 30 sec in total after learning how to release the switches with levers.

Now, I can drive converted - top down nicely but with some annoying beep beep noise just like the beep beep continious sound when hand brake is pulled while driving. None of the seat belts or hand brake are in wrong place.

I have also the switch light is constantly ON now. Before when roof pistons were faulty, it was blinking.
And now, I also cant open the trunk anymore!

P.S. after opening the soft top, CHECK ENGINE light has gone off! It was ON for the last few days after having the roof faulty.


FYI kindly!

 

PM sent about "Trunklid Jammed" and I also explained about the light/beep.