How do I get access to NAVI GPS antenna in rear door of an S211?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Vancouver Canada
S213 2020 E450 4Matic CDN Spec 07/19 build
How do I get access to NAVI GPS antenna in rear door of an S211?
ARG.
Our navi unit decided to drop connections with satellites off and on during a weekend trip into unfamiliar territory, leaving us out to dry several times. (yes, I know, carry paper maps also... forgot them at home!) Even on a rural highway with nothing to blocks satellite signals...
And the dead reckoning the system was supposed to be using was worthless. According to the unit, we were driving all over hell's half acre, and nowhere close to where we were in actuality. Isn't dead reckoning supposed to be better than that?
How do I get access to the GPS antenna in a wagon in order to test the signal going from the antenna to the internal splitter? Any ideas? From other posts in this forum, it seems like the antennae in Benz's like to crap out.
As always, all help greatly appreciated!
Murman
Our navi unit decided to drop connections with satellites off and on during a weekend trip into unfamiliar territory, leaving us out to dry several times. (yes, I know, carry paper maps also... forgot them at home!) Even on a rural highway with nothing to blocks satellite signals...
And the dead reckoning the system was supposed to be using was worthless. According to the unit, we were driving all over hell's half acre, and nowhere close to where we were in actuality. Isn't dead reckoning supposed to be better than that?
How do I get access to the GPS antenna in a wagon in order to test the signal going from the antenna to the internal splitter? Any ideas? From other posts in this forum, it seems like the antennae in Benz's like to crap out.
As always, all help greatly appreciated!
Murman
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 128
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From: Great Britain
C320 CDI Estate, E500 4M Wagon
Murman - hello from someone who's been there, done that. Yes, everyone preaches antenna, but IMO that is not the root of the problem.
I don't have time to write all of what you need tonite, but search my threads and you'll see most of it there. For now, first check the antenna splitter for corrosion - it's above the NAV drive, left rear aft of the wheel well, behind the removable sound deadening material.
Look for small coax cables, and a 2-to-1 splitter, the splitter is about 2 by 1 inch by .5 inch thick, and it's mounted to a bracket vertically. This can be corroded sometimes around the coax mounts. Then look for corrossion around the bottom of the NAV bracket where it mounts to the body of the car (at the bottom).
Post back what you find.
Smash
I don't have time to write all of what you need tonite, but search my threads and you'll see most of it there. For now, first check the antenna splitter for corrosion - it's above the NAV drive, left rear aft of the wheel well, behind the removable sound deadening material.
Look for small coax cables, and a 2-to-1 splitter, the splitter is about 2 by 1 inch by .5 inch thick, and it's mounted to a bracket vertically. This can be corroded sometimes around the coax mounts. Then look for corrossion around the bottom of the NAV bracket where it mounts to the body of the car (at the bottom).
Post back what you find.
Smash
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 724
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From: Vancouver Canada
S213 2020 E450 4Matic CDN Spec 07/19 build
Good idea. Thanks for the suggestion.
I only took a rudimentary glance at the splitter to see if any of the cables were loose. No idea why there'd be corrosion at the bottom of the bracket, but I'll check that out also.
Hoping I don't have to tear the back door up!
Thanks also to Dan who's sent me R/R instructions for the relevant door panels.
I only took a rudimentary glance at the splitter to see if any of the cables were loose. No idea why there'd be corrosion at the bottom of the bracket, but I'll check that out also.
Hoping I don't have to tear the back door up!
Thanks also to Dan who's sent me R/R instructions for the relevant door panels.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 724
Likes: 50
From: Vancouver Canada
S213 2020 E450 4Matic CDN Spec 07/19 build
Well, tore things apart at the splitter and back of the NAV drive. All GPS cable connections appeared free of corrosion. There was no corrosion around the NAV/TV bracket either.
Now to see if just tinkering of wires was enough to help...
Now to see if just tinkering of wires was enough to help...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 724
Likes: 50
From: Vancouver Canada
S213 2020 E450 4Matic CDN Spec 07/19 build
Well, connections remain good, but sat coverage remains spotty. Rarely excellent, usually few to none. Unfortunately, I don't have the equipment to do any electrical testing.
Oh, and dead reckoning is almost laughable. Usually gets lost within a few blocks. If the system can't dead reckon well, that could mean one or more of a zillion sensors isn't feeding properly, yes?
Might have to bite the bullet and have a shop trouble-shoot. :^(
Oh, and dead reckoning is almost laughable. Usually gets lost within a few blocks. If the system can't dead reckon well, that could mean one or more of a zillion sensors isn't feeding properly, yes?
Might have to bite the bullet and have a shop trouble-shoot. :^(
