560 SL Radio Question

[Richard C2S]

I'm brand new to this forum. Please excuse me if I ask questions that may have been answered before, but I'm pressed for time and haven't found the answers with a quick search.

I'm trying to help my niece who just bought an '86 560SL.

The Becker Grand Prix radio does not get power. I'm going to check fuse #19 tonight when I get home. Are there any other fuses that would have anything to do with the radio. Where is the fuse block in this car?

The HVAC control module was replaced recently by an independent shop for the P.O. because the system would not direct air to the defrost outlets. The HVAC works fine now. But the radio doesn't.

I'm wondering if a radio connection was compromised when the hvac control unit was being replaced.

Any thoughts? Anything else I should be looking for?

Thank you very much.

[sokoloff]

Fuse block in passenger side footwell behind a small cover plate. If someone was working in the area and your radio worked before and doesn't now, I think you have found the problem.

[Kimolaoha]

Originally Posted by Richard C2S

I'm brand new to this forum. Please excuse me if I ask questions that may have been answered before, but I'm pressed for time and haven't found the answers with a quick search.

I'm trying to help my niece who just bought an '86 560SL.

The Becker Grand Prix radio does not get power. I'm going to check fuse #19 tonight when I get home. Are there any other fuses that would have anything to do with the radio. Where is the fuse block in this car?

The HVAC control module was replaced recently by an independent shop for the P.O. because the system would not direct air to the defrost outlets. The HVAC works fine now. But the radio doesn't.

I'm wondering if a radio connection was compromised when the hvac control unit was being replaced.

Any thoughts? Anything else I should be looking for?

Thank you very much.

Have you checked to see if the other systems on that fuse are still powering up?
If so, I do recall that I once blew something internal (power supply?) on my Becker and had to send it to Becker for repair. Hope this isn't your issue.

[ctaylor738]

I once had a 380 with the same problem. It turned out to be the internal fuse, which puills out in a little plastic holder from the back of the radio. You need to remove the radio to replace the fuse. I got a small (like .5 amp) slow-blow fuse from Radio Shack and it worked fine.

[Jack M]

If you have NEVER taken the radio out before, then if you do you will activate the anti-theft and you will really have a great time finding someone with the tools and codes to reset it.

If you have taken it out and the anti-theft was not replaced then you should be ok. I think the anti-theft is on the right hand side (Passenger) of the radio. If it is connected do not touch it.

Take it back to the AC Guy. Jack M.

[sokoloff]

I worried about the radio anti-theft on my 560SL when I took my radio out for the first time. But after reading the manual carefully, the anti-theft only kicks in when the radio is removed with the alarm turned on, i.e. doors locked. I have disconnected the battery many times and removed the radio many times and never had an issue with the anti-theft system.

[Jack M]

I can only relate my experience on my car. I did not disconnect the battery.
When I removed my radio for the first time to clean the tape transport after following a lot of good instructions from forum members.
After reinstallation the Becker display had either "enter code" or 4 dashes. Forum members said it neded to be reset.

So I took it to the DEALER and the service writer guy pulled out his little box about the size of a eyeglass case took out this little tool and we slide the radio out about an inch. He asked me if theft was a problem. I asked him why, and he said that if we leave the anti-theft wire disconnected and he reset it then I could take the radio out anytime and not have to do the reset again. He reset it by pressing some little button on the side of the display something you can not get to unless the raido is not in tight.

Also remember that to get the radio out there is a BOLT that is only reachable by removing the glove box liner and then removing this bolt that goes through a metal tab and into the radio chassis.

Best of luck. J

[8092400e]

on my 88 560 I pulled the old one a couple of times and then blindly bought a replacement on ebay from an 89 for 50.00 when that one broke. All the installs were successful (no code needed). My 1992 had a code.

For what its worth.....