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  #1  
Old 04-25-2016, 02:54 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Latham, NY
Posts: 30
antenna power draw-bench test Becker?

Hello all,
I have a 93 300CE that I have owned for about 14 years. The becker stereo has worked fine except for replacing the antenna with a new factory unit when it started to operate slowly and would only receive AM signals. The new antenna works fine, but I still only get AM.

I am also having a battery drain problem that I have issolated to the "C" and "9" fuses. With the key and stereo off and doors closed I think I can here a solenoid sound which I think is the antenna. If I unplug the antenna, I have 12 volts at 3 of the pins in the plug. Should there be power to the antenna with the stereo off?

Also, is there a way to bench test the Becker head unit and tuner/amp?

There is somebody selling the complete system with harness on ebay for about $400. It's looking pretty tempting if there is something wrong with mine!

Thanks!!!

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  #2  
Old 04-26-2016, 07:48 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 726
Because that is a 2 piece radio, to bench test it you would need the data cable that connects the 2 (the one with the DIN connectors) as well as all the other connectors.
$400 is high for those radios unless it includes the CD with adapter cables. I bought the pair at the local wrecking yard for $12 and $20 for the CD.
Sometimes you see people on the forums basically giving them away for the price of shipping after they upgraded to a newer system.
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  #3  
Old 04-26-2016, 10:12 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 726
You should have a brown ground (pin3), a blue control (pin1) and +12 volt power on pin 2 red or red/yellow. The antenna needs 12v when the radio is off so the antenna will go down. Control voltage is only present when the radio is on.
There is an internal electronic circuit that turns power off to the motor after a fixed time. If you have current draw when the antenna is down, then this circuitry could be at fault. I've seen them full of corrosion from a leak around the fender grommet.
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  #4  
Old 04-26-2016, 11:51 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Latham, NY
Posts: 30
Rick76, thanks for the info. I'll check it.

I think this whole problem started after the local MB body shop repaired damage on the passenger rear quarter from a tree falling on it. The car sits a lot and I don't use the radio much, so it took me a while to realize there was a problem. I have taken all the electronics in that area out and not found anything obvious, but don't know how to test anything.

The radio and power draw may be unrelated.
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  #5  
Old 04-27-2016, 07:46 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Latham, NY
Posts: 30
Power to the antenna plug checks out. I found an old cassette tape and tried the radio. It worked great...it's the first I've ever tried the cassette player as long as I have owned the car :-).

So I guess that narrows it down to a problem with FM reception. It is a new Hirschmann antenna. To experiment, I bought a cheap surface mount antenna and did get FM reception, so now it's something in the new OEM antenna. My original antenna had a powered junction box that split the radio and telephone antenna cables. Hirschmann said not to use it and included a small adapter harness to bypass it.

What could the issue be with the new antenna?

Thanks!

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