Mercedes E320 Window Problem

Hey Guys I installed a basic alarm with door locks and timers to extend lock/unlock pulses to raise/lower windows. Now 3 weeks later the customer comes back and his windows are acting up (Go Up only Half Way) and the sunroof doesn't work. I disconnected the battery to reset the car, now the window switches don't raise or lower windows at all althought the key in the door does both, and the sunroof is back working again. I took the alarm out completely and reset the battery again with no lock, plus all the switches on the same console with window switches do not work (Mirrors, Trunk...)

   Anyone have any idea what it could be or what could be done?
   
   I need help on this one.

P.S. I also installed the Pioneer AVIC-N1 and two amps in the trunk. For the VSS wire I used the one in the mercedes stereo harness and it seems to work fine.

Sorry It's a 1997 Mercedes E320.

That doesn't sound right at all, I have done this tons of times. How did you hook the "window roll up" up? Is there any chance you shorted out any of the wires near the switches? Did the customer play with the windows up and down too much, basically burning the motors up? How did you set up the timers, specifically time wise?

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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

The window motors work fine because you can raise them/lower them buy turning and holding the key in the drivers door, but the none of the window switches inside the car function. I hooked up the timer for just enough time to raise the window +1 sec, and the windows roll down as long as ch.2 is pressed. The funny thing is that the middle console has 4 window switches, trunk release, ARS off switch and SRS off light however there is only 7 thin wires at the console and nothing on it seems to be working, so could it be the console is bad or some kind of a brain problem.

Sounds like the seitches are burned out. I had this happen to one of my customer's car's where the switch burned out and we replaced the switch and the problem was solved. The bad thing was that the switch costed us over $ 150.00 for a simple 3 button switch. I can't imagine how much the Mercedes will cost to replace

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Thanks for the replies. Man I hope it's not the switches, I mean all 6 of them sounds impossible.

It won't be all six, just one switch will make all the other ones not function. It's all tied into a circuit so that if one is missing or non functioning, all do not work.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Is there any possibility of obtaining a wiring diagram for the switches? or at least the pinout of the connector at the center console. One more thing I'm thinking is the ignition switch. I got a diagram that showed how all the modules interface in the car and it showed that the ignition switch is tied into the circuit, now this is why it sounds interesting - the customer said that one time he took the key out of the ignition and the car kept running...So I'm thinking maybe the ignition switch when on does not send a signal to the center console ===> switches don't operate. Any takes on this issue.

If anyone can tell me where I could get a hold of the wiring schematic for this car I would really appreciate it.

Jeff I know you're good help me out.

P.S. The car is actually a 1999 not a 1997.

I'm not believing that the ignition switch has anything to do with your problem because most if not all vehicles still have power window operations with the ignition powered up. Have you metered the switch or performed a continuity test between the wires and the switch ? There may be a break somewhere on the switch that you can't see, but a simple fix with the soldering iron will solve your problems. Check with a DMM first and post your results.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

The thing is like I explained, the center console where the switches are has only 7 wires that support 4 window switches, trunk release, both mirrors, and ARS button, and none of those buttons work either, that's why I'm thinking the console is not being powered, and that is why I also can't test the swithes...Only if I had a wiring diagram. But the reason I said the ignition is because of that not shutting-off glitch the customer had.
I appreciate all of your inputs and I will try maybe take the console apart to get to the individual switches.

Well a Mercedes "specialist" came by the shop yesterday and couldn't figure out what the problem is, whoever HE WAS SURE THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY WE GROUNDED SOMETHING OUT WHILE INSTALLING THE ALARM. He charged $60 for coming out to look at the car and said he could only definitely find the problem if the car is at his shop at $80/HR estimate.

Here is the funny thing Today after everyone almost gave up on the car I went and double checked all the fuses and then I started unplugging the center console with the switches when all of a sudden they came alive and the windows started working again. We took the console out took it apart it turned out that the switch assembly had a lot of moisture inside it, we notified the customer and ONLY THEN DID HE REMEMBER THAT HE TOOK THE CAR TO A CAR WASH A DAY BEFORE THE PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENNING, but I guess it made more sense to blame the alarm install done 3 weeks prior...anyways.

THANK YOU Jeff you were right about the switches, although not the switches themselves, but you seem to be a better Mercedes specialist than the SPECIALIST that came over.

I guess we were lucky the customer didn't let the dealer check out the car otherwise they would've fixed it for like $1000 and climed that the alarm was the definite cause. Yet another lesson to learn...

Thanks guys.

Holy crap, all of that just because the car washed probably used a wet towel to wipe the center console down.

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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.