Soft Top Release Latch--big trouble.

[IXLR8]

Hi Mike--

To add to my earlier post, I seem to recall that you purchased a small TV camera to see inside cylinders, etc.  Maybe this could be useful to you in seeing inside the soft top case.

Otherwise, try the access through the hinge opening. If you crawl in the trunk like Jimmy Hoffa, you should have good access.


the other Joe

[Benz Dr.]

The diameter of the rod and the length of the internal bend are the critical measurements.  The rest is personal.

According to the picture, it's like, 5mm ( dick ).  I guess that would be kind of a personal thing.

[mdsalemi]

Problem solved.

AND THE WINNER IS...DAVID WILLIAMS OF ONTARIO!!!

(second place to IXLR8, the other Joe.  Though, a coat hanger isn't nearly strong enough...)

David suggested going into the latch area from the trunk hinge with something akin to a fireplace poker.  For those unfamiliar with such a tool of the great white north, it is a long rod with a handle, and a hook on the end.  David stuck this in the hinge area, deep into the latch area, grabbed onto the appropriate parts, and pulled.  Voila.

I had indicated that I took my car into my friendly mechanic.  They determined that access from the top--chrome cap--was fraught with the potential to damage chrome or paint, as you do need a bit of leverage to pop the release.  My chrome is nice, and so is my paint, and these things scared the guys back into the trunk.

What had happened is the plate that is affixed to the end of the release lever had come off.  The nut had loosened and fallen off, and then the plate came off the end of the lever.  Thus, the lever did not control anything.  The body shop guys put it all back together with the wavy washer and some medium strength Loctite so it will not happen again.

Lesson to be learned here?  Check this assembly on your car and ensure your nut is not loose; if it is, tighten it up and consider Loctite.  Also, might be useful to attempt to release the latch with a tool in case you ever need to...access from the trunk with a steel rod of some kind, bent with a hook on the end.  It's a whole lot easier to try this with the soft top compartment cover OPEN so you can see what you are doing, then in a panic with it locked shut.

[thelews]

Surprised you didn't feel some looseness in the lever before the plate finally fell off.  Glad you resolved the issue.  Maybe better go through your car and tighten up fasteners.  I had to on my 190 SL when I got it, all kinds of loose fasteners.

[mdsalemi]

Surprised you didn't feel some looseness in the lever before the plate finally fell off.  Glad you resolved the issue.  Maybe better go through your car and tighten up fasteners.  I had to on my 190 SL when I got it, all kinds of loose fasteners.

Lever felt fine.

I have always had the suspicion that a lot of the world's problems are caused by loose nuts, bolts, and screws.  I will indeed give a once over to the car this year.

[49er]

Michael,
 I have been following this thread and am glad you got your problem fixed. One worry I have always had with these cars is one, the hood release won't operate and two, the soft top cover won't open. I keep the cable for the hood latch well lubricated and have now have checked all the nuts/cables on the ST cover. You were lucky that the top was out of the compartment as it would have been a lot more difficult if the top was still stowed.

John

[Jordan]

I thought David was in Florida.  And what is he doing with a fireplace poker in Florida?  I didn't think they even had fireplaces in Florida. 

[mdsalemi]

One worry I have always had with these cars is one, the hood release won't operate and two, the soft top cover won't open.

John 49er,

I guess I never worried much about it until it happened.  I am thinking that "emergency release" cables could be clandestinely installed, and fabricated out of bicycle brake cables.  You could put these in place, tuck away the ends and if something were to go wrong with the system, you'd have an emergency backup.  It IS rocket science, as no man-rated rocket ever went up without some kind of redundant system, yes?  So, if your 40+ year old soft top latch cable or assembly failed--or hood release, just seek out the emergency and pull.  Something like this exists in modern trunks, you know--in case you accidentally lock your kid in the trunk (or vice versa!), you/they have an emergency way out??

[Benz Dr.]

A loose nut on the end of the release handle is more common that you might think. I check stuff like that if the hard top is off the car.

[aalto]

This was a hugely helpful discussion, as I had the same problem.  I also had the added challenge of having the top down and stowed away, so getting access to the exact right spot of was very difficult. Solution to the problem was to visually locate the mechanism through the hard top installation hole on the top (with the aid of a good flashlight) and have a friend use a long, sturdy but narrow hook to grab it according to instruction. Could not find anything suitable ready, so built a tool from a 5mm hook, 1m long threaded rod + makeshift handle (all joined by appropriate nuts). It took a strong pull to work, so a handle was necessary, but it's open now! 

[beek]

Your easy method worked!

Specifically, the handle did work, after I had pushed it in as far as possible, even though the nut was not attached.  It seemed to help to have someone push down on the lid (to relieve pressure on the latch, so that it could release more easily) while I turned the handle.

Thanks for your suggestion!  It saved me A LOT of work.

[waltklatt]

Michael,
Were you able to open the top case cover?
Walter

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Walter,

It was a original post from 2012, and since then I saw Michaeal and his car last September 2015 at PUB and all was well as you can see in the attached photo.

Dieter

(Michael's car in red mine in blue).

[waltklatt]

Hi Rolf,
Thanks for the reply.
Didnt see the date from the posting.  Too bleary eyed this morning.
Thanks and glad all is well again.

Walter

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Walter,

It's still a great thread and good tips if it should ever happen to anyone else's car

Dieter

BTW, Michael's car and mine are only 3 VIN numbers apart ... I took the photo so the two could exchange stories (whispers) as to where they all have been since that December day in 1968 when they rolled off the assembly line to start there journey to America. It took 47 years for them to meet again, I thought it deserved a photo or two.

[waltklatt]

Hello Rolf,

True to that, it is a good source of info for the next person, who becomes stuck with the same problem.
I too had a 1968 280SL (sold 1995), early number 618.  Is that close to yours and Michaels?  As far as I know, it's located on the Eastern Shore of MD.

Walter

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Walter PM send