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Joe
| | Posted on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 03:38 pm: | 
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Figures my warranty JUST expired and...BAM....a technical problem rears its ugly face.
My passanger side electric seat controls work in EVERY position EXCEPT forward. (98 Disco I) I'm hoping I just need to clean some contacts or somethimg THAT easy. I attempted to take apart the switch but it seemed like it could potentially be a pain in the ass and I wasn't in the mood for it at the time so I put it off. At least it's stuck all the way back so my passanger has some leg room (too bad for the rear pasangers) As usual, any advice?
Secondly, I installed an aftermarket radio. The stock had two antenna looking wires. I tried connecting both on the new radio, but STILL no reception (FM nor AM)......well, a LITTLE bit of reception SOMETIMES. Again, any suggestions?
If you already responded to this I REALLY appreciate it, I would just like a bit more assistance. Thanks folks!!
Joe
San Diego, Ca |
David Dryden (David914)
| | Posted on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 07:51 pm: |
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I haven't had the pleasure(?!) of delving into my seat controls (yet), so I can't help you there. However, your radio is something I'm familiar with. Are you using an adaptor to convert the Disco antenna leads to your radio antenna connection? If not, you're probably not getting a good enough connection, or worse, have the antenna(s) plugged into what I suspect is one of the RCA connectors (wrong) comming out of your new radio. You will only need to use one of the Disco's antennas. The factory radio uses what they call a diversity antenna system and requires two antennas. Most (99.9% all) aftermarket radios do not have this system and so you'll just need to connect one (it doesn't matter which) antenna. Let me know how it goes or if you need more info.
David |
SG
| | Posted on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 10:51 pm: |
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Can't help with the radio reception, but I've opened up the seat switches several times. They are of Mercedes origin....
You'll need nothing more than a Swiss army knife. The halves snap together, with a bit of aluminized tape securing it. The little symbolic seats pull right off. Open the switch up over a shoe box lid, as there are four switches, eight springs and 16 itty-bitty ball bearings. The carbon on the contacts need to be scraped/shined up, that's all.
It's a bit of a fiddly job, and you'll need a steady hand, but it won't cost you a cent to get things in working order again.
Cheers |
Mike B.
| | Posted on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 10:52 pm: |
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Electric Seat Problems:
Remove the switch and soak/swish it in a solution of rubbing alcohol. Let it dry. Hopefully, it's just dirty contacts.
Best of luck,
Mike B. |
drbuck
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2002 - 10:52 am: |
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Joe, before you pull the seat switches apart use an electrical meter to determine if your contacts are good or need cleaning. Pulling those things apart is a pain in the ass especially when you aren't sure if that is the problem. Big pins are the supply and small pins are the load. If you have poor conductivity then try the suggestions above.
Good Luck,
jeff. |
Joe
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2002 - 12:35 pm: |
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EVERYBODY................thanks. This weekend I will test the leads and probably disassemble the switch to be cleaned.
By the way, I did splice on a new adapter for my radio reception......VERY thin wire.......and still no reception. |
David Dryden (David914)
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2002 - 01:41 pm: |
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OK, first of all... Do you mean literally "splicing on a new adaptor" as in cutting wires and soldering? If so, check and make sure you didn't short the center conductor and the shield together. Also, make sure that you have the VERY thin wire (the center conductor) soldered to the center pin (you may have to scrape off a thin layer of coating on the wire first to get the solder to take), and the shield soldered to the outer part of the new connector.
If you used a store bought adaptor, then I would check the fuse that feeds the antenna booster amps. It's the 3rd fuse from the bottom right of the main fuse panel under the dash (same fuse that feeds the factory radio). Let me know what you find out.
David |
JOE
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2002 - 05:27 pm: |
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Nope. I just cut away the insulation and twisted the thin wire of the Rover antenna to the thin wire of a Radio Shack adaptor and taped it up tightly. Nothing happened with respect to the gaining od reception. I think I might take it apart and try again just in case I twisted SLIGHTLY to much and severed the thin wire. No soldering involved. |
David Dryden (David914)
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 02, 2002 - 05:44 pm: |
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Yeah, those wires are REAL delicate. Be sure you also connect the shield to the outer metal part of the connector. If you haven't cut the end off of the other antenna yet, you might be better off buying a late model VW antenna adaptor to make the connection. It adapts the Disco's funky antenna connection to a standard "Motorola" style that will fit your new radio.
David |
Joe
| | Posted on Thursday, April 04, 2002 - 12:01 pm: |
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Excuse my ignorance, but what do you mean by the "shield?" All I did was cut away the rubber and stuff, splice together the two wires and taped it up, plugged the new adapted end into the slot in the new radio. Am I missing anything? I still haven't dug into it yet......too lazy. Maybe I will this weekend or when my cd collection gets boring and I yearn for the radio. |
David Dryden (David914)
| | Posted on Thursday, April 04, 2002 - 09:03 pm: |
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Coax cable (the rubber-like wire coming from the antennas) has a center conductor and an outer "shield" conductor. The center conductor, of course, goes to the center pin of your connector. The outer shield (usually braided copper) should be connected to the outer metal part of the connector that plugs into your radio. |
Joe Musmacker (Socaljoe)
| | Posted on Friday, April 05, 2002 - 12:05 pm: |
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THAT'S what I figured. Thanks. Actually I just tossed trhe copper shielding aside. So that may be why I don't get reception? The reception is THAT sensitive? WOW. OK. I'll go back in and CAREFULLY rewire the whole thing as properly as I can. Again, thanks......ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND. I'm heading out to some extreme desert this weekend. The warranty is over so I hope I don't bust anything now. |
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