What happens to the hydraulics in a Mercedes R129?
The original seals in the hydraulic cylinders, aka rams or actuators, will eventually fail in every R129, unless it gets wrecked prematurely, even if you never drive the car or have never used the top before. Rebuilding these cylinders is NOT a matter of changing o-rings. Every R129 cylinder has one o-ring, and those rarely ever fail.
What causes port seal failure on Mercedes R129?
Port seal failure is becoming more and more common as the R129s age. It also applies to the front distributor p/n 1298000022. Port seals have a special shape that makes them seal under pressure. O-rings wouldn’t do the trick.
When was the Mercedes Benz R129 SL replaced?
The R129 SL is a roadster style automobile that replaced the Mercedes R107, C107 line in 1989. The R129 was later replaced by the R230 SL-Class in 2002 for the 2003 model year.
How many hydraulic rams are in a Mercedes SL?
The soft top roof is operated by twelve hydraulic rams, powered by a hydraulic pump. This is the highest number of hydraulic cylinders out of all Mercedes-Benz convertibles. One of the hydraulic rams was removed in 1997, bringing the number down to eleven, which is the same as in the R230 SL-Class roadster.
The original seals in the hydraulic cylinders, aka rams or actuators, will eventually fail in every R129, unless it gets wrecked prematurely, even if you never drive the car or have never used the top before. Rebuilding these cylinders is NOT a matter of changing o-rings. Every R129 cylinder has one o-ring, and those rarely ever fail.
When did the Mercedes Benz SL R129 come out?
Mercedes brought the SL bang up to date in 1989, with sharp Bruno Sacco styling and a technology overload. Built over 12 years with straight-six, V6, V8 and V12 engine options ranging from 2.8 to 7.3 litres, the R129 came in many forms, all of which have their fans.
What causes a Mercedes SL Class R129 to over heat?
A stuck close thermostat will create over heating and if it is stuck open the engine will run too cool. If your overheating and one coolant pipe is hot and the other is cold you may have a bad coolant pump. A clogged radiator can cause overheating and a broken hose can leave you stranded.
Port seal failure is becoming more and more common as the R129s age. It also applies to the front distributor p/n 1298000022. Port seals have a special shape that makes them seal under pressure. O-rings wouldn’t do the trick.