My sound stopped working, I fixed it for $618.70
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 699
Likes: 44
From: PA
09 CLK550
My sound stopped working, I fixed it for $618.70
About 3 weeks ago I came out of the store and my car would no longer make any audio. The head unit still behaved like it was working, I could change the radio, change iPod songs, CD tracks, etc. But no sound, not even for navigation.
I researched online, this seems to happen to our cars sometimes. Here's how I fixed it:
Started pulling fuses: 24, 26, 36 in the small fuse box in the dash br the steering wheel. Sometimes while running, sometimes while the car is off. Many people reported this fixed their issue (but sometimes reoccurs).
Also pulled fuse 40 (?) out of the front SAM, that was a pain, had to pull out the whole wiring bundle grommet to get at it.
Took the CD changer out of the MOST fiber loop. Sometimes it can flake out and disrupt the fiber bus causing no sound. I picked up PN 000-545-44-84 'CONNECTOR' for $5.57. Its a small black plastic clip that connects the ends of the fiber loop to each other.
None of these fixed it so I kept going.
I pulled the headunit out of the dash, checked the fuse, wiring. Removed the AUX-IN iPod adapter I installed a few months out https://mbworld.org/forums/clk55-amg...-05-clk55.html
Pulled off the pass-side door/sill plate, removed the whole passenger seat, pulled up the carpeting and checked the wires.
Removed the trunk lining and got into the amplifier area. Passenger side rear behind the wheel well.
The amp seemed ok. It was getting fiber signal and powering up. It is held in by 4 x 10mm nuts, the 2 at the bottom are a pain.
I fired up an old laptop I have with a stripped down version of Mercedes STAR diagnostics that I had successfully used on my old W203 but it couldn't talk to the radio.
I kept looking, unplugged the teleaid module in the cabin. I read a faulty mic can mute the bus without notifying you. Remove the overhead light lens, push the white pieces towards the front of the car and the whole assembly folds down. Unplugged the 4-5 wiring bundles and undid the unit in the trunk:
Still no change and SRS errors every time I started the car.
I had given up at this point, there was nothing left for me to trouble shoot.
I took it to the dealer, with dread. My out of warranty AMG with electrical problems
I wrote out a long description of what I had done and hoped for the best. The awesome tech at Bloomfield Hills Mercedes called and complimented on the extent of troubleshooting I did on my own but said only a $156.00 scan by their STAR machine would determine the problem.
Their machine came back with:
"Code D117
Performed wake up test, second system has no reaction. Test showed voltage 12.3 to 2.2 volts. Need new amplifier"
So just for fun I asked how much for him to swap the amp. $1800 Yeah no way I'm paying $1800 for just an amp. I'd rather swap out the whole damn system.
I thanked him and went home with my tail between my legs. At least I knew what was wrong now.
I found an amp on ebay for $350 but it sold before I could get to it.
Found one local for $457.13 and swapped it out this morning.
My sound is now working again.
Old dead amp P/N: A169-820-37-89
New working amp: A169-820-80-89 from a 2009 CLK550
$618.70 total just for a damn amp, but better than the $1800 MB wanted
I researched online, this seems to happen to our cars sometimes. Here's how I fixed it:
Started pulling fuses: 24, 26, 36 in the small fuse box in the dash br the steering wheel. Sometimes while running, sometimes while the car is off. Many people reported this fixed their issue (but sometimes reoccurs).
Also pulled fuse 40 (?) out of the front SAM, that was a pain, had to pull out the whole wiring bundle grommet to get at it.
Took the CD changer out of the MOST fiber loop. Sometimes it can flake out and disrupt the fiber bus causing no sound. I picked up PN 000-545-44-84 'CONNECTOR' for $5.57. Its a small black plastic clip that connects the ends of the fiber loop to each other.
None of these fixed it so I kept going.
I pulled the headunit out of the dash, checked the fuse, wiring. Removed the AUX-IN iPod adapter I installed a few months out https://mbworld.org/forums/clk55-amg...-05-clk55.html
Pulled off the pass-side door/sill plate, removed the whole passenger seat, pulled up the carpeting and checked the wires.
Removed the trunk lining and got into the amplifier area. Passenger side rear behind the wheel well.
The amp seemed ok. It was getting fiber signal and powering up. It is held in by 4 x 10mm nuts, the 2 at the bottom are a pain.
I fired up an old laptop I have with a stripped down version of Mercedes STAR diagnostics that I had successfully used on my old W203 but it couldn't talk to the radio.
I kept looking, unplugged the teleaid module in the cabin. I read a faulty mic can mute the bus without notifying you. Remove the overhead light lens, push the white pieces towards the front of the car and the whole assembly folds down. Unplugged the 4-5 wiring bundles and undid the unit in the trunk:
Still no change and SRS errors every time I started the car.
I had given up at this point, there was nothing left for me to trouble shoot.
I took it to the dealer, with dread. My out of warranty AMG with electrical problems
I wrote out a long description of what I had done and hoped for the best. The awesome tech at Bloomfield Hills Mercedes called and complimented on the extent of troubleshooting I did on my own but said only a $156.00 scan by their STAR machine would determine the problem.
Their machine came back with:
"Code D117
Performed wake up test, second system has no reaction. Test showed voltage 12.3 to 2.2 volts. Need new amplifier"
So just for fun I asked how much for him to swap the amp. $1800
Yeah no way I'm paying $1800 for just an amp. I'd rather swap out the whole damn system.I thanked him and went home with my tail between my legs. At least I knew what was wrong now.
I found an amp on ebay for $350 but it sold before I could get to it.
Found one local for $457.13 and swapped it out this morning.
My sound is now working again.
Old dead amp P/N: A169-820-37-89
New working amp: A169-820-80-89 from a 2009 CLK550
$618.70 total just for a damn amp, but better than the $1800 MB wanted
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Prospect (Louisville), KY
'08 CLK 550 Cabriolet, '15 ML 350
Wow! Thank you for your help!
Thank you for reaching out to me.
And for doing all of that research and work!
I will look into this right after Derby.
All the best to you and yours,
Evan
And for doing all of that research and work!
I will look into this right after Derby.
All the best to you and yours,
Evan
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
CLK550
Found the amplifier in the trunk of my 2008 CLK550
About 3 weeks ago I came out of the store and my car would no longer make any audio. The head unit still behaved like it was working, I could change the radio, change iPod songs, CD tracks, etc. But no sound, not even for navigation.
I researched online, this seems to happen to our cars sometimes. Here's how I fixed it:
Started pulling fuses: 24, 26, 36 in the small fuse box in the dash br the steering wheel. Sometimes while running, sometimes while the car is off. Many people reported this fixed their issue (but sometimes reoccurs).
Also pulled fuse 40 (?) out of the front SAM, that was a pain, had to pull out the whole wiring bundle grommet to get at it.
Took the CD changer out of the MOST fiber loop. Sometimes it can flake out and disrupt the fiber bus causing no sound. I picked up PN 000-545-44-84 'CONNECTOR' for $5.57. Its a small black plastic clip that connects the ends of the fiber loop to each other.
None of these fixed it so I kept going.
I pulled the headunit out of the dash, checked the fuse, wiring. Removed the AUX-IN iPod adapter I installed a few months out https://mbworld.org/forums/clk55-amg...-05-clk55.html
Pulled off the pass-side door/sill plate, removed the whole passenger seat, pulled up the carpeting and checked the wires.
Removed the trunk lining and got into the amplifier area. Passenger side rear behind the wheel well.
The amp seemed ok. It was getting fiber signal and powering up. It is held in by 4 x 10mm nuts, the 2 at the bottom are a pain.
I fired up an old laptop I have with a stripped down version of Mercedes STAR diagnostics that I had successfully used on my old W203 but it couldn't talk to the radio.
I kept looking, unplugged the teleaid module in the cabin. I read a faulty mic can mute the bus without notifying you. Remove the overhead light lens, push the white pieces towards the front of the car and the whole assembly folds down. Unplugged the 4-5 wiring bundles and undid the unit in the trunk:
Still no change and SRS errors every time I started the car.
I had given up at this point, there was nothing left for me to trouble shoot.
I took it to the dealer, with dread. My out of warranty AMG with electrical problems
I wrote out a long description of what I had done and hoped for the best. The awesome tech at Bloomfield Hills Mercedes called and complimented on the extent of troubleshooting I did on my own but said only a $156.00 scan by their STAR machine would determine the problem.
Their machine came back with:
"Code D117
Performed wake up test, second system has no reaction. Test showed voltage 12.3 to 2.2 volts. Need new amplifier"
So just for fun I asked how much for him to swap the amp. $1800 Yeah no way I'm paying $1800 for just an amp. I'd rather swap out the whole damn system.
I thanked him and went home with my tail between my legs. At least I knew what was wrong now.
I found an amp on ebay for $350 but it sold before I could get to it.
Found one local for $457.13 and swapped it out this morning.
My sound is now working again.
Old dead amp P/N: A169-820-37-89
New working amp: A169-820-80-89 from a 2009 CLK550
$618.70 total just for a damn amp, but better than the $1800 MB wanted
I researched online, this seems to happen to our cars sometimes. Here's how I fixed it:
Started pulling fuses: 24, 26, 36 in the small fuse box in the dash br the steering wheel. Sometimes while running, sometimes while the car is off. Many people reported this fixed their issue (but sometimes reoccurs).
Also pulled fuse 40 (?) out of the front SAM, that was a pain, had to pull out the whole wiring bundle grommet to get at it.
Took the CD changer out of the MOST fiber loop. Sometimes it can flake out and disrupt the fiber bus causing no sound. I picked up PN 000-545-44-84 'CONNECTOR' for $5.57. Its a small black plastic clip that connects the ends of the fiber loop to each other.
None of these fixed it so I kept going.
I pulled the headunit out of the dash, checked the fuse, wiring. Removed the AUX-IN iPod adapter I installed a few months out https://mbworld.org/forums/clk55-amg...-05-clk55.html
Pulled off the pass-side door/sill plate, removed the whole passenger seat, pulled up the carpeting and checked the wires.
Removed the trunk lining and got into the amplifier area. Passenger side rear behind the wheel well.
The amp seemed ok. It was getting fiber signal and powering up. It is held in by 4 x 10mm nuts, the 2 at the bottom are a pain.
I fired up an old laptop I have with a stripped down version of Mercedes STAR diagnostics that I had successfully used on my old W203 but it couldn't talk to the radio.
I kept looking, unplugged the teleaid module in the cabin. I read a faulty mic can mute the bus without notifying you. Remove the overhead light lens, push the white pieces towards the front of the car and the whole assembly folds down. Unplugged the 4-5 wiring bundles and undid the unit in the trunk:
Still no change and SRS errors every time I started the car.
I had given up at this point, there was nothing left for me to trouble shoot.
I took it to the dealer, with dread. My out of warranty AMG with electrical problems
I wrote out a long description of what I had done and hoped for the best. The awesome tech at Bloomfield Hills Mercedes called and complimented on the extent of troubleshooting I did on my own but said only a $156.00 scan by their STAR machine would determine the problem.
Their machine came back with:
"Code D117
Performed wake up test, second system has no reaction. Test showed voltage 12.3 to 2.2 volts. Need new amplifier"
So just for fun I asked how much for him to swap the amp. $1800
Yeah no way I'm paying $1800 for just an amp. I'd rather swap out the whole damn system.I thanked him and went home with my tail between my legs. At least I knew what was wrong now.
I found an amp on ebay for $350 but it sold before I could get to it.
Found one local for $457.13 and swapped it out this morning.
My sound is now working again.
Old dead amp P/N: A169-820-37-89
New working amp: A169-820-80-89 from a 2009 CLK550
$618.70 total just for a damn amp, but better than the $1800 MB wanted
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
CLK550
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 699
Likes: 44
From: PA
09 CLK550
I love when my old threads pop up 
I opened up my amp and there was physical damage marks on the PCB, guess it died of old age.
The replacement amp from 2013 still works to this day.
I opened up my amp and there was physical damage marks on the PCB, guess it died of old age.
The replacement amp from 2013 still works to this day.
