Command APS not showing in Inst Cluster

[thefast1]

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to get some other opinions on this fault if anyone can chime in that would be a great help
I have command APS factory fitted in a facelift 2005 CLK cab sport, the volume and phone answer\end call buttons on the steering wheel don't work although the menu buttons on the steering wheel do, and within the instrument cluster when you have the command on the radio it will not show the station you are tuned into, same with the phone, CD tracks, and Nav info, I get "please wait" in the inst cluster, the command also will not switch off when you remove the key, you have to manually switch it off and also in night time driving the auto dim doesn't work, so you get a very bright light from the screen which is uncomfortable when driving at night,
If I pull the fuse for the command and replace then all the functionality returns to the instrument cluster,steering wheel buttons and command, this tends to last for 20mins or until I switch off and restart the engine again, it doesn't matter how long I leave the fuse out for, the easy access system still works when the fault occurs so it is not the EIS switch which controls the easy access,(so I have been told) the command has been updated with all the latest firmware which I think helped for a least a week, but I had not driven it that much after the updates so could have been a coincidence, MB have said there is nothing else they can do apart from fitting a new command unit, but they are unsure if this will fix the fault, so I am unwilling to part with over £600 for a new command, anyone had anything like this happen to them before?

[Baron_Samedi]

Welcome thefast1!

I'm sure qualified help will be along, but in the meantime you will have to put up with my speculation.

It certainly seems as though the Comand isn't talking with the car for any period of time after switch on.

The "please wait" notice is an indication that the feature the cluster is looking of is not present - duh, but the question is why and presuming that MB have tested that the Comand is talking on the MOST ring it does point to something in the unit itself rather than a problem with the fibre optic ring or its physical connections.

Are you in the Wiltshire area?
Just thinking that we could drop my spare Audio 20 into your car and see how it reacts.

[thefast1]

Thank you for the welcome,
I am in Hampshire, thanks for your offer to try another unit but seems a lot of hassle, thought I would fish for a quick soloution if there was one & find out if MB where just trying it on when they suggested a new unit, it may be worth just putting up with it then if I am looking at a new or recon unit, thanks again for the offer.

[Baron_Samedi]

No probs!

Keep an eye on this thread as there are gents such as Alfie and Richard on here who may have a more detailed opinion about your predicament....

[Alfie]

Originally Posted by thefast1

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to get some other opinions on this fault if anyone can chime in that would be a great help
I have command APS factory fitted in a facelift 2005 CLK cab sport, the volume and phone answer\end call buttons on the steering wheel don't work although the menu buttons on the steering wheel do, and within the instrument cluster when you have the command on the radio it will not show the station you are tuned into, same with the phone, CD tracks, and Nav info, I get "please wait" in the inst cluster, the command also will not switch off when you remove the key, you have to manually switch it off and also in night time driving the auto dim doesn't work, so you get a very bright light from the screen which is uncomfortable when driving at night,
If I pull the fuse for the command and replace then all the functionality returns to the instrument cluster,steering wheel buttons and command, this tends to last for 20mins or until I switch off and restart the engine again, it doesn't matter how long I leave the fuse out for, the easy access system still works when the fault occurs so it is not the EIS switch which controls the easy access,(so I have been told) the command has been updated with all the latest firmware which I think helped for a least a week, but I had not driven it that much after the updates so could have been a coincidence, MB have said there is nothing else they can do apart from fitting a new command unit, but they are unsure if this will fix the fault, so I am unwilling to part with over £600 for a new command, anyone had anything like this happen to them before?

This sounds like a CANBUS fault, most probably in the comand unit itself or a boken/losse connection.

We are based in the Berkshire/NW Surrey area so could take a look at it for you.

[rhjcamp]

...I have exactly all of the same symptoms above, BUT I have a Denison 500 gateway and cd changer which I have just installed which are all still working. That sort of implies the comand unit is connecting to the most ring fine or I could play music and change tracks... Everything else works okay, just the instrument cluster and the controls on the steering wheel do not work? Could I have wired the Dension 500 in wrong, or fused/broken the MOST sender? Very confused. Any help would be good! Rob.