How does the hydraulic system work on a Mercedes SLK?

How does the hydraulic system work on a Mercedes SLK?

R170 SLKs have five hydraulic pumps that work in concert to lower and raise the hard top into the trunk. If the top fails to function properly, one of the diagnoses is to look for hydraulic fluid leaks — the cylinders’ seals eventually go bad. The cylinders’ hoses can also theoretically spring leaks, as can the system’s hydraulic pump.

How many hydraulic cylinders are in a Mercedes Benz convertible?

Unlike anyone else, Top Hydraulics replaces and upgrades all port seals (where the hoses go in). Full set of vario roof cylinders consists of eight hydraulic cylinders excluding the roll bar related cylinders. You send in your cylinders first for rebuild/upgrade service.

Where are the 5 cylinders on a Mercedes SLK?

Separate articles cover preliminary and related operations: Adding Fluid to the Hydraulic Pump, Removing the Trunk’s Trim Panels, Headliner Removal, and B-pillar Trim Removal. Please consult these articles for further reference, as needed. The focus here is identifying the locations of the five cylinders.

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.

R170 SLKs have five hydraulic pumps that work in concert to lower and raise the hard top into the trunk. If the top fails to function properly, one of the diagnoses is to look for hydraulic fluid leaks — the cylinders’ seals eventually go bad. The cylinders’ hoses can also theoretically spring leaks, as can the system’s hydraulic pump.

Unlike anyone else, Top Hydraulics replaces and upgrades all port seals (where the hoses go in). Full set of vario roof cylinders consists of eight hydraulic cylinders excluding the roll bar related cylinders. You send in your cylinders first for rebuild/upgrade service.

Separate articles cover preliminary and related operations: Adding Fluid to the Hydraulic Pump, Removing the Trunk’s Trim Panels, Headliner Removal, and B-pillar Trim Removal. Please consult these articles for further reference, as needed. The focus here is identifying the locations of the five cylinders.

Who is top hydraulics for Mercedes soft top?

Top Hydraulics remanufactures all hydraulic cylinders for the soft tops and vario roofs on Mercedes convertibles and many other models. We make your cylinders “better than new” with seals superior to those used by the OEM! Top Hydraulics, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

What kind of oil does a 2002 SLK 320 use?

I was looking at my service records and noticed that the dealers have been putting in Mobil1 Formula M 5W-40 Fully Synthetic Motor Oil in my 2002 SLK 320 and 2004 SL400 for the last 4 years. Did you find the recommended reading relevant to this discussion?

Why is my Mercedes SL500 leaking hydraulic fluid?

To answer your question, this was clearly a coincidence. Most likely, the SL500 has leaking cylinders, which happens to almost all of them in time. The lines rarely ever burst in R129s. If you would like to make some points with the SL500 owner, refer them to us and we can help them much more affordably than the dealer.

When did Jim Rogers drive the Mercedes SLK 320?

American entrepreneur Jim Rogers and his wife, Paige Parker, drove a highly modified SLK through 116 countries between January 1, 1999 and January 5, 2002, covering 245,000 kilometers and setting a Guinness World Record. Get notified for new files? We’ll send you a quick email when a new Mercedes SLK 320 document is added.

How do you change MAF sensor on 2001 SLK 320?

IHAVE A 2001 SLK 320 THAT LEAKS HYDROLIC FLUID AT THE BOTTOM OF A PLUG ON THE LEFT SIDE WHEN THE PUMP IS ON THE RIGHT THERES A TUBE ON THE BOTTOM THAT FLUID POURS OUT TOOK EVERU THING OUT OF TRUNK AND…  read more Marty Mercedes Technician Associate Degree

To answer your question, this was clearly a coincidence. Most likely, the SL500 has leaking cylinders, which happens to almost all of them in time. The lines rarely ever burst in R129s. If you would like to make some points with the SL500 owner, refer them to us and we can help them much more affordably than the dealer.

Where is the filler plug on a SLK 230?

The plug is easier to access by removing the metal cover, which is secured by four bolts having T30 Torx heads (arrows). The filler hole (arrow) is on top of the pump, on the right-rear fender side. Use a 5mm Allen/hex wrench or bit to remove the filler plug.

Can a hydraulic cylinder in a car spring a leak?

The cylinders’ hoses can also theoretically spring leaks, as can the system’s hydraulic pump. Separate articles cover preliminary and related operations: Adding Fluid to the Hydraulic Pump, Removing the Trunk’s Trim Panels, Headliner Removal, and B-pillar Trim Removal. Please consult these articles for further reference, as needed.

How do you release a Mercedes roof hydraulic cylinder?

The plunger end’s pin (arrow) is pivoted away from the fork-shaped mount. Then the pin can be pulled to release the plunger’s fork from the trunk. The release cable should come free as the cylinder is lifted out of the trunk cavity.

Why is my SLK top leaking hydraulic fluid?

The Hydraulic Roof Actuating Cylinder on the driver side was leaking hydraulic fluid; you can see the leak on the plastic panel in the SLK’s trunk. I would recommend rebuilding all five of the hydraulic cylinders. All of the panels and the all mats must come out of the trunk area.

What to do if your Mercedes SLK top stops working?

nHas the retractable top on top on your Mercedes SLK stopped working and you received sticker shock of between $3,000 and $4,000 to repair the hydraulic system from the Mercedes dealer. My daughter did. nI will share my experience repairing my daughter’s car with you.

The Hydraulic Roof Actuating Cylinder on the driver side was leaking hydraulic fluid; you can see the leak on the plastic panel in the SLK’s trunk. I would recommend rebuilding all five of the hydraulic cylinders. All of the panels and the all mats must come out of the trunk area.

Can a Mercedes R170 SLK front lock be rebuilt?

Convertible car top cylinders rebuild service (using best seals available ) for Mercedes R170 models SLK 230, SLK230 Kompressor, SLK320, SLK 32AMG. Expedited core exchange option is now available for R170 SLK cylinders with a $40 inventory surcharge per cylinder as well as a $120 core deposit.

Where is the fill hole on a Mercedes SLK 230?

If the fluid is low, the fill hole is on top of the hydraulic pump. The plug is easier to access by removing the metal cover, which is secured by four bolts having T30 Torx heads (arrows). The filler hole (arrow) is on top of the pump, on the right-rear fender side.

If the fluid is low, the fill hole is on top of the hydraulic pump. The plug is easier to access by removing the metal cover, which is secured by four bolts having T30 Torx heads (arrows). The filler hole (arrow) is on top of the pump, on the right-rear fender side.

Convertible car top cylinders rebuild service (using best seals available ) for Mercedes R170 models SLK 230, SLK230 Kompressor, SLK320, SLK 32AMG. Expedited core exchange option is now available for R170 SLK cylinders with a $40 inventory surcharge per cylinder as well as a $120 core deposit.

What kind of hard top does a SLK have?

The SLK’s electro-hydraulic Vario convertible hard top is its marquee feature. It’s also one of the car’s most problematic systems. Five hydraulic cylinders, nine limit switches, a control switch, four window motors, a pump, two solenoids, a relay, cables/pulleys, and a control module all have to work in sync for the top to operate properly.

Is the Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 Vario convertible hard top?

Click here to order! The SLK’s electro-hydraulic Vario convertible hard top is its marquee feature. It’s also one of the car’s most problematic systems.

The plunger end’s pin (arrow) is pivoted away from the fork-shaped mount. Then the pin can be pulled to release the plunger’s fork from the trunk. The release cable should come free as the cylinder is lifted out of the trunk cavity.

How much does a 1998 Mercedes Benz SLK cost?

Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 $5,900 Extreme Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM Used 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 New Listing $5,999 Oak Auto NC Used 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 $6,880 Coda Motors LLC Used 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 New Listing $6,900 Fast Track Auto Mall Used 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 $8,449 Dream Wheels Used 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 $8,450

What kind of car is the Mercedes SLK 230?

Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 New Listing $5,999 Oak Auto NC Used 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 $6,880 Coda Motors LLC Used 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 New Listing $6,900 Fast Track Auto Mall Used 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 $8,449 Dream Wheels Used 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 $8,450 Timeless Motorcars Used 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 $8,490

Is the SLK 230 Kompressor a second hand car?

I have recently purchased a second hand E320 and i am now looking at a second hand SLK 230 Kompressor for my partner. It is a 1998 in Metallic blue. It has 130,000km (80,000) miles on the clock genuine and 3 owners from new. Could anyone tell me about this model please.

How many miles does a Mercedes Benz SLK run?

SLK’s will run to 150 000 or 160 000 miles without major challenges. The one you are looking at would appear to have been run pretty much full time since new. There are lots of SLK ‘s about and a car with 130 000 on it will be ‘tired’ and starting to get a bit worn about the edges cosmetically at the very least.

How much does it cost to repair a SLK 230 hardtop?

SLK 230 retractable hardtop repair estimate $4000+!!! My 1999 SLK230 retractable hartop failed to go back up a couple of days ago. Upon inspection there was hydraulic fluid leaking from a ram in the trunk. Per the manual I put the roof back up manually and went to my local Merc dealer.

The SLK’s electro-hydraulic Vario convertible hard top is its marquee feature. It’s also one of the car’s most problematic systems. Five hydraulic cylinders, nine limit switches, a control switch, four window motors, a pump, two solenoids, a relay, cables/pulleys, and a control module all have to work in sync for the top to operate properly.

How to troubleshoot a Mercedes Benz SLK top?

For the average SLK owner, top troubleshooting is possibly better left to the pros. The Vario Roof Diagnostic Aid manual is detailed and extensive. However, the average owner can separate the more-obvious problems from the complicated ones. It might save a trip to the dealership or shop.

SLK 230 retractable hardtop repair estimate $4000+!!! My 1999 SLK230 retractable hartop failed to go back up a couple of days ago. Upon inspection there was hydraulic fluid leaking from a ram in the trunk. Per the manual I put the roof back up manually and went to my local Merc dealer.

For the average SLK owner, top troubleshooting is possibly better left to the pros. The Vario Roof Diagnostic Aid manual is detailed and extensive. However, the average owner can separate the more-obvious problems from the complicated ones. It might save a trip to the dealership or shop.