Disable SOS Tele Aid Malfunction warning - HOW?
Thank you in advance for any help!
Boxx
I found corrosion on the input terminal of the antennae splitter located on the left-rear inside fender (above the NAV module). Cleaning the terminal and applying a dielectric grease restored the function of the NAV system and turned off the SOS warning. However, I was curious as to where the water was coming from. The rubber grommet holding the antennae cable was pliable and water tight. The culprit was the rubber molding at the top left corner of the trunk. The molding had split, allowing water from the rear window to find it's way to the inside of the fender, and, ultimately drip onto the splitter.
A bit of silicone adhesive on the weather strip and a dab on the cable grommet for good measure solved the water intrusion problem.
I discovered the weatherstrip was not the entire problem contributing to the water dripping on the antennae splitter, causing corrosion and triggering the SOS Malfunction message.
The push-in rivets have a rubber closed-ended sleeve that holds the fender cover in place. Notice the small hole on the rivet head? It's to allow air to escape as the rivet is pushed into the tube.
The two top rivet sleeves were totally rotted, and the dirt and debris that accumulated under the cover blocked the normal flow of water from draining to the back of the car. Water was leaking past the rubber sleeve and dripping onto the antennae splitter underneath the fender.
Be careful when removing the old rivets and sleeves. Save the rubber sleeves that are not rotted (the 2 rear), because these have the outrageous list price of $10.50 EACH at the MB Dealer!
Stopping the water leak solved the annoying SOS Malfunction message.
I found corrosion on the input terminal of the antennae splitter located on the left-rear inside fender (above the NAV module). Cleaning the terminal and applying a dielectric grease restored the function of the NAV system and turned off the SOS warning. However, I was curious as to where the water was coming from. The rubber grommet holding the antennae cable was pliable and water tight. The culprit was the rubber molding at the top left corner of the trunk. The molding had split, allowing water from the rear window to find it's way to the inside of the fender, and, ultimately drip onto the splitter.
A bit of silicone adhesive on the weather strip and a dab on the cable grommet for good measure solved the water intrusion problem.
1. Were you able to save the splitter after cleaning it?
2. what contact cleaner did you use?
thanks
I disconnected the cable going into the lower connector to figure out how the cable plugged in. Just squeezed together the two tabs closest to the splitter. There is a groove on the Metal cable connector which Plastic retainer locks into.
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Use a dab of dielectric grease to keep the connection water-tight.
I noticed the water was not wicking down the antennae cable...which could have been prevented by a drip loop. The water was dripping on the top side of the splitter, through the rotted rubber expansion tube and flowing down to corrode the top connector.
The SOS message no longer displays. I did have to drive a few miles for the map to re-coordinate. Everything works fine now....only expense was for the expansion rivets discounted to $3.50 ea. Still a rip!
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Use a dab of dielectric grease to keep the connection water-tight.
I noticed the water was not wicking down the antennae cable...which could have been prevented by a drip loop. The water was dripping on the top side of the splitter, through the rotted rubber expansion tube and flowing down to corrode the top connector.
The SOS message no longer displays. I did have to drive a few miles for the map to re-coordinate. Everything works fine now....only expense was for the expansion rivets discounted to $3.50 ea. Still a rip!
Also did you notice, there is a second antenna cable coming down the right side into the trunk, mine has minor scale from leaking, was easy to pull the connector apart, different arrangement, see photo.
connector was clipped into the black holder.
Last edited by ot1; Jun 16, 2020 at 05:56 PM.
Could this be used for the phone antennae?
I cleaned up the right fender gutter and checked the rubber expansion rivets. Everything looks good....and the important issue for me is no more "SOS malfunction message"
John
PS: I do not have a hard-wired phone and therefore no malfunction message.
If my splitter had been ruined, I thought about trying a common TV cable splitter. However, you would have to change all three cable connectors. This would give you as much extra cable for making a drip loop. I just don't think the water traveled to the splitter via the cable. I had obvious water marks on the top-most corner of the splitter, which is higher than the location of the connector.
If my splitter had been ruined, I thought about trying a common TV cable splitter. However, you would have to change all three cable connectors. This would give you as much extra cable for making a drip loop. I just don't think the water traveled to the splitter via the cable. I had obvious water marks on the top-most corner of the splitter, which is higher than the location of the connector.
Last edited by ot1; Jun 16, 2020 at 07:39 PM.
Since I didn’t have enough wire to make a drip loop, I put a piece of tape on the wire so that any water dripping down the wire would follow the tape and drip harmlessly away.😀
The insulation silicone is called “Bulb Grease” and purchased in little $1 packets at any auto parts store counter.
Good Luck,
Peter




for anyone with an mb, I’d recommend Mercedes software for diagnostics and repair. It’s too expensive not to have it and your car will thank you. Both systems I’ve had were purchased used and just take a bit of learning to use correctly. Then you come to the forum and ask specifics





