So I suspect so form of a sensor switch somewhere...

Right, and this can be diagnosed using a basic electronic multimeter and the "Vario Roof Diagnostic Aid" posted here.

 

Thanks for the info, even if it turns out to be a problem related to the pump at least I'll have made a descent attempt at a diagnosis before giving in to the Dealer.

 

My main pump went bad a couple of months ago. Hope you have a warranty, it's about a $2000.00 repair, including labor, if it needs to be replaced.

 

Obviously the pump is not the problem. Still, if it were a new pump is about $1200 at parts.com, and an independent shop could probably install it for around $200.

 

Not sure how "obviously the pump is not the problem", but if it is, it's about a $2000.00 repair, at the dealer. My car had very similar symptoms and it was the pump. The trunk opened, the flaps did their thing, but the roof would not move.

Sure, you can diagnose the problem yourself, source the parts, and have a indy do the repair to save some money.

 

bobterry

Most good Mercedes Indy`s will not allow you to bring your own parts in.
Kind of like bringing your own steak to a restaurant and asking to have it cooked.

Exception:
I did have mine do a Johnson I/C Pump. But that was because he had no source for where
to get the pump in the first place.

 

Really? I cant take my own steak to a restaurant and they wont cook it for me?

Thats BOGUS MAN!!!

 

One more question since I'm convinced that the microswitch S117 is the problem, how do I locate the switch. Do you know what has to be removed to locate the switch. appreciate any guidance. John

The switch is located at the C-pillar on the driver's side of the car. It can not be clearly seen. Paneling and a power window motor have to be removed to reach the switch. You really need the R230 Tech DVD from MBUSA for $50. It will have detailed step-by-step instructions for the procedure. Before doing all that you would want to verify S117 is the problem. A Mercedes' Star Diagnosis computer can do this quickly; alternatively, you would remove the electrical connector to the roof controller and check the input from S117 with a basic electronic multimeter. The controller is located under the fuse box beneath the storage compartment behind the passenger seat.

 

Thanks again, I'll check out the computer and get the Tech Manual and let you know how it turns out. John

 

I had exactly the same problem with my SL350 a few months ago. The problem is not the pump itself but a bad (leaking) piston-cilinder, part A2308001472, cost about 200 euros; but i also paid a lot of work, in total i paid 1.247 euros for the repair. The roof has 2 cilinders like this, one in the left and one in the right to lift the roof when you press the red button in the trunk. But they are also used to lift the complete roof to close the top.
When you press the red button, the pump keeps going on until you press the button again..... my problem was exactly the same.
Mercedes told me, i was the first one with this problem......aaah yes, they always say that. Probably that's why i had to pay 14 hours of labour.
Greetings from Belgium.

 

I had exactly the same problem with my SL350 a few months ago. The problem is not the pump itself but a bad (leaking) piston-cilinder, part A2308001472, cost about 200 euros; but i also paid a lot of work, in total i paid 1.247 euros for the repair. The roof has 2 cilinders like this, one in the left and one in the right to lift the roof when you press the red button in the trunk. But they are also used to lift the complete roof to close to top.
When you press the red button, the pump keeps going on until you press the button again..... my problem was exactly the same.
Mercedes told me, i was the first one with this problem......aaah yes, they always say that. Probably that's why i had to pay 14 hours of labour.
Greetings from Belgium.

Thanks for sharing, I'm waiting for the tech manual to locate and check out the micro switch and fix the easy pack switch S117. Wiil let you know what the results are. A wet and cold Los Angeles

 

ok, I've located the easy pack micro switch, with a small added depresion it operates. The switch trigger does not quite press enough to operate the switch.
Te switch removal is looks like a tuff job! However if I bond a .030 /.040 steel shim on to the switch trigger all should be well.
Its raining anyway right now, so more to come next week end. John

 

As a recap my roof would not lift out of the trunk! The first problem was that the Hyd pump would not stop without pressing the red lift button when using the 'Easy Pack'.
After stripping off the driver side corner plastic shroud, I located the easy pack micro switch, when the Easy Pack was operated (and the Hyd pump manually stopped) the micro switch S117 had not operated. However with by just applying a little mode pressure you could hear the switch click.
I couldn't see how you would ever remove the switch.
What I did was bond a I bond a small .030 /.040 thick steel shim on to the switch trigger with a good two part Epoxy.
24hrs to set and all was well, the roof rips up and down as good as new.

Thanks to 'Bobterry99' for the helpful info and advise and the rest of the guys who scared me to death, motivating me to have a go with nothing to loose. Thanks LA John

 

I had the same error code b1264 . My indy recommended wrapping trigger with electrical tape and this worked great until the tape became depressed after six months . Just slip on a short piece of 1/4" vinyl tubing over trigger and "roof rips up and down as good as new".

 

Great idea!!

Hey, Thank you for your post. It really helped me out today!!
Wolf

 

To revive an old thread. I also had this issue with the switch
S117. I used a piece of plastic tubing slide over the switch
Operator. This makes the operator slightly larger and this solves the issue.
I would say this. If your top is working right up until the point
Of where it raised slightly and begins to come out of the trunk.
This may be your problem as well.

 

trying to find the correct thread for this problem. This is close. I see the S117 problems. It might be something else. I found after replacing all my rams that the top stopped in that easy pack position. S117 seemed to be the problem. It wasn't. The rear shelf was hitting the rollbar and keeping the easy pack from lifting completely and triggering the switch.
I can see that "fattening" the switch would cause it to trigger sooner, but that is a bandaid not a cure. I tried the shelf adjustments. I had about a 20mm gap, and the spec is 7+3. Narrowed it to 10 which was a far as it would go, and it got worse. I finally removed the shelf, and the easy pack comes way up now and the top works perfectly. There are shims under the shelf mounts, and I was thinking of trying thicker, but it doesn't look promising. By the way, the rollbar is lowered completely against its seat....not sticking up high.