[tygerleo]

My 2003 350ml radio FM has no sound, all preset stations are there, not even the static sound when I turn up the volume. And AM, weather channel and CD work and come out with good sound. Any idea what had happened? And how to fix? Where can I get a used or refurished one?

The radio has not navigation and telephone service connected.

One more detail, my wife was driving the car, she heard the radio suddenly became very loud and then went silent -- she was probably listening the FM.

 

[43sqd]

Please UPDATE YOUR PROFILE in USER CP.

 

[Smokiesman]

I would scout around Ebay! I sold my old radio there and there were many for sale!

Smokie

 

[clearchris]

I wouldn't spend a dime on these old units. I'd get something new, shiny and modern. I like the android units, but there are plenty of choices out there...

 

[Michael Pillay]

If you do a search, you will a few threads on this. The same thing happened to mine. I finally ended up replacing it with an aftermarket unit. Everything is good now.

 

[tygerleo]

I did google the webs and found there are many issues for this FM radio, I have not tried any those posts yet, but I doubt they are making a lot of sense. I think I will try to disconnect the battery and reset the radio to see if it is solved the problem or not, or just live with there is not FM radio. As a general observation, I found the digital tune some time does act up even on the Japanese made cars. My other car, 2003 Honda Accord, sometime make loud or cut off sound for no reason when I drive through the area with cell tower. And the German car radio probably is not better than the Japanese made one, in general the German electronics is required to improve. If they did the good job on the electronics, they may kill the Japanese luxury for good in the US.

 

[43sqd]

tyg, edit the model. You are showing 2003 Ml2003 and it should be ML350.

By the way, what does CA car mean?

 

[ronald0211]

same thing happened to me several weeks ago. I did an extensive search and the problem is due to your head unit. You cant fix it..

Solutions:
1. Replace head unit with aftermarket stereo. Since you have 2003 it will require you to access your bose amp near your gas pedal. With gps, a unit will run 600$ unless you go for chinese knockoff 200-300$.

without gps, a decent touch screen run around $300.

2. buy a used headunit on ebay. $100

3. CDs and AM.

4. Pay $220 for Jimmy to fix it. His service is on ebay. A few people in this forum had positive results. You will have to mail your unit to him.

 

[Noodles]

I have said it once and will say it again. Jimmy's work is top notch. If I ever need a repair for a head unit it will go FedEx to Jimmy. He is honest and about as skilled as even the designers and builders of the head units.

 

[43sqd]

leo, there is a strong possibility that if you are using the original M/B telephone set up, it is muting the radio audio when it shouldn't. It is only supposed to mute when there are incoming or outgoing calls.

First check fuse #10 and #21 , and also the fuse at the rear of the radio. If they are good, then...........

Disconnect the CTEL module under the R/F passenger seat and see if that corrects the condition.

 

[43sqd]

Also, while you have the radio out (keys required) to check the fuse, with the key in pos. #2 , but radio off, remove the ORANGE fiber optic cable, then reattach and turn the radio on. Do this a number of times and see what the results are.

Post back with results as there is a third possibility.

 

[tygerleo]

43sqd, I just checked the fuses 10 & 21, they are good. That makes sense, fuse 10 is also for light on the glove box, which works (side comment: what is logic behind to link that light with the emergency call module? For me, this should not been seen on the fine automobile like Benz), fuse 21 is mainly for radio, but my radio AM and weather channel are working. I still wait for the removal keys to remove the radio set -- my friend with good electronic skill and repair said the problem was probably on the ferrite antena inside the radio, it is probably broken. He looked inside after the radio is removed.

My question is how to disconnect the emergency module. I looked at under the front seat, I do not know how to pull the module out. Also according to your logic, by pulling out the fuse 10 can verify if the module cause the muting. And muting should also be seen on AM too.

 

[43sqd]

leo, you do not have to remove the module, just remove the connectors going to it. Raise the seat if needed.

 

[three56a]

this is so good.... 43sqd...... you are the best.... I want to say thank you so much fofr putting out good information here for us....
I have a 2000 ml430

here are my issues:
1. no fm sound
2. gps is not calibrated ( i cannot find where and how to calibrate it)
3. my srs light is staying on and I did check fuse 10 (up and below) 16, 20 and 21 below 1,4,5

i would really like my radio fixed.... I am thinking about going to junk yard and getting one.
how do i take the gps antenna off. i got the 2 holes plate off and then there is a hex screw which must connect to wires.
i did not pull or push it.... the antenna portion spins.. (i don't think that is right.)

help me out 43sqd.. what am i doing wrong?

 

[three56a]

00 ML430- srs light, no fm sound, cannot calibrate gps

i love my 00 ml430.. it looks beautiful but things are starting to break.
1. no fm sound (can i take one out of another ml) and put the who thing in? is the problem in the radio?

2. gps is NOT calibrated the cd maps and the antenna do not work together? can I calibrate it somehow?

3. srs light is staying on.... i did nothing but move the drive front seat all the way forward and back.

i took out fuses 10 (both above and below) 16 above and 20 and 21 above

below: 1,4,5
i just took them out and checked them while the car was NOT running. should i take one out and start the car and the stop car and put the fuse back?

4. the antenna (might be the problem it is loose... I took the 2 holed cap off looked in unscrewed the hex screw head but it did not come out. so i put everything back.

i called junk yard today and they have a 00 ml430 i can go over and rape. but first i must know what the hell i am doing.... i also need a radio remover... where can i get one FREE?

thank you so much.... you are the best you are the only person i believe in this forum. 43spd

 

[43sqd]

The first thing that has to be known is, did the reception problem and the GPS problem occur at the same time?

The second thing is, do you have an original M/B radio?

The third thing is, why is there a necessity for the use of the GPS function? It is only necessary if you have an interior telephone hooked up, for using the M/B GPS discs, or are you still using the E-call system? All of which I doubt very seriously.

You will have to remove the radio (keys needed) and have a look at all of the connections and see if they are snapped in correctly.

You should also look at the coax antenna cable which runs through the tailgate to the AM-FM amplifier and see if it is frayed or partially broken.

The SRS light being on could be caused by a yellow connector disconnected under one of the two front seats. If there is one, then turn the eng. off and reconnect it. Hopefully the light will extinguish.

 

[Alrt]

Take a search in youtube. There is a video showing how to check the fiber optics connection between the radio and the amp.

Mine had the problem with the optical connection (i.e. led not blinking). In some thread I found out that there is one guy fixing those (was found on ebay as well).

I bought a used one from salvage yard to fix mine.

 

[Noodles]

That guy that fixes them would be Jimmy Chen. If you search his name you will find his info.
He does good work and is honest.
Mercedes Benz ML500 ML350 ML320 Comand Radio We Repair Your Comand | eBay

 

[tygerleo]

43sqd. I removed the radio from the car today, but I need to know the pin arrangement of the back-plate. Any one has the pin arrangement information. Meanwhile I will also check my tailgate area for the antenna connection.

BTW, for my keys, they both are the same shape, not like your image showing two different types of key. Thanks/

 

[tygerleo]

More on this, I just checked the tailgate connection, they seem fine -- protected with heavy duty jacket, I could not see the wirings inside. But I did notice my antenna tip was broken, the metal film, a main part of the antenna, was half broken inside, probably by the car washing machine, and the water also probably got inside.

My question now is what inside the antenna assembly, does it have any circuit inside? where can I get an aftermarket one? how to remove the old one and install the new one?

I still will have my friend check the radio first, being it was already removed.

Thanks again everyone