W216 2008 CL500, no sound from Comand

[silver CL55]

Additionally, it does not recognise the phone any more.
Sat nav works but no sound.

I suspect the amplifier, am I right?
Could it be a fuse?

Car has been lying for 1 week, could it be that?

 

[television]

Do you have HK sound system,

 

[Uncle Benz]

My C55 with the Harmon Kardon does this about once a year for no apparent reason. Unplugging the boot mounted amplifier and replugging gets it working again.

 

[silver CL55]

I do Malcolm.

Do you have HK sound system,

 

[television]

If the display says "device unavailable" this is the 12 volt wake up, if it says nothing and the radio screen is all there, but no stations, the the amp not waking up on the optical line. Removing the bottom optical plug and starting up should shoe 3 blinks in the lead Led, re inserting the plug may wake it up and all back to normal as in Uncle Benz case, but the amp in the CL is special to the 221 / 216 only for all years up to 2010.

Mine failed in the Summer, I did get it to start up a few times but on Dec 20th mine stopped for good.

Mercedes take £1250 for an exchange unit, I got on to Becker in Germany as no UK service for these, and after many Emails where I ended up telling them that they were "sick" as £1250 for what was no more that a repair, and I used to repair 10 to 15 Harmon amps in a day. I was then offered one at a better price, but still a silly price. In the end I shipped the amp to a firm in Sofia who repair these amps for £225 plus shipping with a 12 months guarantee. It came back on 30th Dec all working just fine.

I would have loved to have opened up the unit to see what had been done, but it was all sealed, so I can open it next year I have a fair idea of what was wrong.

 

[silver CL55]

Thanks Malcolm,
Sounds like the 2nd one.

I'll try removing and replacing the "bottom" optical plug as you both suggest.
How can I find and recognise both the amp and plug?

I've found the repairers on eBay, hopefully the plug removal will buy me some time.

 

[television]

OK where do we start.

Remove the 2 torsk screws from floor, just in front of the hinged part.
remove the 2 plastic expanding rivets from bottom of plastic cover on the rear, prise out the center and the larger part pulls out. lever the complete panel upwards and off.

Remove the left side floor panel 2 torsk screws, unclip net bar.The side panel will now lift inwards, bent the top corner down to clear the hinge.
The complete amp is fixed to the side with 1 nut on the side and 2 screws to chassis member. cut cable ties where needed and the whole thing lift up and inwards. The main power plug is top left. the wake up is the black one on the bottom, press catch on plug and it slides out, with someone turning the head unit off and on you will see the 3 flashes from the plug, hold plug back in socket and see if any light form the opposite LED in the socket. No light means no wake up.

 

[silver CL55]

Thanks M, I'll give it a try next week.

 

[silver CL55]

Ok, I've removed and replaced both black leads on the left from the bottom of the unit (I don't have anyone here to assist and check for lights coming from any leads)
No change to any sound.


Do I need to unplug and replace the power lead to see if that will reboot it?

Does the above confirm it is knackered and I should just remove it and ship it to the repairers?

Thanks, Colin.

 

[silver CL55]

Unplugged and replaced the top left (power?) plug too, no change

 

[television]

The plug with the optics is the one with the 2 orange leads in the purple sleeves , the led should should give 3 flashes as you turn on, the opposite led in the socket should light up if you hold the plug not quite in while its flashing to start up, if the one in the amp fails to light up then the ring is broken and the amp has the same fault as mine did.

 

[silver CL55]

Ok, unplugged the orange/purple connection whilst COMAND is on, no lights from either side.

The plug with the optics is the one with the 2 orange leads in the purple sleeves , the led should should give 3 flashes as you turn on, the opposite led in the socket should light up if you hold the plug not quite in while its flashing to start up, if the one in the amp fails to light up then the ring is broken and the amp has the same fault as mine did.

 

[television]

Did you look in the end of the plug on the lead while turning on.

 

[silver CL55]

It was turned on when I removed it Malcolm, I don't have anyone here to turn COMAND on and off.

Did you look in the end of the plug on the lead while turning on.

 

[television]

Like me, you have time to turn it on and run to the back and look in the plug

 

[silver CL55]

Managed to enlist some help, 1 red led (right one on the plug) flashing, at no point does the other led flash, even when nearly pushed back in place.

Like me, you have time to turn it on and run to the back and look in the plug

 

[television]

ÖK and this confirms that the amp wake up has failed, the amp should light up to energize the return so the amp will have to go away.

 

[silver CL55]

Perfect dismantling instructions, unit now removed and ready for shipping.
Thank you sir.

OK where do we start.

Remove the 2 torsk screws from floor, just in front of the hinged part.
remove the 2 plastic expanding rivets from bottom of plastic cover on the rear, prise out the center and the larger part pulls out. lever the complete panel upwards and off.

Remove the left side floor panel 2 torsk screws, unclip net bar.The side panel will now lift inwards, bent the top corner down to clear the hinge.
The complete amp is fixed to the side with 1 nut on the side and 2 screws to chassis member. cut cable ties where needed and the whole thing lift up and inwards. The main power plug is top left. the wake up is the black one on the bottom, press catch on plug and it slides out, with someone turning the head unit off and on you will see the 3 flashes from the plug, hold plug back in socket and see if any light form the opposite LED in the socket. No light means no wake up.

 

[television]

Do not seal the box as DHL must see the contents before shipping. You do not have to pay DHL at this stage as the account number belongs to the firm doing it. Do use a small as possible package. It is fascinating to watch the box going through Europe.

 

[silver CL55]

Ok, unit received, repaired and shipped back to me the same day!
I've got it back now but don't have time to refit it, I'm off to work for a week.
I will report back when I have it fitted.
12 month warranty, cost, just over 300 GBP total.