acedking90

Okay guys, sorry for not being such a heavy contributor to this site, im a dumbass noob, Please I need your help though.

It comes as no suprise that my 2001 C240 didn't start up on monirng, sure enough the driver side seat module died. I had it replaced. After four days, the car wouldn't start up again! I brought it to my same mechanic, and he said that there is a draw somewhere in the car, meaning some computer won't shut off after thirty mintues (after shutdown)

Only Mercedes stealership has the equipment to see whats going wrong with the car, I brought it in today and they diagnosed ($110/Hr.!) that the PASSENGER side module is dead, AND the radio! Now they are saying that the radio is a whole unit with the COMMAND, and that it will cost me upwards of $5000 alone to fix it!

Please advice me what to do at this point, does anyone have the same problem, I think that this might be a smaller issue than they are really making it out to be!

Please guys, I haven't even had this car for a year, and three electrical problems? Please!

mleskovar

Take it to another dealer or an independent. The statement "some computer won't shut off after thirty mintues (after shutdown)" sounds like it is a CANBUS module. You can try disconnecting the offending seat module and see what happens. I haven't heard of a bad radio/COMMAND unit causing a dead battery but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

acedking90

Well my mechanic unplugged both seat modules when i took it back to him, and the draw was still there. The draw is sometimes there, and sometimes isn't. I was considering putting a switch in my dash which would just "remove" the fuse when I shut off the car, and "re-plug" it when I started the car. I would just have to remember to press the switch....But I don't want to do that, I still think the problem may be more simple...I can't believe this is happening to me.

TruTaing

Have you tried to pull the plugs for the radio/command and BOTH seat modules?

Just unplug all of the "accessories" and plug them back one at a time to find out what exactly is draining your battery....

Maybe the battery isnt charging either? Alternator / battery check? My battery went out pretty recently and I drive an 01 also...

acedking90

Well It is was diagnosed by Mercedes dealership, so I am assuming they found the cause of the problem, and my mechanic says that he has done all that he could do, including taking out fuse by fuse, checking voltage, etc. To check the actual radio module, we'd have to take apart the dash and spend hours tracing all of the wires going from the back of the COMMAND unit.

any suggestions?

///AMG4EVER

My practical suggestion will be to eject the CD out of the Nav unit. Sometimes, the CD keeps spinning even when the car is turned off. You can actually hear it spinning when the car is off. This will eventually drain it out. Disable everything with the steering wheel buttons: lighting delays, seat/steering wheel memory, everything electrical related. Recharge your battery and see what happens.

The dealer will ony suggest to replace stuff. If you have a warranty they will pass the bill to MBUSA; if you don't, they will pass the bill to you. The MB "mechanics" are trained to plug a STAR system, read a code and replace the related part, they are simply parts swappers.

My other suggestion is to take it to a stereo shop.

Good luck and hang in there, you will eventually figure it out.

Moviela

Call AER and see if they can service or exchange your COMAND. They repair most automotive electric components for dealers and independent shops.

There are junkyards that can probably supply the head unit for a lot less than 5K.

http://www.aertech.com/contact.asp

acedking90

Thanks, I agree with you in that they don't fix parts, they just replace them, however if there diagnoses tells me for sure that the radio module and passenger module is bad, is it worth the trouble to trouble shoot further? Am I literally, "royally f**cked"?

Have any of you had experiences where Mercedes-Benz told you something was wrong, only for you to find out later that it was a more simple thing?

Thanks guys, sorry for being a wuss, I just can't believe this happened to fast, I was just considered to begin modding this too

mleskovar

[QUOTE=///AMG4EVER;2602209]My practical suggestion will be to eject the CD out of the Nav unit. Sometimes, the CD keeps spinning even when the car is turned off. You can actually hear it spinning when the car is off. [QUOTE]

Good one. Maybe the CANBUS is kept active waiting for a COMMAND function to finish. Try unplugging the command and radio if the CD removal doesn't help...see the first part of the instructions on replacing the stepper motor to get to the plugs (back of radio). Pretty easy to get into the console that far. There's also some threads about the overhead console module causing problems. How much work are you willing to do yourself?

TruTaing

Assuming that the dealer really did unplug all of the fuses to all of the accessories/what nots... wouldnt that mean that the command wouldn't have power to spin the disc?

Suggestion: Dont panic No need for a stroke Im sure someone will get to the bottom of this!

I still think you should go through and unplug all of the "extra" fuses for accessories. Maybe its just my dealership, but they've said that they have done a lot more than they really do.

acedking90

Thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate it.

I know that I keep giving somewhat circular responses, but do you guys really think that I should have my mechanic recheck EVERY Fuse? He said that if it is indeed the radio module that I want to check, we are going to have to remove the dash board, and behind the COMMAND unit there are numerous wires which all go through a circular harness which is about 3 inches in diameter...so it would be very hard to test for a draw there.

Also, lets say the car is drawing 10 amps, if the seat module is only drawing 2 of those, and the radio drawing the remaining 8, unplugging the seat module won't really get me anywhere...or it could be that the seat is drawing none, and the radio is only doing the drawing...it seems practically impossible to trace where this draw is coming from.

My mechanic is a pretty experienced guy, but he stresses the fact that he can only do what Mercedes-Benz releases to independents. But I will def. print this thread out to show to him.

What other suggestions do you guys have ,that I should tell my mechanic?


PS. What do you guys think the trade-in value for a car like this would be? seeing as it is FULLY HOOKED UP, with rearsunshade, navigation, those seat air pressure things...j/w, I might just trade this car in...three electrical problems and not even a year into it? I really am getting scared.

Thanks again guys, luckily my dad is taking this well.

mleskovar

Fix and drive the car first, then decide to sell it...or not.

Marky Bends

Yep it seems to always be the 01's 02's. My 2001 C320 is going through the same thing right now. My mechanic is trying to find where the draw is coming from too.

I'll post anything he discovers. It's only been 2 weeks..

Sigh..

///AMG4EVER

[QUOTE=TruTaing;2602343]Assuming that the dealer really did unplug all of the fuses to all of the accessories/what nots... wouldnt that mean that the command wouldn't have power to spin the disc?QUOTE]

TruTaing - these so call "mechanics" read codes out of the STAR diagnosis.

I went through this experience 2-3 years ago when I bought the Texas nav CD off ebay. It was somehow malfunctioning and kept spinning even while the car was shut off. The STAR diagnosed and read a malfunction in the COMAND unit. Dealer's suggestion: give me $2,500 and we will get it fixed.

If you can find someone to check current draws with a ampmeter, you can start unplugging things yourself and go through all the potential gremlins.

nickgailloux

I'm not very experienced in this area, but here's my thoughts...

Why cant you take a voltmeter, measure the draw off the battery after your car has been off for 30 minutes, then have a friend watch the voltmeter while you unplug the comand unit, and see if the power draw drops. Then do the same with the other SAMs.

Then once you single out what SAM it is, or if its the comand, then you can replace that part.

Not sure if this would work but what do you all think?

acedking90

Okay guys, I got the car back from the stealership today, they charged me 220 bucks just for looking at it. Basically I have a 1.75 Milliamp draw (sorry if I am not using the correct spelling/abbreviation).

When we unplug the passenger seat module, the draw drops down to .75, and then once we remove the COMMAND moudle, it drops to .04, which is acceptable.

Now the problem with the seat moduels (both of which have died) is expected, but the issue with the COMMAND unit is that the CD drive keeps spinning after the car is off...they are saying that I need to replace the whole unit, but I think that simply removing the CD whenver i shutoff the car will stop the drive from spinning...the stealership said they tried removing the CD, but it keeps spinning..BS? Or not, I am not sure.

For now though, I am installing a switch. The COMMAND unit is fuse 10, so i attacted a switch which I will just press whenever i Shut the car down, it will "disable" the fuse, and then when I start up, I press it again, and the fuse is "in" again. I also will attach and LED of some sort as an visual indicator as to if the switch is pressed....hopefully this will fix it.

Damn dealership wanted to give me only 6 Grand, on a FULLY FULLY FULLY loaded C240...

Any suggestions as to what I can do about the CD Drive spinning?

mckay

Its a 2001 and its a C240, what do you expect its trade-in value was?

That current draw issue sucks, yet the switch seems like a good idea, yet here's one better.

Buy a relay and wire it to the aux ignition, so the switch turns on when the car is turned on and vice versa.

mleskovar

Looks like post #6 was right on and post #7 suggested a fix. I wonder if the dealer waited for the CANBUS to go inactive after removing the CD? Hook up an amp meter and try it yourself. Also...did you check to see if there were any software updates that might affect COMMAND? Putting the switch in should work.....funky, but workable.

acedking90

Thanks for the ideas! I still think that they are making the issue a bigger deal than it has to be, I will have my guys check the COMMAND again.

PS. I was hoping to get atleast 11k for my car...its fully loaded with a few rare options, such as contour seating.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP, I REALLY WISH THERE IS SOME WAY I CAN REPAY YOUR HELP!

I will keep you guys informed...I've been considering trading this car in for an '04 Lexus ES330?

acedking90

okay guys, finally got the car back.

I didn't have to do a relay switch, we found a circuit that was open, so we just tapped into that (I am not sure which one it was exactly, this car has LOTS of fuses that aren't used, so yeah.) and I just unplugged the passenger seat module, so there is no more draw...for now.

So there is only one last thing left to die on this car...that rear SAM(?) module? I am not sure exactly what its called, but its also a known/common problem on this model.

Time to sell this sbox before I actually do have a stroke...thanks to everyone that helped out!

mleskovar

You can blow the rear SAM module by disconnecting the positive lead from the battery before the negative lead....so I've read. Once you get the problems ironed out you'll find the car to be very reliable and an excellent driver so give it a chance first.

aarroyo87

Acedking90, Just so I understand, you tapped into an unused circuit and powered your Comand with it? And just left the passenger seat module unplugged?

maccooper79

[QUOTE=
The dealer will ony suggest to replace stuff. If you have a warranty they will pass the bill to MBUSA; if you don't, they will pass the bill to you. The MB "mechanics" are trained to plug a STAR system, read a code and replace the related part, they are simply parts swappers.


[/QUOTE]

+1 damn part swappers

Glyn M Ruck

Very Sad!!!!! Can't diagnose their way out of a wet brown paper bag

C230 Sport Coup

FYI- Check the thread on the $5 seat module fix, and install a relay on the seat modules as suggested, and tie to the radio circuit as well. Or install 2.
1.75 Milliamp isn't much, and shouldn't drain the battery, at least not overnight.
That would take weeks.
There's always a small current drain.
.04 would be 40 microamps. Thats really nothing.

Quit having a stroke, fix the issues, enjoy the car.

Don't imagine these things don't happen to other cars.
Like, you could find a nicer car for 6 grand?
Consider this a learning experience, next time
do a little diag yourself based on what you've learned.
Money spend on tools is better than down the drain with
the "parts swappers". Get yourself a decent DVM for starters.
It'll pay for itself with the money you'll save.

These things aren't hard, once you get over your fear.
Just do the research 1st. It's still just a car.