Please HELP me fix my Stereo & Interior lights

[Xplora]

Hi,

I've just bought my first mercedes, a used A170 CDI Avantgarde Auto,2002. It seems fine mechanically but there are two problems which I need to solve. I don't want to go to a mechanic. I'd like to attempt fixing it myself.

Firstly, the stereo does not work at all, it's completely dead, it's the original Mercedes Benz stereo. Can anyone tell me where the fuses are to fix this.... please be as descriptive as poss as I have never changed a fuse in my life!

Also the overhead interior lights are not working at all.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

 

[cyps]

have you checked the bulbs in the interior light if not you may find they are on the same circuit as the radio fuse box should mark which is radio but just look at the fuses they are easy to spot which ones blown

 

[Xplora]

have you checked the bulbs in the interior light if not you may find they are on the same circuit as the radio fuse box should mark which is radio but just look at the fuses they are easy to spot which ones blown

Thanks, it's not the bulbs. Where is the radio fuse box located?

 

[Aussie Nick]

Hi Xplora. welcome to th forum. I am not familiar with the A class. Have a look at the engine compartment. You should see a black box usually on the passenger side near the windscreen . It will have a flip top lid. You will see that the fuses are marked with numbers. There should be a diagram on the inside of the lid with all fuses listed with the respective numbers and to which functions they relate to. Find the number that corresponds with the radio and then the number that relates to interior lights . Pullout the fuses and check in good light. If there is a broken wire inside the plastic coated fuse it is necessary to replace the fuse. You can use some of the spares which will be clipped inside the fuse box. Ensure to use the correct amp fuse for the one replaced. Usually the fuses are colour coded for amp capacity. Sometimes the fuses do not look broken but they are anyway. Suggest you replace suspect ones anyway............ just in case

 

[BlackC55]

The fuse box is under the drivers feet.

Lift the mat up and its under there with the battery.

 

[Aussie Nick]

Thanks for the location Blackie.Well done.

 

[Xplora]

I can't believe it!! I've done it !! I've got the radio working and the lights too. I would never have found the fuse box ! (and I'd have been searching everywhere but there, if I needed to locate the battery !!!)

Thanks for all your help, I had a feeling I'd get good advice here. As you've offered your number, I'm going to store it in case I need you again. Thank you so much.

Thanks Aussie man too, considering you're not familiar with the A class, it was nice of you to offer some help. I thought burnt out fuses actually looked black and burnt, I didn't realise they look normal apart from a broken wire, so I learned something from you too.

Thanks again, very much.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Its a great feeling when you fix something yourself I remember feeling particularly proud I'd fixed the W/S switch on mine without breaking anything

 

[whitenemesis]

Doesn't anyone get owner's handbooks with the cars they buy?

 

[Aussie Nick]

Crikey..... that is a good feeling mate. Congratulations!!!!!!!!

 

[Xplora]

Doesn't anyone get owner's handbooks with the cars they buy?

Yes I've got the Handbooks, but they don't tell you how to check fuses... I guess they just expect us to know as it's such a simple thing.... but if it's something you've never done before................

 

[whitenemesis]

Sorry, my post was not meant quite as it read :Oops:

Does your handbook say where the fuse boxes are located?
Mine does and shows how to change them. The fuse allocation chart is inside the box(es). Not much help, admittedly, if you can't find the box!
I'm guessing a blown fuse is readily identified? It's been a while since I had to investigate such things.

 

[Xplora]

The Handbook is excellent but it wasn't very useful for what I needed to fix. However........ once I located the fuse box (under drivers seat ) there was a piece of paper tucked in the side with details of every fuse.. brilliant.

I can't find a section in my handbook that tells me how to change the fuses. I'll have a good read tonight and hopefully I'll find it...... and hopefully pick up a few more things I didn't know.

I'm loving my A-class so far. Never had a diesel before so the engine sound takes a bit of getting used to. Can't get over how economical it is compared to my last car.

 

[television]

You should be able to see if a fuse has gone by holding it up to the light to see if the center is in tact

 

[Xplora]

Bad news! The radio and interior lights have stopped working after just one day !!

 

[whitenemesis]

The original problem persists and has tripped the fuse again...

 

[mattkh]

I can't believe it!! I've done it !! I've got the radio working and the lights too. Thanks again, very much.

Hi
Well done.
Now the interesting bit. What caused the fuse to blow ?

 

[mattkh]

However........ once I located the fuse box (under drivers seat ) there was a piece of paper tucked in the side with details of every fuse.. brilliant.

Hi
Is there any way you can put a picture of this piece of paper showing the detailed fuses.

 

[Xplora]

Hi
Is there any way you can put a picture of this piece of paper showing the detailed fuses.

I don't have a scanner to scan it and it's much bigger than A4 so I couldn't do that anyway. Not sure how else I can get it on here. I'll try my best to find a way to get it on here for you.

Does anyone know how I can find out what is tripping the fuse? In the meantime, I'll put a new fuse in and hope it doesn't blow again.

 

[Aussie Nick]

Hi ribby quiet possibly there is a wire somewhere affecting both the radio and the interior light circuit which is going to earth and tripping the fuses.When it happens again try to establish what the last thing that you did or occurred just prior to the fuse tripping. It is possibly a wire that is being affected by vibration or movement. There is an explanation as to why it is tripping both circuits simultaneously. I would suggest that the problem may be that there must be a common wire that both fuses share which is earthing before the fuse box.