02 ml320 radio static

[Devil Dog]

My 2002 radio static all fm and am channels where should I look.also how do I get the radio out to check connections .

[Gilly]

Need a pair of radio "keys" to remove the MCS to check connections.

Antenna "amp" is inside the tailgate panel trim, the antenna is built in to the rear window. I would suspect the problem is in back, not at the radio. Has the rear window ever been replaced.
Although thinking about the problem, FM usually requires very little actual antenna, so maybe the radio itself is bad, do CDs work OK??

[Devil Dog]

thanks Gilly the cd works perfectly,It seemed to start to static when the brakes were pressed.now it's intermittent but mostly static.never hit in the rear as far as I know but was hit in the front

[Gilly]

Hmmm, 3rd stop light wiring some how messing up the antenna amp? Only connection I can see between the two systems.

[Devil Dog]

Gilly check connections at amp all good.When I move the tail gate up and down I get improved reception like a bad ground or antenna?All the grounds are connected could not get to the other end of the coax it routes inside the frame?Gilly do I have a bad amp?

[Gilly]

The amp grounds through the tailgate connection itself. There was some bulletin about improving radio reception, can't remember all the details now. I though one thing was to remove some of the paint on the tailgate under the tab on the amp. Wonder if someone has access to old bulletins that could find this info.

[Devil Dog]

finally found the broken coax cable at the hinge ....Does anyone know how the coax routes from the hinge area to the radio.Id hate to take the headliner down....Mercedes wanted 800 to repair the radio replacing the coax....

[Devil Dog]

repaired with a splice from radio shack...splice connects the inside braded wire then crimp for the shielding work now.A lot of hassles to remove the head liner the coax routes overhead then down the posts....the splice works very well....