NAV / COMAND problem
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey, USA
2003 E320
NAV / COMAND problem
I've had a lot of problems lately with my NAV system (W211). The dealer had to repair the system 6 times (!) during last 2 months, but the NAV system was getting lost all the time (would show that I was located in the ocean, in the river, sometimes at the cemetary, etc.)
Finally dealer said that the antenna connection was loose, and assured me that everything was fine. I enabled the GPS display at the bottom of the screen (it shows actual coordinates along with number of satellites connected).
After entering a long tunnel, the unit lost all of the six satellites it saw and has not seen them since. Coordinates are gone, too. The system still has a general idea of it's location, but I suspect that it is not going to last
Questions:
1. How long should it take the NAV system to reconnect to the satellites if I am in the open space with no tall buildings around?
2. What could be a problem?
Thanks,
Alex
Finally dealer said that the antenna connection was loose, and assured me that everything was fine. I enabled the GPS display at the bottom of the screen (it shows actual coordinates along with number of satellites connected).
After entering a long tunnel, the unit lost all of the six satellites it saw and has not seen them since. Coordinates are gone, too. The system still has a general idea of it's location, but I suspect that it is not going to last
Questions:
1. How long should it take the NAV system to reconnect to the satellites if I am in the open space with no tall buildings around?
2. What could be a problem?
Thanks,
Alex
Last edited by alexrazd; Oct 8, 2004 at 11:29 AM. Reason: Added a screen shot
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 398
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From: In A Van Down By The River
2014 RX 350 F Sport, 2007 Scion tC, 2000 ML 430 Money Pit Finally Gone! Oh Happy Day!
Don't give up. It took my dealer 2 1/2 years and I don't remember how many trips to finally get my navigation system fixed. Finally ended up being a short in the systems cable above the headliner. No problems since. 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,559
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From: Las Vegas, NV USA / London, UK
GL320CDI / C63 Edition 507 Coupe (EDP) / E63 S (on order) / G500 / Smart Brabus
You can check the performance of the GPS antenna with TeleAid, by seeing what TeleAid thinks your location is.
If TeleAid cannot get a good location as well, then the splitter may be at fault. You can unplug the splitter and plug the antenna directly into either the nav system or the TeleAid system.
If you still cannot get a good location, then the antenna/wiring may be bad. I would imagine that this was checked first... but still.
-s-
If TeleAid cannot get a good location as well, then the splitter may be at fault. You can unplug the splitter and plug the antenna directly into either the nav system or the TeleAid system.
If you still cannot get a good location, then the antenna/wiring may be bad. I would imagine that this was checked first... but still.
-s-
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: NYC
2004 E320 4matic, 2007 530xiT
I had the same problem....
When I picked up my car (in Jun 04), I had the exact same problem and the next day the dealer picked it up and dropped it off 2 hours later after having fixed the problem. He said it was the antenna that was not properly connected. NAV has worked very well since then. Although sometimes when I go through the lincoln tunnel, the system goes haywire for a little while....
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 102
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ML63 CL65 H2 H1
Alex,
Looks like your MB is amphibian! Dont feel bad. I have had the same problem... My Ml55's sunroof deflector somehow broke loose and struck the antenna on its path off the vehicle. Didnt think anything of it when I brought it to the dealer to fix that but since then my nav was goofy. They replaced the antenna since it was caused by the strike of the defective sunroof deflector.
By the way, speaking of Teleaid.. Has anyone noticed their SOS, Wrench, and I button's blinking solid red (ON) then off randomly???? Mine is doing it now... Odd...
Looks like your MB is amphibian!
Dont feel bad. I have had the same problem... My Ml55's sunroof deflector somehow broke loose and struck the antenna on its path off the vehicle. Didnt think anything of it when I brought it to the dealer to fix that but since then my nav was goofy. They replaced the antenna since it was caused by the strike of the defective sunroof deflector.By the way, speaking of Teleaid.. Has anyone noticed their SOS, Wrench, and I button's blinking solid red (ON) then off randomly???? Mine is doing it now... Odd...
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey, USA
2003 E320
My NAV system was miraculously healed; no problems have occurred since I posted my question.
If anyone is interested, now after I exit the Lincoln tunnel within 1 minute the system sees 1-3 satellites and within next 1 min 5-8 satellites. Have not seen more than 8 at a time.
I think that the problem is in the intermittent connection failure in the GPS antenna signal circuit.
I will post any fixes / problems related to this issue.
My sincere thanks to everybody who replied.
Alex
If anyone is interested, now after I exit the Lincoln tunnel within 1 minute the system sees 1-3 satellites and within next 1 min 5-8 satellites. Have not seen more than 8 at a time.
I think that the problem is in the intermittent connection failure in the GPS antenna signal circuit.
I will post any fixes / problems related to this issue.
My sincere thanks to everybody who replied.
Alex
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Newbie
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Belgium
W207, w203cl
I have gps problems too , 2010 e-coupė (W 207). Went to dealer today. Seems that gps antenna needs to be replaced. I wonder what can we wrong with an antenna (a wire?) i should more suspect a bad connectn somewhere, yves
Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 115
Likes: 4
2006 S500 base
The GPS antenna has a pre-amplifier internal to the antenna itself. That can and has gone bad.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Dallas
e55 amg
With the 211s you need a wiclic connector gps antenna. I bought one off eBay for ten bucks from eBay seller audiopart. It actually worked. Make sure u test it with clear sight of the sky. I made the mistake initially of not doing that.
