I have a problem where the COMMAND GPS would intermittently fail to get satellites (which happened a couple of times) - then it stopped receiving satellites all together.
(Car is a 2005 SLK350 - Australia)

The maps still work and it is obviously still getting some telemetry data, but since it hasn't seen a satellite in a couple of months, the position is wrong and even the clock is innacurate.

Took it to the local Mercedes dealer in Sydney, who said it was an antenna problem and they would need to get one sent in from overseas at a cost of about $450 (AUD).

Several weeks later the dealer installed the new antenna - but it didn't fix the problem. They've now had it the last couple of days - but now say the whole GPS system in the command unit is stuffed and needs to be replaced at a cost of $8,000.

Obviously I think the price (and to some degree their diagnosis skills) are a bit off the mark. The rest of the command system is working OK.

Have you heard of GPS failures like this before? At that price it's not worth fixing.

Any advice?

Hi,

Its most likely the antenna, the Navigation processor's GPS input, or the wiring in between (unlikely unless water penetration which is unlikely on the SLK, more likely on the W211). At a push it could be the map disk, but unlikely.

An easy diagnosis without bothering to put Star Diagnosis on the car would be "replace the antenna". But at $450 what they should do is to have put the Star Diagnosis on and seen what the Navigation Processor is saying about the GPS antenna before deciding that, or even plugging a test antenna into the back of the nav processor and trying that.

Now they have replaced the antenna (assuming it is good), its either the wiring (unlikely), or the nav processor.

You can get a new nav processor a lot cheaper than the MB dealer in AUS will sell it you...

Comand Online Ltd :: Mercedes SatNav/COMAND :: COMAND Retrofit parts :: Navigation Unit for E, CLS, SL, SLK, S, CL (NTG1)

The tool to release the nav processor is here: -

Comand Online Ltd :: Tools :: Mercedes Benz Audio Removal Keys

A cheapo antenna to test with is here: -

Comand Online Ltd :: Mercedes SatNav/COMAND :: COMAND Retrofit parts :: Comand GPS Antenna

(if you see VAT on the price, register and as you are outside EU it will be removed)

But first, just see if you can borrow a map disk from someone to try given the part is expensive whatever.

Richard

__________________
Of course i'll take it apart.

www.mercupgrades.com
http://www.comandonline.co.uk

PS, also, it strikes me that a visit to Benzmodz (guru here, in Sydney) may get you a better result than visiting the dealer

Richard

__________________
Of course i'll take it apart.

www.mercupgrades.com
http://www.comandonline.co.uk