JM15

I have a tricky situation that I was wondering if anyone can help me with. I have the stock bose system in my car with the navigation screen. A couple of months ago it just stopped working. The screen still comes on but there is no sound. The strange part is that once in a while it works then cuts out. I left the key in the second position for a while once and then the radio worked untill I took the key out of the ignition. I talked to a guy at a local sound shop who works with the local MB dealer and he was trying to talk me into buying a whole new unit. Before I lay out that kind of cash I was wondering if anyone has any kind of advice.

deltashad

My unit stopped a few weeks ago, everything went off, then about 30 mins later without any warning it came back to life???

I was told by a mechanic at my work to reset the electronics on the Mercs disconnect the power supply from the battery for 30 seconds then reconnect. His wife kept having probs with her SLK and this was how he used to cure it. Could give it a try...

JM15

Deltashad any idea on how I would do that?

JM15

thanks for the quick reply guys all help is greatly appreciated

azinn

Pulling and reinserting the 25amp fuse #F21 (radio/sound system) on my 2000 ML aways clears up any problems with my MCS. My 2 cents.

JM15

Do u know where that fuse is located I was looking in the passenger wheel well but I couldn't find it any help.

azinn

This link shows what the fuse box looks like on a 1999 ML with the lid off http://www.whnet.com/4x4/shoptalk.html The box is located on the drivers side under the hood. The fuse layout for your truck might be a little different. There is an index under the fuse box lid that shows fuse numbers and fuctions. Hope this helps. My 2 cents.

JM15

haha I tried pulling the fuse but now I have a new problem anyone know where i would get the security code from lol

azinn

If you don't have it recorded in your MCS Owners Manual or elsewhere, the dealer should be able to supply to code if you give them your VIN Number.

JM15

Thanks for all of the help I really appreciate it. I just sent the whole unit back to the factory and they gave me an estimate of 365 bucks to have it fixed if anyone was interested.

perrymolina

Hi. I read some threads about this where you seemed to have had the same issue some time ago. It's happening to mine now, and I'm wondering what it was you had to do to resolve/fix it. I read you sent the unit out, but what was fixed? I had local dealership upgrade my nav cd drive to dvd when it failed some I'm also looking to preserve that. Do you know if it's possible to buy a unit from ebay and put my nav dvd drive into it?
Your responses are appreciated. Thanks. Perry.

reciprical

I am having the same problem. It first started with the FM not coming in no static no nothing. It was sporadic and sometimes it worked and sometimes it did not. The CD and AM and WB were operating fine. Then a day later nothing works. I tried to reset the sound system as well as the radio by by checking the fuses. Try again and I still get nothing. At this point I am at a loss. Is there some sort of wire harness that can be culprit that can be replaced??? So annoying having no radio or CD player on a long morning commute! I know the dealer will cost an arm and a leg and not sure if an aftermarket is a good idea or not.

perrymolina

Mine is not fixed yet, and my wife just reported it's working again. I just did a 20 hour drive, non-stop, from NY to FL with it working, and it went silent with no ability to control the tape or CD magazine while in FL a couple of days into our stay. Only the Navigation system worked but without sound on the drive up to NY. I strongly suspect the electronics within the unit, nothing external to that (i.e. harness). I have a MB refurbished unit waiting to be picked up at my local dealership. To be continued...

Brianonymous

Having the same problem on an ML350 '03 stock system... If you guys do a seek on your radio, does it never find a station? It all feels like some sort of harness failure, and the antenna also got disconnected.. Nothing at all works on mine.. FM was first to go, followed by CD.

perrymolina

Sounds like your unit may be burning out form age/usage, just like mine was. Your unit is presenting different symptoms than was, mine would sometimes go "hay-wire", but most often would go silent and not accept any push button inputs. Just this Saturday I swapped my unit out for a replacement from my local MB dealership parts counter. I still need to have the dealership complete this for me because the TeleAid and the Navigation Drive will not be recognized until they "flash" it for me. I made an appointment for next Saturday. I'll post the outcome when it happens.

perrymolina

My local Mercedes Benz Dealership completed the replacement I thought I could do on my own for me by "Flashing" the MCS unit. Some of what that flashing does is for newly replaced radio/mcs unit: to make it mute when the navi voice speaks, and to make the navi voice sound throught the sound system or else you don't get navi voice at all. It also allows the phone controls on the MCS unit to end a call, as an example, placed from the teleaid buttons in the overhead console, Or to place calls if you have the OEM phone (I don't).
My take away from my personal experience:
If you want to fix things back to original state, you're really paying for the replacement parts anyway, and since your MB dearlership has to "Flash" it, might as well let them take care of the whole fix for you. I'm happy with my outcome.

JenniferS

Do you need to have the key in the on position when you pull the fuse?

JenniferS

Do you need to have the key in the on position when you pull the fuse?

azinn

No......................... try it either way, I don't believe its makes any difference. Make sure you have your radio code handy after this procedure. Use the key pad to input the code and push in the joy stick to enter it.

JenniferS

Im having the same trouble it sounds like. It comes on but no sound and the navigation still works. I tried to pull the fuse and input the code but no change. Any other ideas??

perrymolina

Please see my some of my recent postings for this same issue, your MCS unit seems to be in failure as was mine. Your describing the same symptoms I was experiencing with mine before I bought a replacement unit from the MB parts counter. You might have to have your service center "flash" the replacement unit to get the Teleaid and navi features to work completely with it.

azinn

Hate to say it.................................. but you need to vist the dealer or some radio/electronics shop that should be able to handle this problem. My 2 cents!

arvindkd

Hello all,
The volume in my radio (2004 ML 500) just stopped one day and this is how i was able to fix it.

1. checked all fuses - they were all fine
2. Removed fuse #21 for about 2 mins and put it back.
3. Turned on ignition and then the radio.
4. Put in the security code and I got the volume back.

Wish you all luck and hope this works for you as well.

S430LUCKDRAGON

Having the same problem with my 2003 ML 500
It seems to me the cd changer is the problem
No matter what it says no cd in the changer
I remember on my s 430 i had the same issue and with no second thought
The guy who sold it to me swapped the changer and it worked ever since that was three years ago , i still have the 2001 s 430 and was wondering if i could swap the 2 changers and if the units were the same ?

perrymolina

I have had this same condition occur with my 2002 ML 500 CD player. Using silicone spray (WD40 would work too), I very carefully lubricated some moving metal on metal parts I could see at the bottom of the CD player while the magazine was removed. I was very careful not to get any overspray onto anything near the cd reader head. My OEM unit remains in use to this day and has had a fair amount of use. This vehicle is over 200,000 miles today.

If you have no success resetting your in-dash unit and cd player by pulling their respective fuses for a hard reset and trying to lubricate possibly jammed moving parts within your cd player as was the case for me, ebay might be your friend for a good used oem replacement unit. Saved searches I still have active for myself occasionally yield a find I would consider should my unit truly fail some day. You'd only need to be patient and wait for the right unit for your comfort to return in a search result. Then there's always your friendly MB Service or parts counter or after market choices if you prefer.
Hope this helps.