I am not sure about lock one, lock two...but make sure that the screw on the pump is in the clockwise position. After fixing my valve, my lid would open but my convertible top would not pull back, I thought I still had a valve problem (I checked relay and that was good). I then remembered that I opened my top manually which includes turning the valve screw counterclockwise (in manual) and forgot to turn back. Once I turned back, my top worked fine. Not sure if this is your prob but thought I would mention.

And Klaus is great to work with. I still need to post my valve experience.

 

The whole top system is powered from the same relay so not likely your problem. could you still have air in the system? maybe try a few cycles of the system. make sure the trunk is closed and luggage cover in place.

 

The screw is on the full clockwise position. After I open the lock behind the seats with the weird tool do I have to return it to the original position after it opens. Maybe one of the micro switches or the lock itself??? Please someone help.....Thanks.

 

troubleshooting

alarroyo,

I hope that someone else can give better pointers, since I don't own a CLK and have only been upgrading its components.

If the hydraulic system in an R129 (90s SL-Class) stops mid-cycle, there are several possibilities that I discuss with my customers:

1) Did your controller need a reset? That is usually the case after the battery has been low or disconnected. Don't know if this applies to W208 controllers, and usually controllers don't need to be reset if the window drop feature still works.

2) If that wasn't it, which wires leading to micro switches could have been disturbed or disconnected during recent work on the car? Or is any micro switch caked in dirt? (On an R129, I can usually tell which micro switch isn't doing the job, based on where in the cycle the system is stopping, but I'm too ignorant on the W208.)

3) Did any micro switch get bumped out of alignment during recent work? That is unusual, and micro switches don't usually break on their own.

4) Is any lock in an undefined state (not fully open or closed), and confusing the controller? (That may apply only to certain R129 locks that have readout for both open and closed position.)

The two locks with the aluminum cylinders in them can both be operated manually. The long, narrow one can be turned with a 6-mm Allen wrench (I guess that 6-mm Allen wrench is attached to the weird tool you are referring to). The triangular shaped one accepts a 10-mm open wrench on one side. Things might miraculously work after you have cycled both of these locks manually.

Lastly, do you know someone who has Star Diagnosis? That could read the fault codes of your controller and narrow down the problem quickly...

Hope this helps,

-Klaus

klaus@tophydraulicsinc.com

 

I had the same problem with my CLK. Klaus from Top Hydraulics was the only one that was able to help me. I went to 2 different dealers and got nowhere. Klaus made me a great price and helped me to get this fixed very quick.

Thanks again

 

Leak from pressure relief valve



klaus1953, (there is no relation - the name match is a coincidence with both of us originally being from Germany) Thank you for your kind words!

The problem in klaus1953's system was a leaking pressure relief valve. That's the one you turn with the white plastic cone. Klaus1953 was lucky that we were able to polish out what the valve debris had caused in damage and were able to refit an oversized seal, so that we did not have to replace the whole valve block. Thus the "great price"...

keyhole, there are quite a few differences between W208 and W209's soft top systems, so the drawings or schematics in the referenced thread could be confusing to W208 owners. Most notably, the W209 does not have the R129-style lock cylinders for the rear of the soft top and for the tonneau cover lock (both of these are notorious for failing quite early), the W209 does not have the same pressure relief valve on the pump block, but the W209 has a front lock cylinder that is prone to early failure. Lastly, it seems that MB has solved some of the problems with hydraulic lines getting pinched or rubbing to much, which leads to catastrophic failure.

The main thing to keep in mind when troubleshooting the micro switch system, is to "put yourself into the shoes of the controller":

- Where exactly did the cycle stop, and what was the last step that the controller might register as unfinished.

- Which signals from micro switches could be confusing, so that the controller will stop operation because the readout is illogical.

- Was the battery low, so that the controller may have lost memory where the windows are at now? In that case, follow the reset or resynch procedure needed after the battery was disconnected or low, as outlined in your manual.

Hope this helps,

-Klaus

klaus@tophydraulicsinc.com

 

This thread from the W209 forum possibly might help here - I think the soft top management system is similar.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w209-clk-class/1556663-w209-soft-top-problem.html

 

Klaus

Thanks for the warning about the W208/W209 differences. I guess that I could have posted the equivalent set for W208 (if they are in the WIS) but as the W209 info was in the archives, I took a chance on that.

I hope I haven't now confused the issue..

 

WIS

keyhole,

your ongoing support in many forums is greatly appreciated. I am careful about not posting any copyrighted material on BenzWorld, being a supporting vendor and a business. Having said that from my narrow perspective:

Everyone, there are some interesting pdf's related to the soft top sequence and the associated micro switches, etc., in the following thread:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w208-clk-class/1603129-clk-430-convertible-wont-complete-up.html

-Klaus

klaus@tophydraulicsinc.com

 

Hi Klaus

This has worried one or two members before. But I cleared the posting of my WIS images with site Admin in 2008, and we haven't had a problem yet..