relhoks

Got my 2005 C230K a month ago. Problems: FM radio fades when getting out of town. RF on key does not work. IR works intermittently. Found the antenna amplifiers on top of the hatch rear window to be loose, not attached to the window. Windows are tinted. Tried to push the amplifiers to perhaps connect to grid in window. Did not help.
Questions: There seem to be two separate amplifiers. One for radio and one for key?? Is there a way of checking if the amplifiers are dead? Can the amplifiers (if working) be glued back on the glass? (I understand there is a special conductive electric glue.) Tried to find a source to buy amplifiers and price them
I see an alternative is to go to an auto-glass shop to have the window removed. Attach new amplifiers etc

C230 Sport Coup

The amplifiers live inside of these plastic cases that are attached to the glass.
If those are loose, hmmm...not sure how to reattach.
But if the antenna is bad, I do know of people who have successfully repaired by snapping open the plastic pieces and replacing the guts.
I broke my rear window, and saved the antenna.
A user on this site, purchased it from me and used it. Snapped open the plastic and installed and it worked! So it's not always necessary to remove the glass, or replace the glass just to fix the antenna.

How about snapping some pics and posting them of how it's loose?
Do you have the trim pieces off?

relhoks

Thank you for good info. I have the top trim off. They are loose not attached firmly to the glass. Pictures will not show it very well.
When pushing them onto the glass I feel the glue is there, kind of tacky, but it does not keep the amplifiers stuck on. Keeping them pressed by hand does not help for the remote. From what you say the amplifiers, (there are two boxes) are probably shot but how to check if they really
are shot, I do not know.
Seen somewhere that spraying electric contact cleaner between the glass
and amplifiers worked. May be I try that.

C230 Sport Coup

If the antenna is functional, you will be able to open the doors with the key when you are closeby. Post a photo anyway, showing where it's not attached.
I picked the one apart that was from my broken window, and there's just a few places where it makes contact.
Putting double sided foam tape should fix it, as long as it's not near a contact point.
You can swap the amp without removing the part thats attached to the glass.

If IR does work intermittently, you're lucky.
If you're ok with a little soldering check over on benzworld.org for fix for the IR sensor.
Cold solder joint.
Did mine and it works great now.

Where are located?
I'm going to be at the junkyard tomorrow, and maybe be able to get an antenna for ya,
ah for a fee of course.

relhoks

I am in Tucson Arizona. Maybe part of problem with IR: Lots of sun and hot,95 today. Some times it takes a minute before the key decides to open, sometimes a second.
Including some pictures, but they do not say much I am afraid.
Key does not work if I hold it close to the amplifiers so I guess they are not working. Think I'll remove them and open up. I assume radio would still work as before. Why two boxes? Is one of the amps for AM the other for FM or??
If you see some amps I would be curious to know a price. Checked with dealer: $1400. Have not seen any on-line.
Have done quite a lot of electronics work so as long I know WHAT to do I can do it.

C230 Sport Coup

OK, so here's my semi expert assessment.
1st, why in gods name did mbworld disable right clicking and saving a pic?
Arrgh. Had to screenshot, then lighten to see what the heck.
Actually 2nd photo is pretty clear. I see the adhesive.

So, 1st off forget the IR. Likely the IR isn't working.
You have to hold the button and stand there and be within a few feet.
See video here.
Is there a guide to replacing door handle IR sensors?

The 2 are NOT related you don't need the antenna to use the IR.
Not sure what would happen without it though. Would it just open the windows?
No matter that feature breaks like 2 years after the car is new, but the fix is listed in thread above.

So, #2, sounds like the antenna is dead. So yes another will be needed.
You can remove the old one by popping open the tabs on the black plastic and remove the boards.
Once that's done it's will be a little easier to firmly attach the black plastic pieces,
you'll see where the antenna actually contacts the glass, and then stuff some little
pieces of double sided tape in there in places where it's safe to do so.

As you probably already know, it is necessary to install the tint with the hatch CLOSED. Doing it with it open, the water runs into the amp and fries it.
Amp is built in to the antenna.

I replaced the entire hatch, so when I had tint redone, I left the trim off and disconnected the antenna just to be sure, and made the guy sit inside the hatch and do it. After it dried, I reconnected and all was good.
Really was happy when the new hatch had a functioning antenna, never had tint.
Whew!
But even when the antenna was just hanging by wires (glass was broken)
it still worked when close to the vehicle.
I sold the old antenna to a member here, and while picking off the broken glass to send to him, I hit on the idea of just taking the boards out of the black plastic.
He did that and it worked. So, the myth of ALWAYS needing to remove and replace the whole rear window to fix the antenna, BUSTED.
Lucky for you , you're talking to probably the only guy here who's been through this.

So, you need a new antenna.
Fish the old one out through the plastic.
Firmly attach the plastic, and reinstall a new antenna.

I'm heading to the pick and pull. There's an 03 coupe there.
Already got some parts off it, need a few other things.
If the antenna is still dangling I'll grab if it's not too expensive.
Assuming it's compatible, I can test it on my car.
Never put the trim pieces back.
If you don't want it, I'll sell it on ebay.

relhoks

Really appreciate your help, thanks. My IR seems to work as it should (most of the time). Just found out that the IR is supposed to open the windows and sunroof. Checked it: and it WORKS. Windows down, visor moving, not the sunroof . It is stuck. Has been spraying silicon lube on the rails. So far no luck. Just a grinding sound after the visors are fully open.

C230 Sport Coup

As far as the sunroof goes, try this
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w203...oblem-fix.html
Took me 2 washers vs. 1.

Pulled the antenna, need to test it. Rear window wasn't tinted so thats a good sign.
PM me your contact info, ie email address,
and let me know if you are interested.

relhoks

Thanks. Sent you my email. Will try that on the sunroof.

relhoks

OK. I got the small box out after lots of cutting off the plastic glue that was still holding it. The glue was about millimeter thick and bluish. Only partly attached to the glass. Opened the box and the amp was there (as expected).
Did not know about the (4) plastic connectors and broke two of them when removing , cutting through the glue.
Went to a tint shop. Was told my window has metallic tint but that it should not affect the amps as the tint did not cover that area. But it does cover the antenna area so I do not think he knew what he was talking about. It seems my RF remote will never work with tinted glass????
Will try to improve the IR part.

Holmes5518

Make sure the fuse in the rear fuse box isn't missing or blown. Don't remember the number, maybe fuse 8

relhoks

First thing I did!