Location of Antenna Amplifier in W203 Estate Wagon?

bobinyelm

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2002 C320 Estate Wagon

I am trying to fix a non-working RF Central Locking issue that just started.
(Infrared function works perfectly, and Red LED on both remotes indicate the devices are transmitting.)

I understand that the RF portion uses the same antenna amplifier the radio uses.

My AM radio reception is VERY weak, though frankly I am not sure I ever tried AM before.

My Rear SAM Fuse #8 that I am told powers the antenna amp is good.

The wagon has printed antennas on both rear side windows, and I do not know where the antenna leads are routed from those windows.

Anyone know where the antenna amplifier is located on the wagon?

I found a box type amp that looks different from those mounting to the back window of the Coupe/Sedan showing it came from an Estate Wagon, but not WHERE in the vehicle. It has an "In" and an "Out" RF connector and a power connector and mounts w/ 4 tabs. It is MB Part # 203-820-17-85

Thanks,
Bob
 
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M80

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I'm not sure it is the amplifier but a unit, that may be, sticks to the antenna on the inside of the hatch glass at the top.
These can come adrift and reception is then seriously affected.

By removing the plastic trim from the inside the unit can be seen, I used UPVC spacers to wedge the unit back onto the glass antenna and that worked well.
 
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bobinyelm

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I'm not sure it is the amplifier but a unit, that may be, sticks to the antenna on the inside of the hatch glass at the top.
These can come adrift and reception is then seriously affected.

By removing the plastic trim from the inside the unit can be seen, I used UPVC spacers to wedge the unit back onto the glass antenna and that worked well.

Thanks, I take it you have an Estate Wagon and have seen something attached up there on the rear opening hatch?

I ask because my car has printed antennas on both side windows (the ones behind the rear seat side windows) rather than at the center rear glass like the saloon/sedan as far as I am aware.

Not saying you are incorrect-just trying to be learn. Given that the rear hatch gets "slammed" it would seem a poor location for such a device.
 

M80

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No longer I have a Viano, but I've had 3 x 203 estates.
 

Chrishazle

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I think the amp is in the headlining at the top of the rear hatch - I have a new one available cheap if you need it (as well as an almost new rear NS light unit!)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B3FX3V_kb7JvcDJ2WjlKUXhRbkt0c1gydXEwVUtFUQ?usp=sharing

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/i...aring-kit-s203-tail-light.99024/#post-1196621

Just noticed you do not yet have enough posts for PM's to be enabled, but I have email contact enabled via my profile if you want to contact me. FYI a new amp from MB is close to 3 figures IIRC!
 

Ken_R

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By removing the plastic trim from the inside the unit can be seen, I used UPVC spacers to wedge the unit back onto the glass antenna and that worked well.

Any tips on removing the inside trim? I've had a go at it but didn't want to force it too much.
 
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bobinyelm

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Thanks-

The reason I asked about the above-hatch location is because the picture someone posted of the amp itself didn't look anything like the one shown for the saloon/sedan. The Forum wouldn't let me post the URL of a photo saying it looked like "Spam" to see if it matches what you saw above the hatch. I'm trying another way to reference the photo but I don't know if that will pass muster w/ the website: https://www.screencast.com/t/ZobUwRb2QF

Did you have to drop the headliner to see the amp, or just the plastic trim? I hesitate to poke around too much until I am more certain as sometimes trim is fragile.

https://www.screencast.com/t/ZobUwRb2QF

Bob
 
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bobinyelm

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Just tried a different way to post a photo with my text but got a message saying: "This message is awaiting moderator approval, and is invisible to normal visitors."

Hopefully the moderator will allow the photo to show for comparison with what you saw up there.

The photo shows a thin, rectangular aluminum box that appears to be about 4" square (15cm) and maybe 1" (.4cm) thick with 4 mounting tabs and a MB Part # 203-820-17-85 just in case the photo is not approved.

The ones I have seen pictured for the saloon/sedan appear to be black plastic, and are quite long and thin to fit in shallow locations, and have cables leading from them.

Googling that Part # should likely bring up a photo such as I tried to post.


Thanks,
Bob
 
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bobinyelm

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Any tips on removing the inside trim? I've had a go at it but didn't want to force it too much.

My concerns exactly on damaging the trim!

My car is where I cannot open the hatch to experiment, but later..

Meanwhile any use of a URL photo link is keeping my posts from being published. Maybe they will be approved later so you can see the type amps I am trying to describe.

I guess they are afraid improper links may be posted and would offend, or load viruses, so they state:

"This message is awaiting moderator approval, and is invisible to normal visitors."

Bob
 

M80

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The upper plastic trim pulls off. Held by the arrow shaped spring clips it can take some force, I use the blade of a wide scraper to spread the weight, being carful to insert under the trim so as not to scratch, and 'then' cause the blade to pull out from the hatch.

The upper trim sits onto the lower (darker) trim and can be a little awkward to relocate. Often the spring clips remain in the hatch and need replacing into the trim, if memory serves.
 
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bobinyelm

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The upper plastic trim pulls off. Held by the arrow shaped spring clips it can take some force, I use the blade of a wide scraper to spread the weight, being carful to insert under the trim so as not to scratch, and cause the blade to pull out from the hatch.

The upper trim sits onto the lower (darker) trim and can be a little awkward to relocate. Often the spring clips remain in the hatch and need replacing into the trim, if memory serves.

Thanks- I'll try that procedure when I can get to and open my rear hatch (it's too close to my garage door to open unless the door is open, but it's raining now so I don't want to open the garage door).

This is the trim plastic that holds the headliner card in position, yes, and not part of the movable hatch, and the amp is ABOVE the headliner more-or-less in the centre of the hatch opening? So I imagine you put the scraper above the trim and pull down?
 

M80

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The upper trim I write about is pushed into the estate hatch. Removal gives access to the top of the screen.
 
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bobinyelm

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The upper trim I write about is pushed into the estate hatch. Removal gives access to the top of the screen.

OK, so you are saying that the amp is actually part of the movable hatch, rather than mounting forward of it in the ceiling of the vehicle itself?

So the signals from the side window printed-on-glass-antennas and the power supply cable all go through the hatch hinge into the hatch, and flex every time the hatch is opened or closed?
So much flexing sounds like it could cause problems in cables all by itself!

When I can open my hatch, I will look for those cables, and then carefully try to pry the window-surrounding trim down and away from the movable window hatch.

Was your amplifier a silver aluminum box with plug-in connectors for the cables, or a long, flat thin plastic box with wires coming directly from the ends (no connectors)?

And do you know if the amp works on the AM part of the radio, or both AM and FM (my AM is weak, my FM reception is great).

Thank-you,
Bob
 

M80

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or maybe it's just a connector to the antenna
 
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bobinyelm

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or maybe it's just a connector to the antenna

I apologize, but I am confused-

What would be perhaps a connector to the antenna?
 

Ken_R

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I had a look at mine today. I have a set of plastic trim removal tools. I found that the 'shoulders' of the the verticals were easy to release. Release - not remove. This then enabled the the centre section to be prised, from the glass side.

I could see the Amplifier, and all seemed well. It just so happens that my rear facing dashcam is directly aligned with the Amplifier, which may be the cause of my FM reception problems. I might try some Ferrite Rings. That said, where we live, different radios, in different rooms, can lock on to different frequencies for Radio 2.

If I drive ten miles in any direction, FM radio reception is far more consistent.
 

M80

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To identify any unit such as dash cam, USB chargers are also common, for RF interference just depower it and see if FM reception improves.
 
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bobinyelm

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Just to clarify-

The "rear glass, or rear window" you are saying the amp is behind is the HATCH window, and not one of the rearmost SIDE windows in the cargo compartment?

The reason I am confused is because I called the dealer the other day after I posted, but before getting any replies, and they said it is under the right rear side window (in the cargo compartment).

I know there's a chance I may break a trim piece when attempting to remove it, so am just trying to make sure I am looking in the right place before prising at brittle plastic.

Thanks,
Bob
 

M80

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The unit at the rear screen may just be to connect to the screen antenna, if the dealer says the amp is elsewhere I would believe them.
 

Ken_R

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To identify any unit such as dash cam, USB chargers are also common, for RF interference just depower it and see if FM reception improves.

I know but the road where the loss of signal is most apparent is the local High Street. Not a good place to keep stopping and starting, and I would have to strip out the end of the dash to get at the 'floating' lighter socket which I fitted there.

Regarding the RF amp, I have had a ferret around behind the o/s bin on mine and can't find anything that might resemble an additional amp.
 

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