W211 SOS and telephone antenna splitter maintenance
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From: Republic of Texas
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
W211 SOS and telephone antenna splitter maintenance
Lately, I've been getting a message stating "SOS malfunction". I have read this is most likely caused by the antenna splitter suffering corrosion.
I've attached photos of how to locate the splitter, remove the antenna leads, the corrosion I found, and how I used a brass wire brush to carefully remove the corrosion using high-quality electrical contact cleaner/lubricant.
Removing the upper connector from the trunk lift mechanism will give you a bit more room. The antenna splitter is held to the sheet metal with two plastic "push" clips. I broke one off so upon reinstallation, I used a nylon tie-wrap to steady the splitter to another cable harness.
The plastic clips for the two lower cables remain on the splitter and you pull the cables out. The plastic clip for the upper cable remains on the cable. The photos show you where to apply the needle-nose pliers to release the clips.
The antenna splitter had serious corrosion on the upper connection. Generous applications of contact cleaner while carefully rotating a brass brush around the inside of the barrel will remove the corrosion. Be sure to blast out the remnants with a good shot of contact cleaner.
Hope this helps someone.
Update: Definitely a leak. Driver's side trunk gasket was not seated properly and water was seeping in in heavy rains.
I've attached photos of how to locate the splitter, remove the antenna leads, the corrosion I found, and how I used a brass wire brush to carefully remove the corrosion using high-quality electrical contact cleaner/lubricant.
Removing the upper connector from the trunk lift mechanism will give you a bit more room. The antenna splitter is held to the sheet metal with two plastic "push" clips. I broke one off so upon reinstallation, I used a nylon tie-wrap to steady the splitter to another cable harness.
The plastic clips for the two lower cables remain on the splitter and you pull the cables out. The plastic clip for the upper cable remains on the cable. The photos show you where to apply the needle-nose pliers to release the clips.
The antenna splitter had serious corrosion on the upper connection. Generous applications of contact cleaner while carefully rotating a brass brush around the inside of the barrel will remove the corrosion. Be sure to blast out the remnants with a good shot of contact cleaner.
Hope this helps someone.
Update: Definitely a leak. Driver's side trunk gasket was not seated properly and water was seeping in in heavy rains.
Last edited by bbirdwell; Jul 23, 2017 at 07:55 AM.
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Joined: Jun 2018
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From: Northern Hemisphere - Chicago
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he logs on so we should hear from him soon.
certainly worth checking out before I try and politely explain problem at dealership and have to charge the credit card for star services
certainly worth checking out before I try and politely explain problem at dealership and have to charge the credit card for star services
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Republic of Texas
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
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From: Northern Hemisphere - Chicago
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it looks like most of wires in trunk of wagon are on passenger side, even then, everything is crammed together.
however, I saw a youtube clip explaining to help with SOS malfunction, to pull the "i" info switch, located by where the original cellphone was connected. so I pulled this harness, and so far have not gotten an SOS error while driving....lets hope it lasts
however, I saw a youtube clip explaining to help with SOS malfunction, to pull the "i" info switch, located by where the original cellphone was connected. so I pulled this harness, and so far have not gotten an SOS error while driving....lets hope it lasts
