95 E320 radio removal ...Help! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

haasman · #1 06-23-2002, 12:29 AM

For some reason both speakers have quit in the rear doors of the wagon. I want to check the connections to the plug in the back of the radio.

I've got the console, ashtray out etc. but I can't seem to get the radio to come out. I see the little horizontal slots beneath the volume knob and on the other side .... any suggestions here?

amg280 · #2 06-23-2002, 02:35 AM

Im willing to bet it has nothing to do with the head unit. If you have the 2 piece setup (Im pretty sure you do), it is most likely the tuner/amp in the storage compartment in the rear (I think they are back there). But before I would check that, check the fader switch in the center console. They are known to cause issues like this. Id pull out the fader switch and clean it with contact cleaner and give that a try.

good luck

haasman · #3 06-23-2002, 03:01 AM

amg280

Thanks for the reply. With this series (95 E320 wagon) the fader is within the radio head.

With two rear door speakers both out, it seems logical to check from the radio head (make sure the plug is connected) and then trace back to the connector in the doors.

J.HIDALGO · #4 06-23-2002, 07:07 AM

It should help you!

David C Klasse · #5 06-23-2002, 11:35 AM

You need the radio "keys" that can be purchased from the dealer for only a few bucks!

THey are 2 little metal key-type peices that slip into those 2 lower slots of the stereo... once in, you can then pull out the radio.

Also, there will be no need to remove anything else... they radio can be removed independently.

Good luck!

stevebfl · #6 06-23-2002, 12:42 PM

I think I agree with Andy. Its very likely you have a two piece radio. The speaker connections will not be at the radio if this is the case. As in all electrical situations a quick look at the wiring diagram is the first step.

David is right about the tools.

haasman · #7 06-23-2002, 01:53 PM

Does anyone have the wiring diagram for the radio system for a 1995 E320 wagon?

A. Rosich · #8 06-23-2002, 02:54 PM

I don't have the wiring diagrams, but the back speakers on my 1995 E320T also failed. The dealer found the problem within the speaker cable that runs near the base of B-pillar (just left to the driver's seat anchors).

Seems that during assembling, the cable got cut by an interior trim and eventually cracked. Due to this mishap, the cable shorted out the amp circuits for the rear speakers. Under warranty, the cable was changed and the radio head united was wrepaired.

Later, the dealerfound out that this problem is common with E320T (W124s).

A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995

haasman · #9 06-23-2002, 03:00 PM

A. Rosich- Thanks!

What's odd is that the right-rear door speaker wire also had a break in it, just below the connector to the speaker lead. Both speakers were working fine ... now both are out.

I will go out and immediately look into this.

bluerhino · #10 06-23-2002, 03:15 PM

Hi David,

If the subject is available, then there's no need to follow the DIY stereo removal for W124. That's neat!! I will check with the dealer then. Any comments from other reader in these radio keys. It seems like this will make things easier as compared to the instruction given on DIY.

A. Rosich · #11 06-23-2002, 03:49 PM

As explained by the M-B's Tech Advisor, the wire routing for the rear speakers on all W124 (S124) wagons tend to give this type of problems.

Lets start by the location of the rear speakers, which is not the best (on the rear armrest, completely blocked when the rear seat is occupied).

W/S/A124s cars still come from an era when M-B did not care at all for Hi-Fi. I guess that is why sound quality, speaker wire routing and speaker location are not a prime factor in their design.

A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995

haasman · #12 06-23-2002, 06:04 PM

-Yes the rear door speaker location is poor, but that is off subject here.

-The DIY section is for the early 124 radio, not for the 94/95 E320 radio.

-Does anyone know if the 94/95 E320 radios have separate amps? If so, where are they located?

-Since I do not have the "radio removal keyes" and the dealerships are closed today:

What I want to do is isolate the section of wiring where the problem exits by testing.

I would like to check the wiring in sections- are there connectors where I can check in-between the radio and the rear door speaker.

Thanks in advance for your help.