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I have a 2008 SL550 with factory satellite radio (SAT button on radio, and antenna in the center of my trunk lid).
However, the SAT Radio has never worked and stays on the "Acquiring Signal" screen continuously. I have spent hours on the phone with SiriusXM, and they have tried to send signals to the radio, but nothing has worked.
I recently got SDS, and found the following current code:
"D241 The antenna cable from the component N87/5 (SDAR control unit) to component A2/82 (SDAR antenna) has an open circuit."
This is promising and implies that the antenna may be disconnected somewhere or bad. I removed some of the trunk lining (what a pain) and didn't see anything unusual. Does anyone have any ideas???
@Rudeney Yes, I'm pretty sure I have the "bump" antenna, unless I'm confused on what the antenna looks like (very possible). See pic below:
I pulled some of the trunk lining/trim and didn't see anything unusual, but I guess I need to take more out and trace the wire as suggested (I was trying to minimize removing all the trunk linings/panels as I am sure I will break some of the lining and trim clips...).
I was just hoping that someone else had experienced this and/or maybe there is a common point of failure or loose connectors.
The antenna wire runs down the left side of the trunk hinge and tubular frame. You will need to remove the trunk lid paneling to access the wire from under the antenna, and yes, you may break some of the plastic clips, so I'd have a handful of spares ready (A0009905792). I'd disconnect the antenna wire from both the antenna and the tuner and check continuity. If it's good, then it may be the antenna that has failed. You could try a generic Sirius antenna plugged into the tuner to check it.
Closing the loop on this, Dealer was doing other work (passenger SAM and SBC under warranty), and saw the SAT antenna open circuit stored code. They pulled the trunk lid lining and said SAT antenna cable was simply disconnected. They reconnected and SAT radio is working now. I can't imagine it just came loose or was disconnected on purpose; I can only assume previous owner was doing something in trunk and pulled it loose... Regardless, all is good now!
Actually, mine is disconnected right now. Why? Well, I decided to cancel my Sirius subscription because I just don;t drive the car enough to justify paying for it. Plus, I have three other subscribed radios, so I have use of their streaming service, so if I want Sirius in the car, I just fir up the app on my phone. Bu, just before cancelling, I unplugged the antenna so the radio wouldn't get the cancel signal. I'll probably reconnect in a few months and see how long it works before they do some "housekeeping" and send out another kill signal. I actually have an old Sirius windshield-mount portable radio that has worked for years without a subscription as they have just "forgotten" about it and never send a kill signal. I used to carry it when traveling in rental cars in the pre-app days.
02-07-2019, 12:03 PM
