2006 S class W221 Comand, signal strength on display

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gus0898uk

Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2020
Messages
47
Location
Leicestershire
Car
2006 S Class
i recently bought my first Merc, a 2006 S Class, I do not drive a lot of miles so I am trying to get a grip of a few things.
Whilst the Comand digital clock is OK the central analogue one is a couple or so hours out, I tried 'the 30 second first thing in the morning' fix, this did work temporarily to bring the correct time closer but it is now still 2 to 3 hours out. Thursday I am going to try and remove a battery earth lead at 1159 to see if that idea works.
So today I visited a local indy with a good Merc reputation, I think he may have tried with a CD but it didn't work. He thought that the signal strength ( 5 hollow bars top right corner of display) was showing the satellites not connecting properly.

I have not attempted to connect my mobile to Comand but from the handbook it looks like the 5 bar thing is for mobile telephone signal, is it a mobile signal strength only?
I have the dark Limo tints on my two rear doors plus the rear screen and my indy thinks that it is possible the dark tints are stopping the satellites engaging properly with Comand.
There may be something to this as there is an after market type of aerial on the front windscreen which may have been used to strengthen the audio signal.

My indy suggested I go to a nearby radio/electronic business and have a chat with them, I had already decided that I will be getting the tints removed anyway, I do understand there is a small chance of damage to the HRW.
Sorry about the rambling and my indy never charged me anything.
 
Its a well known problem with a lot of Mercs, the time no longer auto updates on screen with your sat nav and you cant adjust it . forget exact details but when sat navs reach something like 600 weeks it just stops sync with dash clock. I just ignore it as do many others. if its all working but clock leave well alone.

I tried updating sat nav nothing worked.

I believe there is a work around where the link between sat nav and clock is changed so it goes back to changing time using steering wheel buttons

If you contact Catalog


they will be able to help you as they specialise in Mercs, I would avoid just anyone messing with any part of Merc electrics unless they a specialist, they are also members hear

Ps my phone don't work with it either, seams you need a cradle or something.

Tezz
 
i recently bought my first Merc, a 2006 S Class, I do not drive a lot of miles so I am trying to get a grip of a few things.
Whilst the Comand digital clock is OK the central analogue one is a couple or so hours out, I tried 'the 30 second first thing in the morning' fix, this did work temporarily to bring the correct time closer but it is now still 2 to 3 hours out. Thursday I am going to try and remove a battery earth lead at 1159 to see if that idea works.
So today I visited a local indy with a good Merc reputation, I think he may have tried with a CD but it didn't work. He thought that the signal strength ( 5 hollow bars top right corner of display) was showing the satellites not connecting properly.

I have not attempted to connect my mobile to Comand but from the handbook it looks like the 5 bar thing is for mobile telephone signal, is it a mobile signal strength only?
I have the dark Limo tints on my two rear doors plus the rear screen and my indy thinks that it is possible the dark tints are stopping the satellites engaging properly with Comand.
There may be something to this as there is an after market type of aerial on the front windscreen which may have been used to strengthen the audio signal.

My indy suggested I go to a nearby radio/electronic business and have a chat with them, I had already decided that I will be getting the tints removed anyway, I do understand there is a small chance of damage to the HRW.
Sorry about the rambling and my indy never charged me anything.
Does the 2006 221 not have the Vehicle Settings menu, to alter the clock? This corrects the analogue clock on the 216 CL, but I found that I had to make sure the date and year setting were correct as well. Not sure why MB made it complicated, when a small twisty thing on the clock would resolve the issue.
 
Thanks very much for that Tezz, it makes a lot of sense, and I will forget the clock now I know it is virtually impossible to correct on a 2006 S Class.
My motor has the Limo tints and it is just too dark, I like to see who is following me in my rear view mirror. :)
Rgds Gus
 
og57 Yes I can access the digital clock via Settings/Time and this is correct, it just doesn't synchronise with the centre analogue clock. It is a well known problem and appears to be more difficult the older the car is. :)
 
Good news guys.
The tip about taking the earth lead off the bodywork next to the spare wheel has worked.
You need a very very accurate timepiece, around 1157 detach the earth lead from the bodywork (13mm spanner), then at 1159 and 58 seconds touch/connect it back to the body, and voila.
All being well my S Class analogue clock will hold the correct time now, if it doesn't I will keep you all informed.
 
For UK members last Saturday night the clocks went 1 hour forward but my analogue clock on the W221 didn't. :)
So, same again, at 1150 ish a day or so later, I removed the earth lead in the boot, then at 1159 and 57 seconds replaced it, on checking inside the car it worked, so my analogue clock is now working correctly until late October.:)
 

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