Lojack question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

h769821 · #1 05-31-2010, 09:31 AM

I have a Lojack system installed in my 2006 E350 W211.
Problem is, the battery often runs down when I'm away for long periods of time.
I wish I could just disable it when I'm away (a trickle charger is not a convenient option), but the company refuses to tell me where it is.
My quick-fix solution is to disconnect the 2 batteries, but I'd rather have a switch that would allow me to disable the Lojack when I want to.
So the question is, does somebody have a picture of what it looks like so I can look around for it?
Thanks in advance.

RichardM98 · #2 05-31-2010, 01:06 PM

Sorry I don't know what it looks like but I have a suggestion to your problem.

Many cos. sell a small solar panel for charging small batteries. Since the current flow is low you might be able to find one you could prop up in the front window (car facing south) and it would act like a trickle charger.

Here's one source I've dealt with. You have to be a little bit of an experimenter with these things but some are plug-and-play. And at least you'd have the protection of your LoJack when you are away.

http://store.sundancesolar.com/trchforcatrr.html

Good luck.

strelnik · #3 05-31-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardM98

Sorry I don't know what it looks like but I have a suggestion to your problem.

Many cos. sell a small solar panel for charging small batteries. Since the current flow is low you might be able to find one you could prop up in the front window (car facing south) and it would act like a trickle charger.

Here's one source I've dealt with. You have to be a little bit of an experimenter with these things but some are plug-and-play. And at least you'd have the protection of your LoJack when you are away.

http://store.sundancesolar.com/trchforcatrr.html

Good luck.

If you have used these, how well do they charge? I'm looking for serious solar panels for the roof of a building I'm buying, plus small useful charging devices that work are handy.

If I could charge solar powered tools like drill/drivers, that would be great.

JamesDean · #4 05-31-2010, 02:19 PM

Here, this thread might help you out:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1082455

They had a lojack in a bmw...

RichardM98 · #5 05-31-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

If you have used these, how well do they charge? I'm looking for serious solar panels for the roof of a building I'm buying, plus small useful charging devices that work are handy.

If I could charge solar powered tools like drill/drivers, that would be great.

I bought a small one for some mercury cells for older photographic equipment. Those batteries are no longer sold. The charger I bought works great. I just put it on a window sill for a day.

The larger units might work well for power tool charging. You'll have to match the output of the solar panel to the output of the 'wall wart'. Then you can eliminate the 'wall wart' from the circuit.

I think something for a roof top application is on a different scale from Sundance solar. Plus there are code issues, tying it into the buildings existing circuits, maybe business park CC&R issues, etc. I'd find a contractor who does solar panels so there's no 'gotchas' down the road.

h769821 · #6 05-31-2010, 06:09 PM

Thanks for the answers guys! That really helped.
Now that I have an idea what the thing looks like, I think it'll be a lot easier to find it.
But until I find it and install a switch, the solar charger may be a solution (wiring my be a bit tricky though. If I remember it correctly from my earlier E320 W210, the cigarette lighter can't be used as a connecting point because it isn't connected when the ignition switch is in the "off" position).
If you can prove that you are the owner of the car, there is no valid reason for them not to let you know where it is. When the car is sold, they can always relocate it to a differet location if the new owner wants to continue the service. They even suggest me to pay them something like a $100 check-up fee each time I disconnect the battery and reconnect it, to make sure the device is working properly. What a ripoff!

RichardM98 · #7 05-31-2010, 07:29 PM

You are correct about the cigar lighter in most newer MB's not being hot when the key is off. In the W210 you can wire to the charging post under the hood and run the wire thru the firewall. There is a black plastic box just behind the fuse panel box. I believe you can run the wire thru the firewall at that point.

I'm sorry if this offends you; but personally, I think putting a switch in the Lojack circuit is a bad idea. The odds are that sooner or later you will forget to switch it back on and THAT'S when your car will be stolen. You will call the police who will say 'Lojack signal? We don't have any Lojack signal'