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  #1  
Old 03-30-2014, 06:33 PM
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Radio turns on when left turn signal turned on (after turning itself off)??

I have posted about this in my other (turn signal not working thread), but this is a new issue, so starting a new thread.

As my other thread mentions my left turn signal suddenly stopped working (correctly). The passenger side always works fine, but there are times the driver side will give a few off-tempo flashes then will not come on at all, then today there were times it was working fine.

Well today was the first time I had the car on the road in about a year other than driving it home from shop last week and signal was working fine. I used the radio today and it kept turning off on its own after about 2 or 3 minutes. I tried it like 4 times, did the same thing. I finally left it off (without pushing button off) and when I turned on the left turn signal, the radio turned back on! This went on for awhile. Then my next trip out, the radio worked fine, but the signal never did. The problem seems to be connected. I pray it is not the main wiring harness (engine harness has already been replaced). If it is the main harness starting to fail, I am doomed and this car will need to be traded in on something or sold.

Any clues as to what this may be? It is going to a MB mechanic on Wednesday for some other things, but wanting to get some info here if anyone may have any suggestions.

Thanks!

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Old 03-31-2014, 10:56 AM
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A quickie check which might give a clue as to the problem would be to pull the combination turn signal relay module. Then see what the radio does. (That is near the fuse box under the hood on my car - don't know where it is on yours.)

And check the fuse going to the radio.

Beyond that, I would check the voltages inside the car - like at the cigarette lighter. A low voltage can make electronic things act weird. Should be about 13/14 volts with the engine running. If it is like 11 or 10 volts, then that would be an alternator problem.

Then next I would pull the radio and check the wiring going to it - especially if it is modified from factory and do-it-yourself. Sometimes people "twist" wires together (rather than crimping) and there will be a "loose" connection over time. Maybe there is a loose power or ground connection going to the radio? And note there will typically be two power connections to the radio - one is always on and the other is only on when the ignition is on. Check those voltages as well. And then check with turn signal activated.
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Old 04-01-2014, 07:32 PM
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Thanks. Well I just dropped off the car at Mercedes shop #3.

I happened to think that when I charged the battery and put it back on the car, I didn't tighten the cables back down on the battery and just put them on as tight as I could by hand. The car obviously starts, but I am wondering if maybe it is not getting proper voltage causing it to go crazy? I meant to tighten it all up good before I went to drop it off at the mechanics, but I forgot.

I drove the car to the shop today (about 30 miles from here) and the radio played fine this time for about 20 minutes until I turned on the left signal, then the radio turned off. Last time it was cutting the radio on when it had went off on its own. I may get the Mercedes mechanic where it is at now to take a look at it while it is down there. I know this is going to cost me a fortune. lol.

*The radio is original and has never been removed, so I do not think any wires have been tampered with.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elektri View Post
A quickie check which might give a clue as to the problem would be to pull the combination turn signal relay module. Then see what the radio does. (That is near the fuse box under the hood on my car - don't know where it is on yours.)

And check the fuse going to the radio.

Beyond that, I would check the voltages inside the car - like at the cigarette lighter. A low voltage can make electronic things act weird. Should be about 13/14 volts with the engine running. If it is like 11 or 10 volts, then that would be an alternator problem.

Then next I would pull the radio and check the wiring going to it - especially if it is modified from factory and do-it-yourself. Sometimes people "twist" wires together (rather than crimping) and there will be a "loose" connection over time. Maybe there is a loose power or ground connection going to the radio? And note there will typically be two power connections to the radio - one is always on and the other is only on when the ignition is on. Check those voltages as well. And then check with turn signal activated.
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Old 04-02-2014, 11:21 AM
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...I know this is going to cost me a fortune. lol...
Maybe not. Sometimes these things are something simple, although finding that simple problem can take hours. It does help that it is happening consistently - then easier to track down.

Intermittent problems which happen only once a week can be impossible to track down. And as a rule they will never misbehave in the presence of a mechanic!
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Old 04-02-2014, 11:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elektri View Post
Maybe not. Sometimes these things are something simple, although finding that simple problem can take hours. It does help that it is happening consistently - then easier to track down.

Intermittent problems which happen only once a week can be impossible to track down. And as a rule they will never misbehave in the presence of a mechanic!
I totally agree. It is kind of like my hard hot starting issue. It happened again and again. I have had it to two different MB mechanics and it has ran perfectly and all weekend when I drove it. It is now at another one to see if they can track it down.
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Old 04-04-2014, 05:33 PM
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I just got back from paying the MB tech for working on my car so I can pick it up later and he said he couldnt find anything wrong, he thinks it is where I didnt have the battery cables on tight enough. He said to try it and we could go from there. We will see I guess.
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Old 04-04-2014, 09:10 PM
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I went back and picked up the car and the radio works fine now and does not turn off, even when the left signal is on, but the left signal is still not working at all now. The lights illuminate on the outside when you turn on the flashers, but still no turn signal on the left side. The MB tech said that radio issue was probably because of loose battery cables - so far so good. He said he didn't think it was a short in the signal. I am betting that combination relay is bad. I have to figure out where it is and where the cheapest place to get one is.
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Old 04-05-2014, 07:53 AM
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Originally Posted by 86560SEL View Post
I went back and picked up the car and the radio works fine now and does not turn off, even when the left signal is on, but the left signal is still not working at all now. The lights illuminate on the outside when you turn on the flashers, but still no turn signal on the left side. The MB tech said that radio issue was probably because of loose battery cables - so far so good. He said he didn't think it was a short in the signal. I am betting that combination relay is bad. I have to figure out where it is and where the cheapest place to get one is.
An old trick is to swap the bulbs from the right side and the left side - one at a time and see if the problem moves.
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Old 04-05-2014, 06:25 PM
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Thanks. Well the radio is now involved with the issue again somehow...

Well the radio / turn signal still an issue. Sometimes the left side will work, then it will flicker, I can hear a clicking in the dash and it will go out. The passenger side signal always works, but now when I use it and it turns off the radio will turn off. Also I have noticed that the radio will not turn off when I turn off the car and open the door.

I am puzzled.
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Old 04-06-2014, 10:37 AM
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I guess since you are taking this to a mechanic, all you can do is take it back and say it is still happening. And take it back again and again until he fixes it. Or take it to an electrical expert.

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