02 mercedes c240 ignition harness

hey guys im having some trouble installing a basic gps tracker in this C-240. my problem is that it seems like i have to remove almost the entire dash and center console to get access to the ignition harness at the ignition switch. can anyone tell me if there is an alternate location that i can find 12v constant, ignition and starter wires. the starter is not as important because the GPS will work without it but i would still like to hook it up if possible. im not very familiar with taking apart mercedes' and it takes me a while because im not sure what needs to come out and what doesnt. im trying to take as little apart as possible so please help me if you can, thanks

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Driver side front fusebox* in engine bay, something like BLACK / YELLOW on a plug at the end, also a violet/something for starter.
Most of the stuff inside is data, don't go near.
Alternate for constant and ignition, chuck your antennae behind the rear (plastic)bumper under the light fitting, or even better, into the light fitting if you can, there's a fuse box behind the side trim* with constant and ignition. That's my quick and dirty for M/.Benz, BMW, Audi Chrysler 300, all have nice fuseboxes at the back end, often complete with battery. (And you won't find a better constant and ground which WON'T throw DTCs!).
*I'm vague about which side because M/Benz tend to re-site everything and I've only done right hand drive

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

thanks so much but im a little confused on a few things. what is the BLACK / YELLOW supposed to be under the hood? and you are also suggesting that i get constant and ignition from the rear fusebox?

yea i was also worried about data links. i know theres fiber optics in this car from removing the radio trim and i know that stuff is extremely touchy. and also the key cylinder is made for an RF key and even though i couldnt see the back of the key cylinder i kept getting the feeling that i was taking the dash apart for nothing and all i wound eventually find was small gauge data wires on the back just like a chrystler or dodge.

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BLACK / YELLOW or BLACK/ violet at front (engine bay) fusebox.
C/E/and S classes also have a rear fusebox plus the main battery in the trunk area. That's where I put the GPS units.
Your comment about Chryslers is because the 300 is a cheap E Class and the Crossfire is a rebadged SLK!

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

howie ll wrote:

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BLACK / YELLOW or BLACK/ violet at front (engine bay) fusebox.
C/E/and S classes also have a rear fusebox plus the main battery in the trunk area. That's where I put the GPS units.
Your comment about Chryslers is because the 300 is a cheap E Class and the Crossfire is a rebadged SLK!

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yes but what is the BLACK / YELLOW supposed to be? ignition, constant, or starter? i knew that chrysler shared some common points with mercedes but i never put 2 and 2 together about the crossfire but it makes sense. thank you for your help man i really appreciate it.

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OK, on current M/Benz, BLACK/ something is ignition at 12V+
Starter circuits are usually violet/something.
I can't be any more precise because of spec. differences.
Anyway TEST.
All I can add is that in the last few years I've done literally 100s of trackers, most "big" saloons etc. have an extra fuse box in the rear area and this has constant, ignition and grounds in the trunk area, plus the main battery as well.
You've also got plastic lenses on the rear light, plastic bumper covers, all great for antenna mounting because the plastic is "transparent" to RF signals.
Above comments apply to Audi, BMW, Chrysler, M/Benz.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

cool, thanks. i dont mind you not being specific, i just wanted to have an idea what i should be testing these wires for. i tried testing for ignition at the driver side interior fuse box and all i could find was 12v constant, but this was just a small junction box with most of the wires running straight from the engine compartment. but anyway thanks for the advice and i think it should be good enough to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time.

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update: thanks Howie, you are the man. i installed the GPS box this morning and it was still a bit of a challenge but you definitely pointed me in the right direction. i ended up doing the whole install under the hood because that is where the battery was located and i found the starter wire and an ignition in a brown plug coming out of the fuse box (which was on the driver's side). and i stuck the GPS itself inside the fuse box where there was some extra space in a corner. took me about an hour.

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Hmm, so left/hand drive it's drivers side.
a) Glad you did it OK.
b) Just proves I was right in being cautious about which side, that would have been the passenger side here.


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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.