I need help. My Bluetooth has just stopped working. When making a call, I can hear the other person, but they cannot hear me. At first, I thought there might have been a problem with the mic. So then I tried the Voice Activation Command (the little stick on the right side of the steering wheel). Nothing happens when I pull the stick...no confirmation beep, nothing.

Can anyone please help? Is there some kind of reset procedure? I'm pretty sure nothing was unplugged, but where would I start looking?

So right now, looks like the Voice Command and the Bluetooth is not working.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

This is for a 2004 E500.

 

Since you have audio, it cannot be a fibre ring issue. Sounds like a problem on the mic line from the rear view mirror down to the VCM (who feeds the mic line to the phone controller). It could be an unplugged wire even if you did not unplug it. I assume no work has been done at the car, like accidentially cutting a wire.

I believe your car still has four microphones, unlikely an issue with the mic itself. I would make some measurements from the trunk to the front, to check the wires. Alternatively bring it to a dealer who can test it with SDS.

 

Sounds like the VCS module has stuck or is bust so the phone module isn't getting the mic signals.

Pull the fuse for the VCS (I dont know which one it is on a W211) wait 30 seconds and plug it back it. There is just one fuse, probably in the rear fusebox (almost definetly). Do wait the 30 seconds or longer.

If not, as Diesel Benz says, its off to the Mercedes dealer to get the fault code check done.

Richard

PS, if you have teleaid, might be worth checking it works, so you don;t get nasty surprised if you wanted it...

 

The issue is definately with the VCS. When you add VCS the microphone inputs get switched from the MHI module to the VCS module and from ther they go out over the MOST fiber to the MHI and to the phone. as diesel stated you have working audio so that means your VCS module has power to be able to pass thru the MOST fiber signals. It sounds like the VCS module is malfunctioning. get it to the dealer and get it replaced.

 

Thanks for the response. I ended up taking the car to the dealer to have it looked at. My car still has the Starmark ELW extended warranty, but the service writer said that the voice activation, bluetooth, pretty much anything that is electronics is not covered under the warranty.

He gave me an initial estimate of $125 to diagonse it. I was asking him if it could be a fuse or something easy, but of course, he didn't know. I told him that I would be pretty upset if I had to pay $125 for changing a fuse.

Let's see what happens.

 

I believe I can tell you which fuse to identify, if you want the information.

 

Sure, I would like the info...just in case the service writer calls me back and wants to charge me way over the estimate.

Look forward to your reply and thank you.

 

Help, help, help.

I got the car back from the dealer. They charged me $125 to check out the car. Dealer said that the VC module is out and it will cost me $1500 plus tax to fix. This is what they wrote on the work order receipt.

"Test audio and phone system. Found voice control module failing in most ring loop. Performed Audiogate flash to attempt to restore system function failed. Needs voice control module."

I was hoping to try and pull the fuse to reset it. Is it the fuses in the trunk or by the driver's side door? Which fuse is it?

 

I think your dealer is full of poop regarding the cost. You can see the part in the phone bulletin for your car, and also find the part number. http://phdwebsite.powerpulse.cc/Phon...Sedan%2004.pdf Check eBay or another dealer for the part number. It's an easy DIY, and because your car already has one, no version coding should be required.

You could also try http://mbdoctor.com/shop/index.php?manufacturers_id=10 or any of other suppliers that will pop up in a Google search.

 

I sent to you a private message response. Also, you should double check about the warranty. I believe that the electronics would be covered under warranty. See your specific written warranty for details, rather than rely on what the dealer told you. In any case, if the Voice Control feature came with the car, or was added by a MB dealer, I believe it would be covered. Ask the dealer to tell you WHY it is not covered and for him to specifically point out the language which excludes the voice control module. Generally, in warranties, unless it is a specific named exclusion, it is covered. Again, read and study the warranty document you have. Press them politely put persistently on this warranty matter. I think that's why you bought the extended warranty, so that things like this are covered. If it's covered, and I would tend to think it is, they should refund the $125.00 analysis charge. If the dealer can't or won't respond satisfactorily to you about the warranty issue, call MBUSA and express your concerns.

Also, Diesel Benz is pretty sharp in that sometimes it's just a simple thing like a loose wire or connection. If you have the know how and expertise, try taking a look at this. As I mentioned in the private message, I will send you some more details.

Good luck, and press the dealer about the warranty.

 

I like to thank everyone for their help and response. I will try and look for any loose wires, etc this weekend or as soon as I get some free time.

As far as the ELW Starmark extended warrarty, it's a long story. I am not really in the position to argue. I bought the car used, not from a private party, but from a Land Rover dealer. The only reason I knew about the extended warranty is because when I took the car in for service the first time, I asked the dealer what ELW expires 2010 on the work order meant. I was told that the warranty is NOT transferable if I didn't buy the car from a private party. I've asked 3 different dealers/service writer/service manager about the transfer and they all told me the same thing. The service writer that I deal with now, told me that since the ELW is still on the vehicle's profile, he will still honor the extended warranty. He said that there is no guarantee that it will not "disappear" from the vehicle's profile, but he said that once it's in the computer, he has never seen it drop off. I didn't want to push too hard if you know what I mean...just in case if something really big happens like engine, tranny, etc.

Oh, the service writer was saying something about plugging in the "defective" Voice Command Module's part number in the computer for warranty and the computer rejected the Starmark warranty. He even tried a part number for a different part that "could be" related to my problem and the warranty computer still rejected it.

I will try and work on the car this weekend or next week. I still look forward to any other ideas everyone may have.

Thanks again to everyone.

 

The Benz extended warranty I had on my old SLK was explicitly the other way around: "unless the part is specifically mentioned in the warranty, it's not covered."

 

That is why I recommended that one look at the specific language of his particular Extended Limited Warranty (ELW).

In any case, for Pluckey, this point would be moot, since he bought the car from a third party and not from a private party. Is what you quoted taken from your specific extended warranty papers?

However, how about the original factory warranty, what MBUSA currently calls the "Limited Warranty - 2007 Registration Year Passenger Cars", and probably has a similar title for the 2004 registration year passenger cars? When I looked at my current Service and Warranty Information 2007 Passenger Cars, they have two sections, "Items Which Are Covered" and "Items Which Are Not Covered". The electrical system and related components are NOT excluded, other than the the telephone cradles, batteries for the MB Cellular Telephone and the remote control key batteries. And I would tend to think this is the same for 2004.

Also, it depends on the mileage of the car. I think the 2004 warranty is the same as 2007 in that it runs for the first four years or 50,000 miles from date of delivery or when put into service.

Anyway, it's just something to double check.

Pluckey, I am just reviewing the information on the fuse position before sending it to you later today.