1987 500 sl electric aeriel

[david500]

Hi,

Recently got an 87 500 sl. The electric aeriel is not working, its an aftermarket replacement that was fitted within last couple of years, looking at the service history.

Ive had a quick look for any loose connections with no gain.

The mast itself seems loose againt the rear wing and can be moved. Does the unit rely on an earth against the body to work?

Any suggestions on how to test if power is getting to the unit, I have an electrical test lamp !

 

[television]

Hi,

Recently got an 87 500 sl. The electric aeriel is not working, its an aftermarket replacement that was fitted within last couple of years, looking at the service history.

Ive had a quick look for any loose connections with no gain.

The mast itself seems loose againt the rear wing and can be moved. Does the unit rely on an earth against the body to work?

Any suggestions on how to test if power is getting to the unit, I have an electrical test lamp !

It does require an earth to operate, often people just use the lead, and that ie wrong.
These things operate often by having one live and 2 grounds,one for up and one for down,or vice versa, some have autos that stay up when the radio is on(original)

 

[rayhennig]

Aerials and wiring/earth etc.

Hello Telly,

Firstly, thanks for your contributions to many threads.

Your point about 2 earths - earth is earth, surely. Please could you clarify as I had problems when I installed a Bluespot radio in my 300ce 124 and it refused to control the aerial - had to leave it up all the time when the radio was on. I installed my son's Kenwood and it works like a dream - up when playing radio, down when playing cd.

And hello david500.

Whick 500SL - I had one of the last 107 series 500sl. Brilliant, 10K on the clock when I bought it, 140 mph solid as a rock. Is yours a 107?

If I were you I would be tempted to replace your dodgy aerial with a new Hirschmann or similar OEM-type product, unless you're confident that it's a quality product than can be fixed.

Bonne chance.

RayH

 

[television]

Sorry, there is the signal ground, thats one thing through the clamp, and there is the motor ground. The auto aerial on my SL129 had the Live to the aerial when the unit was turned on, the inbuilt relay lowered the aerial when the 12v was removed when the radio was turned off.

Handy thing these days are digital voltmeters only cost a £5 good enough for general use

 

[david500]

Thanks for the responses - yes it is an R107 SL, 224,000 miles and doesn't burn or leak any oil or water, fingers crossed !

The aeriel is a bosch replacement which has't been on the car long, i.m thinking its a dodgy connection somewhere so wondered how to test for electrical feed to the unit or how to power theuniit up from a live just to see if its working ?

 

[television]

Thanks for the responses - yes it is an R107 SL, 224,000 miles and doesn't burn or leak any oil or water, fingers crossed !

The aeriel is a bosch replacement which has't been on the car long, i.m thinking its a dodgy connection somewhere so wondered how to test for electrical feed to the unit or how to power theuniit up from a live just to see if its working ?

Could it be that another switch has been added somewhere, or that the radio was changed prior to the sale and it has not been joined up

 

[david500]

Hi,

Its the same system in the car, documented in the service history receipts, a sony minidisk and radio with no seperate switch, did work through the stereo but now not working at all !