Recently, the stereo in my c280 has been messing up. Whenever I lane change, and hit those lane dividing bumps, the speakers only work on the left. I know that there is probably a loose wire somewhere, but where should I begin to look. Also, when the radio is playing, there is sometimes a weird type of fade. It sounds as if the radio is going in and out of the "stereo" mode--which might be related to the balance problem. The latter can be sometimes fixed with opening and shutting the driver's door, or just running over another lane dividing bump.
Where should I start?



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Andrew
85 16v
87 16v
94 C280

If only the left part of the system works, go directly behind the radio, there must be a loose connection. Also, if this wire touches the other one (+ or -) you will have a dizzy noise or whatever strange things your head unit is setted to do in that case.

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WEB Site : http://www.adamou.dpn.ch
A.S.C. 1999
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Is there a certain way I should try to remove the head unit? I'm sure If I try, I can figure it out, but I don't want to break anything and learn the hardway.
Thanks

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Andrew
85 16v
87 16v
94 C280

You have received with your car a special tool for removing the radio. It's a curved bar with two strange ends. Put it into the two sides of the radio and it should pop off. Put the shifter into position 2. Put some protection on top of the console and now remove the radio. Do not pull it hard because there may be some cables blocked in the back.

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WEB Site : http://www.adamou.dpn.ch
A.S.C. 1999
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If opening and shutting the door cures the problem, it *might* be a short circuit from the speaker wire. Its not uncommon for wires to slice through the grommets, and start to rub on the metal.

Quite hard to check if it only happens sometimes.

I'd go with Adamou and check behind the stereo first.

Have you done anything recently to the car that might give us a clue?

Bri



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Brian Drought
1991 300CE
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069

Nothing has been done to the car, that I know of, which started this problem. Also, the speakers go out on the left (I think I said that they went out on the right). Could a bad door stop be a cause to the problem? I just remembered that the drivers door stop has come undone, and I have yet to fix it. However, I can see how that might effect the balance problem, but Idon't see how that could effect the static-e sounding fm radio. If I can't find that tool that was mentioned for head unit removal, is there a replacement tool or some other tool I could use?

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Andrew
85 16v
87 16v
94 C280


[This message has been edited by Andrew (edited 12-01-1999).]

Your door has nothing to do with your problem.
Can you please tell me exactly if all your left channel is dead or only the speaker in the door or in the dash or the rear one is dead sometimes.

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WEB Site : http://www.adamou.dpn.ch
A.S.C. 1999
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The whole left side goes dead. If I balance the system all the way to the left(when it goes out), I can faintly hear it.

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Andrew
85 16v
87 16v
94 C280

Okay, so go ahead to the back of the radio. There is certainly a connector that is loose. I really hope that the amp in the radio is not broken... I've seen this case before and I couldn't find any disconnected cables so I had to find out what was wrong in the head unit...
Anyway, try first by checking the connections in the back of the radio.

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WEB Site : http://www.adamou.dpn.ch
A.S.C. 1999
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I will attempt to remove the radio, but I don't know where, or even if, I have the special tool to remove the radio. I located the slots on the front of the radio where the proper tool should be inserted. Is it possible to use a different set of tools for the removal of the radio. Possibly a thin skrewdriver?

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Andrew
85 16v
87 16v
94 C280


[This message has been edited by Andrew (edited 12-01-1999).]

Yes you can remove the radio with a thin metalic bar. It must be very rigid and very long (about 6 to 8cm). But you need four of these...

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WEB Site : http://www.adamou.dpn.ch
A.S.C. 1999
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If opening and closing the door affects the sound, then surely the door is suspect? Seriously tho, if the speaker wires were shorting on the bare metal due to a severed cable, then it would give the radio a bad ground, causing it to lose reception...

Its a REALLY long shot, and I'd certainly try Adamous suggestion first of having a poke around the back. ;-)

Brian



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Brian Drought
1991 300CE
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drought/
ICQ: 2180069