I took my perfectly working radio out to do some work in the center console and then connected everything back together. Now when I turn it on there is no sound and within 15 secs PROD comes up on display. I know there are a million threads on this error code but I've tried almost everything suggested. I have double checked optical connector is seated ok, took the 10amp fuse out for 30 minutes and plugged it back in, left the radio out of the car for entire night, confirmed cd changer has power and initializes.. no change.

It's possible when I was putting everything back together the radio turned on briefly while the optical connector was not yet plugged in. Do I have a radio now that is stuck in some mercedes anti-theft hell mode? The unit is an alpine CM1330.

Most of the threads I see on this topic are for people that installed used radios from other cars or have a dead cd changer / amp, Everything audio on my car was working 100% before I took the radio out for a few minutes.

Anyone experience this issue?

 

Is the screen showing the "Anti Theft Activated". if so it will need the code entering via STAR diagnostics machine. i am able to retrieve and enter this code. Where are you located?

 

It wasn't going into anti-theft mode. It turned out to be an issue with the riser pcb board at the back of the radio. I left a little detail out from my original post and that was I did take apart the radio to investigate adding a hardwired bluetooth module. I ended up purchasing a used headunit from a salvage CLK and that worked like a charm.