Car Radio Repair - Car Radio Removal - Replace and Install Car Stereo

Removing Mercedes Benz S Class Bose Car Audio

S Class
Bose Stereo Removal

NO AUDIO
Troubleshooter
CD Changer Removal
Bose Amplifier Removal
Telephone / Tele Aid / SOS Removal

Mercedes Benz - Troubleshooting Fiber Optics for No Audio

Mercedes Benz
Fiber Optic Troubleshooter
NO Audio

Basic Troubleshooting Guide Applies to

C-Class 99-03

S-Class 99-02

CLK 99-04

SL 99-03

E-Class 99-02

SLK 99-02

ML 01-02

Mercedes Benz SL
NO AUDIO

Locating and Troubleshooting
Components in Fiber Optic Loop

Mercedes SL NOTE - When troubleshooting, check fiber optic cable for damage near hinge and piston for center console at front of voice control module.

Troubleshooting Fiber Optic Stereo Systems for NO AUDIO

The fiber optic system ties many components in the car together. The main components may be the car stereo, amplifier, CD changer, telephone and the Tel-aid. The features of your vehicle determines which pieces are involved with the fiber optics. The fiber optics loops all the components together. Similar to the old fashion Christmas Tree light, all in series. If one bulb of the loop is defective, this causes the entire string to go dead. With the fiber optic loop, one component goes bad, you have no audio. The fiber optic cable looks like two orange wires that connect to each piece of equipment in the loop. Do not bend, crimp or cut the fiber optic cable.

Mercedes Benz Fiber Optic Bypass Coupler
Part Number 000-545-33-84
Available from the dealership
Part needed for troubleshooting

Our example for troubleshooting will be for the E430

Read through instructions before attempting to troubleshoot.

1) The Mercedes E430 contains all the components in the fiber optic system in the trunk, driver's side wheel well. Except the stereo. We have found no particular pattern for which equipment is next in the fiber optic loop.

2) Removing the fiber optic cable from the stereo or amplifier will cause no audio output. Begin troubleshooting with any one of the other components in the fiber optic loop.
In this troubleshooting, we started with the CD changer. Locate the fiber optic cable.

3) Release the trigger on the fiber optic connector and remove from the CD changer.

4) With the connector removed, turn the car stereo on. The red side should blink, usually three times. In this case, the red side blinked. Continue with instructions. If the red light did not blink, see step 13.

There are several different fiber optic coupler connectors. The connectors are "Keyed", one edge is angled. Note what side of the connector is red and white. Red receives the fiber optic signal from the previous component in the loop. White sends the signal to the next component in the loop.

5) On connector, with flat head screw driver, lift blue tab on connector.

6) With blue tab released, fiber optic cables will release from the connector.

7) On fiber optic bypass coupler purchased from dealership, lift metal tabs on opposite sides with a small flat head screw driver.

8) The openings on each side of the coupler are keys, only one of the ends of the fiber optic cable fits either end. Place fiber optic ends into coupler push tabs down to lock cables into coupler.

Turn your car stereo on, do you have audio? The component you have bypassed, the CD changer is bad.

Still no audio, remove fiber optic coupler, place back into original connector and connect back to CD changer.

9) Follow white side of fiber optic cable to next component in line. On the E430, the telephone was next in line.

10) Note the key on the connector along with the location of the red and white ends of the cables.

11) With a flat head screw driver, pry the two pieces of the connector apart to remove the fiber optic cables.

12) Install the splice purchased from the dealership.

Turn your car stereo on, do you have audio? The component you have bypassed is bad.

Still no audio, remove fiber optic coupler, place back into original connector and connect back to CD changer.

Follow white side of fiber optic cable to next component and repeat.

13) The red light did not blink when starting.
Read through the above instructions. The above instructions deal with the original red fiber optic coupler blinking when testing. If the red side of the coupler does not blink, you need to trace the red side back to the component before. Continue testing.

Notes - There are some variations to troubleshooting. Remove fiber optic connectors one at a time, check for the blinking red light when turning the stereo on. When you locate the connector that does not blink red, trace the red side of the cable back to the previous component in line and check for the blinking red light. If the red light blinks, install the bypass coupler, turn the stereo on and check for audio. If the red light does not blink, continue tracing the red side of the fiber optic cable back to the previous component and install the bypass coupler to check for audio.

Bypassing the car stereo or Bose amplifier will not provide audio.

There have been many occasions where we have returned Bose amplifiers with no defect when tested. This page is to help you troubleshoot your audio system for "No Audio" to the correct defective component.

CLK series '99-03 - Bose amplifier is not part of the fiber optic system. Car stereo, SOS and the factory telephone are part of the fiber optic system. Remove car stereo from dash. Remove fiber optic cable from car stereo. Turn car stereo off then back on. If there is no audio, in most cases, this is a car stereo problem. It is best to send stereo and amplifier to determine the problem with the audio system.

Fiber Optic Cable Location for CD changers

E-Class 99-02+ Drivers side wheel-well in trunk SL 99-02+ Drivers side wheel-well trunk

E320T 99-02+ Passenger side wheel-well in trunk CLK 99-03 Passenger side right rear corner trunk

C-Class 99-00 Passenger side wheel-well in trunk CLK 03-04 Glove box

C-Class 01-03+ Glove box + Pass side right rear corner trunk

S-Class 99-02+ Drivers side wheel-well trunk + Passenger side right rear corner trunk

Mercedes Benz S-Class Front Door Speaker Removal
	Mercedes Benz S-Class Front Door Speaker Removal
	1.1) At hand hold on door panel, pry panel from front edge releasing clips. All clips release with pry pressure.
	2.1) Pry up along inside edge of panel.
	3.1) Remove panel and set to side.
	4.1) Remove one exposed screw at top of opening. 4.2) Remove one exposed screw at bottom of opening.
	5.1) Pry front edge of trim panel from door panel releasing clips.
	6.1) Work along edge of trim panel releasing clips.
	7.1) Continue working along edge of trim panel releasing clips.
	8.1) Remove trim panel.
	9.1) Check for remaining clips on door panel from trim panel removal.
	10.1) Push clips in, flush with panel.
	11.1) Check removed trim panel for clips.
	12.1) Remove remaining clips on trim panel.
	13.1) Place clips back into openings on door panel ready for reinstallation.
	14.1) Remove first exposed screw from trim panel removal.
	15.1) Remove second exposed screw from trim panel removal.
	16.1) Remove third exposed screw from trim panel removal.
	17.1) Pry top edge of small panel under hand hold.
	18.1) Pull upper edge of small panel from door releasing lower clip.
	19.1) Remove panel and set to side.
	20.1) Pry front edge of door panel at vent assembly releasing clips.
	21.1) Grasp front edge of panel and pull back releasing clips along panel.
	22.1) Pull panel slightly from door, do not remove panel or disconnect.
	23.1) Remove one screw at top of speaker grill exposed from above panel removal.
	24.1) Remove one screw at bottom of speaker grill.
	25.1) Find rear edge of speaker grill.
	26.1) Push speaker grill toward front of door panel releasing hooks.
	27.1) Remove speaker grill.
	28.1) Locate hooks along back edge of speaker grill.
	29.1) Speaker grill hooks mate to openings in door panel when sliding speaker grill back into place during reinstallation.
	30.1) Remove screws securing speaker to door panel.

Mercedes Benz S-Class Rear Door Speaker Removal
	Mercedes Benz S-Class Rear Door Speaker and Tweeter Removal
	1.1) Roll window down. 1.2) Along back edge of door panel, remove screw from panel surrounding door lock mechanism.
	2.1) Remove surrounding door lock panel and set to side.
	3.1) Pry "SRS Airbag" insignia from door panel releasing clips.
	4.1) Pull insignia forward from opening, insignia will remain attached to door panel.
	5.1) Remove exposed screw from insignia cavity.
	6.1) At hand hold on door panel, pry panel from front edge releasing clips. All clips release with pry pressure.
	7.1) Pry up along inside edge of panel.
	8.1) Remove panel and set to side.
	9.1) Remove one exposed screw at top of opening.
	10.1) Remove one exposed screw at bottom of opening.
	11.1) Pry front edge of trim panel from door panel releasing clips.
	12.1) Work along edge of trim panel releasing clips.
	13.1) Continue working along edge of trim panel releasing clips.
	14.1) Remove trim panel.
	15.1) Check for remaining clips on door panel from trim panel removal.
	16.1) Push clips in, flush with panel.
	17.1) Check removed trim panel for clips.
	18.1) Remove remaining clips on trim panel.
	19.1) Place clips back into openings on door panel ready for reinstallation.
	20.1) Remove first exposed screw from trim panel removal.
	21.1) Remove second exposed screw from trim panel removal.
	22.1) Pry front edge of door panel at tweeter grill cover releasing clips.
	23.1) Work down front edge of panel releasing clips.
	24.1) Grasp panel and remove from door panel.
	25.1) Pull top edge of panel down for access to back of panel.
	26.1) Locate connector in wire bundle.
	27.1) Squeeze trigger on side of connector in to release and remove.
	28.1) At control panel, release trigger on connector to disconnect and remove.
	29.1) At control panel, release trigger on connector to disconnect and remove.
	30.1) At control panel, release trigger on connector to disconnect and remove.
	31.1) At control panel, release trigger on connector to disconnect and remove.
	32.1) At control panel, release trigger on connector to disconnect and remove.
	33.1) At control panel, release trigger on connector to disconnect and remove. Note - All connectors are keyed and will mate to only one spot when reconnecting.
	34.1) At tweeter, pull locks from edge of speaker to release.
	35.1) Remove tweeter and set panel to side.
	36.1) Remove one exposed screw on door panel forward of door open handle.
	37.1) Pry back bottom edge of door panel from door releasing clips.
	38.1) Pry along bottom of panel to front edge releasing clips. 38.2) Pry up front and back edges of door panel releasing clips.
	39.1) Pull bottom edge of door panel away from door verifying all clips have been released.
	40.1) Lift back top edge of door panel up out of window jam.
	41.1) Lift front top edge of door panel up out of window jam and allow door lock to pass through panel.
	42.1) Pull top edge of door panel back for access to back of panel.
	43.1) Locate door handle linkage cable on door panel.
	44.1) Grasp cable at edge of door handle assembly.
	45.1) Pull cable back from door handle assembly.
	46.1) Lift cable up to remove from securing slot.
	47.1) Turn cable away from edge of door panel.
	48.1) Lift end of cable up releasing from lock.
	49.1) Feed wires and connectors through opening on door panel. 49.2) Remove door panel and set to side.
	50.1) Check door for any remaining door panel clips.
	51.1) Pry door panel clips from door to remove.
	52.1) Slide clips into openings on door panel ready for reinstallation.
	53.1) Remove screws securing speaker to door panel.

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