[R129 SL] electrical gremlin

[William Alborn]

Harvey, Thanks for the tips!  I just managed to pull the battery out of the 
car, and the previous owner had allowed the electrolyte level to drop to 
less than half.  I filled the cells, and tried to charge the unit with my 
battery charger, but it wouldn't hold a charge.  I also found shards of what 
appeared to be tail light lens material in the battery tray, so I suspect 
the car may have had a jolt to the right rear quarter panel.  Also, the 
battery hold-down clamp wasn't even finger-tight, so the unit must have been 
bouncing around as the car was traveling along. All this has prompted me to 
go for a new battery and start fresh.  I don't know what resetting the 
computer does-Is it necessary to reestablish a "happy car"?  Also, do you 
have a tip on how to reinstall the battery? It sure was tough getting it 
out, and my hands are small.  Thanks again for your comments-it makes me 
feel less like an idiot.....

Bill
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Harvey Phillips" <harveyp at ntlworld.com>
To: <r129list at mbcoupes.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 5:41 PM
Subject: Re: [R129 SL] electrical gremlin



> Hi

>

> I  had a similar thing, central locking going mad, windows getting stuck 

> at

> the top so I could not close the doors, rollover bar stuck half up the 

> going

> down, engine starting then cutting out. Eventually I discovered a loose 

> lead

> on the battery terminal. Tightened it up and all OK except for a false 

> alarm

> with the rollover bar. Had that once before after changing the battery and

> got my local MB specialist to reset the computer (free of charge!) so I

> would investigate the area around the battery for a loose lead or bad 

> earth

> or even a faulty battery.

>

> Regards

>

>

> Harvey Phillips

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com]

> On Behalf Of r129list-request at mbcoupes.com

> Sent: 06 September 2007 21:20

> To: r129list at mbcoupes.com

> Subject: R129LIST Digest, Vol 33, Issue 7

>

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> Today's Topics:

>

>   1. Re: hallelujah gearbox end (Jan Kuylaars)

>   2. Re: electrical gremlin (Jan Kuylaars)

>   3. Re: electrical gremlin (William Alborn)

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Message: 1

> Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 19:50:35 +0200

> From: "Jan Kuylaars" <J.kuylaars at kpnplanet.nl>

> Subject: Re: [R129 SL] hallelujah gearbox end

> To: "'Peter S'" <joyce.pm at xtra.co.nz>, "'list mercedes'"

> <r129list at mbcoupes.com>

> Message-ID: <000a01c7f0ae$6dada220$0302a8c0 at medion1>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>

> Peter , thanks for your reaction.

>

> Yeah we now here begin at autumn , you are started with spring.

> You drink Dutch coffee and we are eating New Zealand  apples.

> But not this week, I picked my apple tree and have more than 30 nice 

> peaces

> red apples.

> For the first after 6 years. They are tasting delicious.

> Some ours we have a little sun , the rest is rain.

> I can put on the hardtop soon.

> Its a pity that I couldn't drive the last few weeks with sunshine.

>

> But we all enjoy what's coming on.

>

> Greetings to all our members and 129 drivers all over the globe from Jan 

> the

> Smoothly Flying Dutchmen.

>

>

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----

> Van: r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com

> [mailto:r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com] Namens Peter S

> Verzonden: woensdag 5 september 2007 22:58

> Aan: SL Mailing List

> Onderwerp: Re: [R129 SL] hallelujah gearbox end

>

>

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Jan  <mailto:J.kuylaars at kpnplanet.nl> Kuylaars

> To: 'list mercedes' <mailto:r129list at mbcoupes.com>

> Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 5:17 AM

> Subject: [R129 SL] hallelujah gearbox end

>

> Today I picked up my 500 SL and drove it at home. The gearbox is shifting 

> so

> light you can't feel the switching.

> I must see it at the RPM . Hallelujah for Gerard Staa the gearbox expert.

> 1500 euros poorer but tomorrow forgotten and satisfied to drive the SL

> again.

> Hi Jan,

>

> Excellent that the gearbox is running much better and all fixed.  Great to

> see you are no longer the 'Walking Dutchman' and are now 'Super Flying

> Dutchman'.

>

> Lovely day here in the Manawatu of New Zealand.  Just about time for a 

> good

> Dutch Egberts coffee in the sunshine at a local cafe.  Have a great day.

> Regards, Peter S.

>

> With friendly Greetings,

> Jan Kuylaars

> 500 sl Flying Dutchmen.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>  _____

>

>

>

>

> The MB Coupes Website!

> R129 SL Mailing List

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> ------------------------------

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> Message: 2

> Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 19:58:12 +0200

> From: "Jan Kuylaars" <J.kuylaars at kpnplanet.nl>

> Subject: Re: [R129 SL] electrical gremlin

> To: "'SL Mailing List'" <r129list at mbcoupes.com>

> Message-ID: <001501c7f0af$7e124ca0$0302a8c0 at medion1>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>

> Puhh,

> I have no idea what's causing this.

> But, when you open the door, there becomes power on circuits that's 

> normally

> not having power without turning the ignition.

> Like the chairs, windows and so on.

> You talk about the windows , it may be an issue.

>

> First check all the fuses.

> Is the start motor working but no firing in the cylinders?

> Is there a possibility that the alarm function is come in so no ignition?

>

> Jan.

>

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----

> Van: r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com

> [mailto:r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com] Namens William Alborn

> Verzonden: donderdag 6 september 2007 2:08

> Aan: SL Mailing List

> Onderwerp: [R129 SL] electrical gremlin

>

>

> Hi Everyone!

>    My first real problem with my 1999 SL500 happened today.  I took it for

> a spin, and it worked perfectly.  I garaged it and turned it off.  I had

> never heard the exhaust sound, so I opened the door, and with the door

> opened, tried to start the car.  It would not start, and the dashboard

> display started to flash.  The driver window was trying to seat itself in

> the weather-stripping around the frame, but it only made a clicking sound.

> I tried to reset the window by following the procedure in the owner's

> manual, but to no avail.  Now, the window is up too high to close the 

> door,

> and the key will not allow the engine to turn over.  Any advice you can

> provide will be appreciated!

>

> Bill

>

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> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 3

> Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2007 16:19:25 -0400

> From: "William Alborn" <voltboy at indy.rr.com>

> Subject: Re: [R129 SL] electrical gremlin

> To: "SL Mailing List" <r129list at mbcoupes.com>

> Message-ID: <001301c7f0c3$393d5c00$c8acb44b at DJTK1771>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>

> BerichtThanks, Jan , for your reply.  Since so many things went wrong at

> once, and since I don't know the age of the battery, I think I'm going to

> replace it, if I can figure out how to open the trunk with no power.  Can

> you advise me on how best to remove and replace the battery, so I don't

> damage the car or its electronics?  Thanks very much for your advice!

>

> Bill

>  ----- Original Message -----

>  From: Jan Kuylaars

>  To: 'SL Mailing List'

>  Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 1:58 PM

>  Subject: Re: [R129 SL] electrical gremlin

>

>

>  Puhh,

>  I have no idea what's causing this.

>  But, when you open the door, there becomes power on circuits that's

> normally not having power without turning the ignition.

>  Like the chairs, windows and so on.

>  You talk about the windows , it may be an issue.

>

>  First check all the fuses.

>  Is the start motor working but no firing in the cylinders?

>  Is there a possibility that the alarm function is come in so no ignition?

>

>  Jan.

>    -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----

>    Van: r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com

> [mailto:r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com] Namens William Alborn

>    Verzonden: donderdag 6 september 2007 2:08

>    Aan: SL Mailing List

>    Onderwerp: [R129 SL] electrical gremlin

>

>

>    Hi Everyone!

>        My first real problem with my 1999 SL500 happened today.  I took it

> for a spin, and it worked perfectly.  I garaged it and turned it off.  I 

> had

> never heard the exhaust sound, so I opened the door, and with the door

> opened, tried to start the car.  It would not start, and the dashboard

> display started to flash.  The driver window was trying to seat itself in

> the weather-stripping around the frame, but it only made a clicking sound.

> I tried to reset the window by following the procedure in the owner's

> manual, but to no avail.  Now, the window is up too high to close the 

> door,

> and the key will not allow the engine to turn over.  Any advice you can

> provide will be appreciated!

>

>    Bill

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

> --

>

>

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