Finding out new things about this problem by the day.

What I know:

- windows and sunroof don't close when I hold the key in the lock position

- using the console buttons, windows rise in the first detent but don't rise in the second/auto up detent

- when I reconnect the ground cable to the battery the antenna motor whirs for a few seconds. When I put an ammeter across the disconnected ground cable and the battery I see a ~3.25 amp draw but the antenna motor doesn't whir.

I assume the problem is in the convenience module and the convenience module handles the window auto up problem.

Any thoughts on this new info, for those of you following this saga?

Thanks,
Sixto
93 300SD

If you've disconnected the battery, you'll need to instruct each window as to "what is up".

To do this, press the up portion of the window to the first detent until the window is at the top of it's travel. Once it's fully closed - do not release the button, press to the second detent and hold about 2-3 seconds.

If the window is already closed, I'd open it a bit, then close it and follow the instructions above. I don't know if this is strictly necessary, but it couldn't hurt.

I've seen conflicting reports as to whether the "hold" should be done at the first detent or the second. I think my car ('92 300SE) works at second detent.

There is no such process for the sunroof, but once I've taught all my windows, my sunroof works just fine.

Don't have any info on the antenna.
Each time you pull the battery, you need to do this for each window.

In the owners manual there is a procedure for resynching the remotes. There is also a procedure for resetting the power windows for automatic operation. I would suggest doing these two resets (which you can do yourself) and then start looking at root causes. I would also suggest replacing the remote batteries. The remote in the 140 has dual operation. Part of it is RF and the other part is infared. The infared is used for the windows and roof closure to make sure the owner is "near" the car and to eliminate radio interference from causing an injury to someone inside the car. You want to check that all of your sensors are clean as well on the outside of the car.

What you may have is multiple problems. Bad remote batteries and keys that have unsnyched with the car along with power windows that have lost their settings. Have you had the battery out of the car recently?

On my 1999 S320 one can reset the power windows by raising the window to its upper limit and then holding the button in the second detent position in the up direction for a few seconds.

Good luck. The modules in early 140's are not cheap at all.

Thanks for the replies.

The battery went flat the other day seemingly with no warning - good one day, dead the next. It happens, I guess, but I wonder if it was age or some rogue electrical drain since I had been playing with the close-everything-with-the-key feature. The blade-in-the-lock way. I didn't know you could do that by remote.

I've not been able to find a manual for this new-to-me car and I have only a vague recollection of the manual for the 95 S420 I used to have. My PC won't display the manual at mb.braingears.com. I will try resetting the windows.

Sixto
93 300SD

You really should consider investing in a manual. The 140 is a very complicated car and a manual is very helpful for learning about its features.

If you do some searching on here I remember seeing someone with a link to a website (not braingears) with PDF files of all the owners manuals. You could also try buying a set of manuals on Ebay as many of the used car dealers take them out of the car to sell there for extra $$$$...

books4cars.com has a manual for $35. I'd like to buy it with the pouch, though. Nothing yet on eBay. Just occured to me to try pgauto.com.

Thanks,
Sixto
93 300SD

Resetting the windows got auto-close-during-locking (someday I'll figure out the proper name of this feature) working again. THANKS! I used the remote button this time and it worked.

I left the battery connected for a few hours then removed the negative cable keeping an ammeter connected. The ammeter read about 2.5 amps creeping to 3.25 amps in a matter of seconds. Without disconnecting the ammeter I put the negative cable back in place. The antenna motor whirred. If this battery doesn't lose its charge I'm not going to worry about it.

Thanks again,
Sixto
93 300SD

You may be hearing your central vacuum pump thats located under the rear seat rather than the antenna. Many things int he car are controlled by vacuum and this pump powers them all.

While its nice to have the jacket for the manual the most important part of the manuals is to have all of the information you need about the car. W140's are very complicated cars and quite honestly I learn something new about my car every day.

Lately I have been enjoying the W mode of my transmission. Because its primarily designed for winter driving the shifts are smoother and the car seems to drive better. I like the S mode for a bit more spirited driving. In W mode you get smoother shifts and 2nd gear start.

Yes, and even near 2nd gear ratio in reverse!;

http://mb.braingears.com/W210/w210/trans2_gearpow.htm
and
http://mb.braingears.com/W210/w210/trans2_reverse.htm

Try also to switch between R and D in W contra in S.
You will notice that when in W, the box does not go thru N
inbetween and engages more smoothly and quickly. This
is meant to be used when rocking back and forth to get
out of snow etc.

br,
syljua

__________________
1998 CL500 W140
1984 230E W123

Neat. Only a the Germans would go to that level of detail on a feature.