replacing radio - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DCM · #1 05-24-2002, 11:03 PM

I am going to replace the radio in my 77 240d and have heard that I will need a harness.

Does anyone know where to get such a harness and why one is needed if you are replacing one radio with another?

Seems like you would just remove one radio and put another in after plugging in the power and speakers.

Thanks

Kyle Blackmore · #2 05-24-2002, 11:28 PM

Hi DCM,if your talking one OEM radio to another then yes it 'should' plug right in.Otherwise you will have to adapt it in,Good luck

190D22 · #3 05-25-2002, 11:09 AM

If you are going for a name brand deck such as Pioneer or Sony you will need a harness. What it does is connects to the car's connectors to the deck's wires. Head units have bare wires comming out, you solder or crimp the harness's wires to the corresponding head unit wires. Then simply plug it into the car. Instead of cutting the car's connectors off and wiring it to the deck. I got mine off of crutchfield for 15 bucks. I don't know if my harness is the same as your harness. Contact them, let them know your year and model of the car. They should be able to hook you up.

MVK · #4 05-25-2002, 11:33 AM

Try crutchfield. They have wonderful adaptor harnesses and very easy to DIY info. Its about 15-20 bucks but its worth the money. I had gotton something like that from them in past for my old 1978 Toyota and it was a very pleasent experience.
MVK

DCM · #5 05-25-2002, 10:28 PM

Thanks for your help. Now I understand what a harness really is. Did not know before but apparently, it is just an adapter to make the bare wires work with my original wiring.

Now I will order one and get a new radio. I have the old Becker that only has two AM stations and three FM's. It has started fading out but getting louder when I run over a speed bump etc.

Thanks again

190D22 · #6 05-26-2002, 03:56 PM

The stock decks in the old cars really do suck pretty badly. So replacing it at all is a good idea. But that fading problem sounds like a wiring issue. You may have bad wiring in the car. If the new deck does that, you're going to have to check the speaker connections and all the connectors and the fader in the console (if yours has that). I just replaced my front speakers. So there's no more stock stereo stuff except the wiring and the fader in the console. HUGE improvement!!!