Sounds Like My Amplifier has given up the Ghost

[Binnedit]

Appears to be a known issue with the Harmen amplifiers in the W216's. Music plays for 10 mins then I hear a couple of crackles akin to an old school wireless then the sound stops - on everything.

I've done some research on here & other places. It appears to be either the internal fan or the PCB. We'll see.

I'll be extracting it this weekend & sending it off to BBA reman, once I've spoken to them on Monday. Hope its fixable, as I don't fancy forking out for a new one.

Mercedes Benz Becker/Harman/Kardon Logic 7 Audio amplifier gateway. - United Kingdom | BBA Reman

Mercedes Benz Becker/Harman/Kardon Logic 7 Audio amplifier gateway.Mercedes Benz Becker/Harman/Kardon Logic 7 Audio amplifier gateway. - United Kingdom | BBA Reman

www.bba-reman.com

 

[Blobcat]

We don’t get many good reports of repairs on here unfortunately and the repair warranty doesn’t appear to be worth anything from posts here either

 

[Binnedit]

Oh, maybe I hadn't read far enough into the threads BC, didn't read any failed again for the same reason?

I did read that 2nd hand units that are being sold often were not functional.

 

[Botus]

thousands of strange people talk about dirt on the board where the fan throws some rubbish about - its never been that

its far more likely a re-flow issue where in general half the amp runs at melting point as there was never any real air flow or appropriate heat sinks in there - and eventually a chipset gets a bad connection to the board as it un-solders itself

its a very common failure on mass produced junk circuit boards that afflicts many a laptop and xbox - ever since the manufacturer realised there was a sales opportunity the worse he makes them

 

[Binnedit]

So, it was fairly dry for some of this morning. Out I go, to retrieve the amplifier from the boot.

Removed the carpet & spare wheel & found this:



Oh - thats not good.

I'd done the sunroof & bulkhead drains during the summer, but I cannot fins any drain holes around the boot area.

It appears that the water is entering somewhere around the bottom left of the picture. My driveway where it is parked is on an incline, with the boot the highest point. Any idea's?? I'll try parking t'other way from now on & monitor.

As far as the amplifier goes, I've had it out & disconnected & replaced everything. Might be that its moisture damage.

Seems to work currently. We'll see if it works for more that 10 minutes on my commute tomorrow morning.

 

[peterws1957]

So, it was fairly dry for some of this morning. Out I go, to retrieve the amplifier from the boot.

Removed the carpet & spare wheel & found this:

View attachment 80264

Oh - thats not good.

I'd done the sunroof & bulkhead drains during the summer, but I cannot fins any drain holes around the boot area.

It appears that the water is entering somewhere around the bottom left of the picture. My driveway where it is parked is on an incline, with the boot the highest point. Any idea's?? I'll try parking t'other way from now on & monitor.

As far as the amplifier goes, I've had it out & disconnected & replaced everything. Might be that its moisture damage.

Seems to work currently. We'll see if it works for more that 10 minutes on my commute tomorrow morning.

As far as the source of the leak is concerned, check the seals fitted to the long plastic panels at each side of the boot. These have a tendency to split with age. I replaced both sides on my 216 - not expensive. If yours seem ok have a look at the plastic retaining clips on these seal panels they can be a source of water ingress if the rubber bit has failed.

 

[Blobcat]

As far as the source of the leak is concerned, check the seals fitted to the long plastic panels at each side of the boot. These have a tendency to split with age. I replaced both sides on my 216 - not expensive. If yours seem ok have a look at the plastic retaining clips on these seal panels they can be a source of water ingress if the rubber bit has failed.

If you rub some Vaseline around the seals then close the boot you can see if there is an area with no transfer - that will be the place that isn’t sealing.

Another common area to leak is the seals around rear lights.

 

[Binnedit]

Thanks Both

Rear light cluster is in the direct area where it appeared damp.

With the clocks going back, looks like it will be next weekend before I can check it out.

 

[peterws1957]

Thanks Both

Rear light cluster is in the direct area where it appeared damp.

With the clocks going back, looks like it will be next weekend before I can check it out.

The other thing you could do is use a smoke machine in the boot and watch where the smoke escapes. I made one out of a £10 pond smoker off eBay and used a washing up bowl to put it in. Cheap and very effective.

 

[Binnedit]

The other thing you could do is use a smoke machine in the boot and watch where the smoke escapes. I made one out of a £10 pond smoker off eBay and used a washing up bowl to put it in. Cheap and very effective.

Now that sounds like a bit of genius, Peter. never heard of a pond smoker before - but I'm going to find out about them, now

 

[Blobcat]

Now that sounds like a bit of genius, Peter. never heard of a pond smoker before - but I'm going to find out about them, now

Or a teenager with a Vape...

 

[peterws1957]

Or a teenager with a Vape...

Yeah but you're likely to get arrested for locking a teenager in the boot, but best place for 'em I'd say.