Need antenna wiring swap help.... 2 pictures - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bennett · #1 09-16-2009, 05:46 PM

I wasn't able to find the exact antenna for my 85 300TD but I purhcased
a 83 unit and it is similar but the wiring plug is different.

I'd like to bag the plugs all together and just hard wire it together but I'm weak on wiring .
Can anyone suggest what wires pair up since I have no schematic or idea where the colors go.

I assume the reds are hot and blacks are grounds....
The white plug is off the 85 300td.

any help-suggestions appreciated

brownrice78 · #2 09-16-2009, 07:11 PM

Wow. I just posted the same problem. Expect the car is a 83' and the antenna is from an "85. I will follow this post very closely. I would recommend we swap the assemblies, but I got them all tangled up, here's my post from earlier;

Come on guys, help us out!!

""So I have been working on getting my antenna working again by using 2 different antenna assemblies. I'm a bit stuck at the moment trying to figure out how to wire this thing together.

From the car, i have a 5 pin(2 blue wires, 1 brown, 1 black, 1 red). I get 12V by connecting the voltmeter to the brown and red wires as ground and power wire. I don't get a 12V by connecting the black and red. Not sure why?

The antenna itself, has 3 wires coming out. A red, white and black wire. Not sure what is what??

I got the motor to spin by connecting the brown and red wire directly to the motor. Flip them around and you get the motor to spin in the opposite direction.

So, how do I wire the antenna?? Anyone know what the different wires are for??"

brownrice78 · #3 09-16-2009, 07:33 PM

Found this post. Might help us.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=174153&highlight=antenna+wiring

Yak · #4 09-16-2009, 10:22 PM

DIY section - under accessory

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=142415

It looks like the white connector was an aftermarket-mod for a three wire non-adjustable power antenna with the reds = power, brown = ground, blue-ish = trigger. I can't tell the colors for the other loose pins, but I'd guess they correspond to the black wires on the black connector for moving the factory antenna.

A 3-wire is not a factory radio for these cars. It can work automatically, but you'll need to know how the antenna works.

Also - this is how the factory antenna is supposed to work - notice with the antenna switch in Auto it doesn't go fully up unless you move it:

• Radio or ignition OFF or antenna switch to “retract” = all the way in
• Radio on + switch in auto = 30 cm extension
• Radio on + switch in Max = fully up
• Radio on + some intermediate setting = where I put it.

Colors are not consistent, here's mine:

Mercedes connector in car
• Pin 1: Combined Red and Red/Yellow/White = power
• Pin 2: Blue w/ Gray stripe = trigger
• Pin 3: Brown = Ground
• Pin 4: Empty
• Pin 5: Black = intermediate up (I think, or maybe down, but it may not matter since I think the antenna works by comparing voltages across pins 5 and 6 at the antenna plug. I plugged the black wires from the antenna into pins 5 and 6 and it worked as advertised. Maybe I got lucky, or it doesn’t matter)
• Pin 6: Blue = intermediate down (or up?)
Wires on antenna (no connector, just loose pins, I think I’m missing some sort of pig-tail adapter)
• “Pin 1”: lightish Blue = power
• “Pin 2”: Green w/yellow stripe = trigger
• “Pin 3”: Brown = ground
• “Pin 5”: Black = up, or maybe down
• “Pin 6”: Black = down, or maybe up

See here, also: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=258172

jt20 · #5 09-17-2009, 01:09 AM

For those using older model antennae on the '85, I'll post pictures tomorrow. But here's the general work progression:

the '85 has an updated antenna system more similar to that of the w124 era... take antenna parts from these cars! Hirschman 6000LE

the '85 has an updated switch also. If you wish to use older circuitboards in your '85, you must change your switch or remove the extra metal tab on the back that connects two of the pins together.

-don't be fooled into believing that the colors of the wires b/w harnesses should match up, they don't. Just keep them as they are in their harnesses and put them together. If you do not have the six pin harness... you are SOA

jt20 · #6 09-17-2009, 10:13 AM

the first pic shows the wiring harness that goes to the antenna.

second pic, harness comes from chassis.

later model antenna ('85 and up) use a different circuitboard. The harnesses change in the w124, but the pin arrangement is still the same, just copy and paste into your model's harness by splicing the wires.

don't forget the switch has a jumper strip on two of the pins for '85 and up.

brownrice78 · #7 09-17-2009, 01:09 PM

Thanks a bunch. I give it a go today and didn't get the antenna working. This project might be DOA for me. I figured out that the brown wire is the ground, the red wire is a constant power wire, regardless if the car/radio is on. The other wires show no power whatsoever. I tried testing them with the radio on, radio off, antenna switch on, antenna switch off and still no go. Does the trigger run through the antenna switch?? Maybe my antenna switch is bad?

jt20 · #8 09-17-2009, 04:02 PM

there are possibly three 'triggers', if thats your term.

down - from the switch stimulus

up - from the switch stimulus

and when the switch is in neutral, the radio signal strength provides the stimulus.

It is a good idea to open the switch and check it out - a very simple device that is easily repaired. If you don't have the 6000le hirschman, you should only have 4 pins on the back of your switch with no metal tab connecting any of them!

brownrice78 · #9 09-17-2009, 04:19 PM

Definitely would like to test out the switch, but sure how to

compu_85 · #10 09-17-2009, 04:56 PM

FWIW 1991 cars have a 3 wire antenna motor... it's either up or down

-Jason

Yak · #11 09-17-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownrice78

I figured out that the brown wire is the ground, the red wire is a constant power wire, regardless if the car/radio is on. The other wires show no power whatsoever. I tried testing them with the radio on, radio off, antenna switch on, antenna switch off and still no go. Does the trigger run through the antenna switch?? Maybe my antenna switch is bad?

If your radio antenna wire is connected to your switch, and your switch is both good and connected to the harness, and it's not in OFF or RETRACT then you should get 12V from one or the other of the blue wires when the radio is turned on - but all those dominoes have to be lined up.

Start at the source - and assuming factory components - you should have a single blade connector on the back of your radio to the side of the plug. If that's there, go on to the switch...

Check this thread and the links on it for more info:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=154476