Radio interferences
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Poland, Tomaszów Mazowiecki/Poznań
Mercedes C180 / Classic / 2003 / 1.8 kompressor (143 hp) / Vin: WDB2030461A523294
Radio interferences
Hey, Before I start the car my radio works very well. I can hear almost perfect almost every station. But when I start the car interferences come out. I have read that it could be a problem with alternator. After start I've 13,8 V. Any ideas? Could it really be alternator?
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Joined: Aug 2015
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Kompressor w203 c200
That won't be because of your alternator, it can be caused by a bad ground. Bad ground could cause like a static noise or a high pitch squeal so check the ground on your Head unit , battery terminals and possible your antenna
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 14
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From: Poland, Tomaszów Mazowiecki/Poznań
Mercedes C180 / Classic / 2003 / 1.8 kompressor (143 hp) / Vin: WDB2030461A523294
Ok, thanks for calming me down. New alternator is so expensive. But now, how to check the ground, as you said? Yes, I know almost nothing about electronics, so if you could explain it like to a baby, I will appreciate 
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 39
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Kompressor w203 c200
If your battery has bad ground connection or a lot of corrosion it can cause your Voltage to drop or spike, ensuring your battery is clean and your connections are clean are important for all your electrical components
1st If you have corrosion
Check your battery to see if there is any corrosion on the connections or on the leads and if there are the best thing to do is grab some boiling water from the kettle and pour it over the leads this will get rid of any corrosion on the battery or the leads. Then wipe it down with a clean towel or rag.
2nd: Must DO
Disconnect the Negative wire from the battery (Note: You will need to adjust your Auto windows after this) and follow it to were it meets the body of your car. Now remove the negative lead from the battery and the body of the car and grab some rough sand paper and sand down both metal ends til they are nice and shiny including the battery negative terminal and where the negative wire bolts to the car. Sand them down til it is shiny, this will ensure that the is a solid connection.
Reconnect everything and (optional) put light layer of grease on the battery terminals to help prevent corrosion.
Now after you cleaned the connections you should have a better ground connection.
Adjust auto windows:
hold down the down button til the windows drop all the way down and continue to hold down for 10 secs, after 10 secs lift the windows up and hold for 5 secs and then they well be readjusted and set. Do the same for sunroof
Good luck, hopefully its an easy fix. BTW how much voltage does the battery have when the car is off?
1st If you have corrosion
Check your battery to see if there is any corrosion on the connections or on the leads and if there are the best thing to do is grab some boiling water from the kettle and pour it over the leads this will get rid of any corrosion on the battery or the leads. Then wipe it down with a clean towel or rag.
2nd: Must DO
Disconnect the Negative wire from the battery (Note: You will need to adjust your Auto windows after this) and follow it to were it meets the body of your car. Now remove the negative lead from the battery and the body of the car and grab some rough sand paper and sand down both metal ends til they are nice and shiny including the battery negative terminal and where the negative wire bolts to the car. Sand them down til it is shiny, this will ensure that the is a solid connection.
Reconnect everything and (optional) put light layer of grease on the battery terminals to help prevent corrosion.
Now after you cleaned the connections you should have a better ground connection.
Adjust auto windows:
hold down the down button til the windows drop all the way down and continue to hold down for 10 secs, after 10 secs lift the windows up and hold for 5 secs and then they well be readjusted and set. Do the same for sunroof
Good luck, hopefully its an easy fix. BTW how much voltage does the battery have when the car is off?
Last edited by Bearded; Apr 22, 2016 at 11:09 AM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 14
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From: Poland, Tomaszów Mazowiecki/Poznań
Mercedes C180 / Classic / 2003 / 1.8 kompressor (143 hp) / Vin: WDB2030461A523294
Thank You so much for the instructions
Indeed there was a bit of corrosion. I did everything you adviced me to do and it looks like radio works better now, but I didn't get the car out of garage, so I have to wait and test it while driving
Voltage was 11,9 - 12,00 - 13,8 (key position 1,2 and 3) and it's the same after cleaning.
Oh, and I didn't adjust the windows exactly as You said, unfortuntely I forgot. I just drop them down (didn't hold), and just closed them. Is it enough or something could be wrong? I also heard I have to adjust ESP by turning maximally to the left and to the right, is it OK?
One more thing, I don't know whether these problems are interrelated, but I also complain about low intensity of backlight (buttons, radio, buttons on the steering wheel etc.)
Indeed there was a bit of corrosion. I did everything you adviced me to do and it looks like radio works better now, but I didn't get the car out of garage, so I have to wait and test it while driving
Voltage was 11,9 - 12,00 - 13,8 (key position 1,2 and 3) and it's the same after cleaning.
Oh, and I didn't adjust the windows exactly as You said, unfortuntely I forgot. I just drop them down (didn't hold), and just closed them. Is it enough or something could be wrong? I also heard I have to adjust ESP by turning maximally to the left and to the right, is it OK?
One more thing, I don't know whether these problems are interrelated, but I also complain about low intensity of backlight (buttons, radio, buttons on the steering wheel etc.)
Last edited by TH14; Apr 23, 2016 at 01:12 PM.
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