Speaker problems. Water in door?

lexie · 21-03-2009, 07:28 PM

It has been a while since I last visited this site. Mainly because all has been going pritty well

But today I encountered a problem for which I would like some advise.

My problem is partly electronics, partly body work and partly interior. Since the original problem first points to an electronic issue, I'll post this in the Electronics section.

The car is a E240 Estate (October 2003, model 2004) (I think it's also called an S211).

Today my front left speakers (both upper tweater and lower speaker) started making strange noises: hisses, cracks, pops. Sometimes very loud.

This continues even when turning the comand off. It even goes on after closing the car.

First I suspected the tweater was dying. But as it seems the lower speaker has it also.

Now I suspect water in the door because the only unusual thing I did was going to an automated car wash earlier today.

I checked if the door had some water draining holes which would be obstructed, but I didn't found any openings for draining. I did find a bit of moist and tiny bit of rust (!!!) on the edge of the lower door seal (rubber that goes all the way around the door).

I would like to check if there is indeed water in the door. And if so I would also try to dry it out as soon as possible. Tomorrow is sunday, so no immediate help from dealer I guess.

Now here are some questions:

- How do I remove the lower speaker cover?
- How do I remove the inner door pannel?
- Does the system eventually shuts down electronics to the door after closing the car?
- Should I disconnect the battery overnight to avoid possible shorts? Should I worry about a possible fire caused by a short in the door?
- Is it normal to have water inside the door?
- Is the rust an acceptable problem or is Mercedes to be blamed?

shorty · 21-03-2009, 08:32 PM

Wather will get into the door , this is normal . There is a foam panel covering the door and this will stop water getting in . The door control unit is mounted infront of this panel so as to keep it dry and damp free . This control unit is powered all the time , but the CAN system will stop comunation with a this unit aftre the car enters sleep mode , after the car is locked .
The speakers are not controled by this unit , they are controled on your car by the Audio Gate Way , this is in the boot behind the rear SAM ( fuse and relay box ).
The speaker cover will come away from the door panel , but it is beat to remove the whole panel . To remove this .....
1 Unclip the tweeter cover .
2Remove the trim piece at the front of the panel , and the trim piece at the door arm rest .
3 remove the 2 tx screws at the door arm rest , and the screw behind the other trim piece .
4 remove the screw on the door latch cover and remove the cover .
5Unclip the lower edges of the panel and slide the panel up from the top mounting .
6 unplug the wires for the lights , window switch and speaker , and disconnect the door release cable .

lexie · 22-03-2009, 11:18 AM

Thanks for your dead-on door panel removing instructions! Having absolutely no idea what I was up to, everything was just as described. The only thing i was not prepared for was the ribbon wiring for the lights. It seems very brittle and was afraid I might have damaged it. But everything is fine.

Back to the issue. The door was as dry and clean as it can be.

Once I disconnected the white speaker connector behind the front trim, I found out that the dash center speaker also cracks and pops. None of the other speakers suffer from it. Only front left door (tweeter and lower speaker) and dash center speaker.

After a while, after removing the key, the system goes quiet again. I guess this is the sleepmode you were talking about.

The only way I found so far to stop it, is removing the 40A (!) audio gateway fuse (F006) in the booth. Ofcourse no comand audio or navigation without this fuse...

I will be taking it in to the my mercedes service center next week. They will probably need (want) to replace an expensive part i guess...

Anybody else had similar troubles?

lexie · 03-04-2009, 09:07 PM

just a follow up for those interested...

- Audio problem solved by mercedes, financed by own wallet: new audio gateway + install + reprogramming

- Rust problem: will be taken care of by mercedes under warranty

shorty · 04-04-2009, 03:49 PM

- Audio problem solved by mercedes, financed by own wallet: new audio gateway + install + reprogramming
Ouch ! that must of cost a bit

21-03-2009, 07:28 PM	#1
lexie Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Belgium Car: E240 Estate (S211/2004) Posts: 49	Speaker problems. Water in door? It has been a while since I last visited this site. Mainly because all has been going pritty well But today I encountered a problem for which I would like some advise. My problem is partly electronics, partly body work and partly interior. Since the original problem first points to an electronic issue, I'll post this in the Electronics section. The car is a E240 Estate (October 2003, model 2004) (I think it's also called an S211). Today my front left speakers (both upper tweater and lower speaker) started making strange noises: hisses, cracks, pops. Sometimes very loud. This continues even when turning the comand off. It even goes on after closing the car. First I suspected the tweater was dying. But as it seems the lower speaker has it also. Now I suspect water in the door because the only unusual thing I did was going to an automated car wash earlier today. I checked if the door had some water draining holes which would be obstructed, but I didn't found any openings for draining. I did find a bit of moist and tiny bit of rust (!!!) on the edge of the lower door seal (rubber that goes all the way around the door). I would like to check if there is indeed water in the door. And if so I would also try to dry it out as soon as possible. Tomorrow is sunday, so no immediate help from dealer I guess. Now here are some questions: - How do I remove the lower speaker cover? - How do I remove the inner door pannel? - Does the system eventually shuts down electronics to the door after closing the car? - Should I disconnect the battery overnight to avoid possible shorts? Should I worry about a possible fire caused by a short in the door? - Is it normal to have water inside the door? - Is the rust an acceptable problem or is Mercedes to be blamed?

21-03-2009, 08:32 PM	#2
shorty Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: ireland Car: 211 200 k avantgrade, Z1000 mr2 Posts: 526	Wather will get into the door , this is normal . There is a foam panel covering the door and this will stop water getting in . The door control unit is mounted infront of this panel so as to keep it dry and damp free . This control unit is powered all the time , but the CAN system will stop comunation with a this unit aftre the car enters sleep mode , after the car is locked . The speakers are not controled by this unit , they are controled on your car by the Audio Gate Way , this is in the boot behind the rear SAM ( fuse and relay box ). The speaker cover will come away from the door panel , but it is beat to remove the whole panel . To remove this ..... 1 Unclip the tweeter cover . 2Remove the trim piece at the front of the panel , and the trim piece at the door arm rest . 3 remove the 2 tx screws at the door arm rest , and the screw behind the other trim piece . 4 remove the screw on the door latch cover and remove the cover . 5Unclip the lower edges of the panel and slide the panel up from the top mounting . 6 unplug the wires for the lights , window switch and speaker , and disconnect the door release cable .

22-03-2009, 11:18 AM	#3
lexie Member Threadstarter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Belgium Car: E240 Estate (S211/2004) Posts: 49	Thanks for your dead-on door panel removing instructions! Having absolutely no idea what I was up to, everything was just as described. The only thing i was not prepared for was the ribbon wiring for the lights. It seems very brittle and was afraid I might have damaged it. But everything is fine. Back to the issue. The door was as dry and clean as it can be. Once I disconnected the white speaker connector behind the front trim, I found out that the dash center speaker also cracks and pops. None of the other speakers suffer from it. Only front left door (tweeter and lower speaker) and dash center speaker. After a while, after removing the key, the system goes quiet again. I guess this is the sleepmode you were talking about. The only way I found so far to stop it, is removing the 40A (!) audio gateway fuse (F006) in the booth. Ofcourse no comand audio or navigation without this fuse... I will be taking it in to the my mercedes service center next week. They will probably need (want) to replace an expensive part i guess... Anybody else had similar troubles?

03-04-2009, 09:07 PM	#4
lexie Member Threadstarter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Belgium Car: E240 Estate (S211/2004) Posts: 49	just a follow up for those interested... - Audio problem solved by mercedes, financed by own wallet: new audio gateway + install + reprogramming - Rust problem: will be taken care of by mercedes under warranty

04-04-2009, 03:49 PM	#5
shorty Hardcore MB Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: ireland Car: 211 200 k avantgrade, Z1000 mr2 Posts: 526	- Audio problem solved by mercedes, financed by own wallet: new audio gateway + install + reprogramming Ouch ! that must of cost a bit

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