Topic: Device in Glove Box (Read 2283 times) previous topic - next topic

I bought a solar trickle charger for the chassis battery, and plugged it in.  No problem.  I checked to see if it would fit in the glove box for storage.  No problem.  Except, there is a black box (literally) in the glove box that I could not identify.  It is removable and has a battery inside it about the size of a camera battery.  It has a couple of plug-in sockets on it, but none of them are what might appear to be USB.  It has a multiple pin connector in the back and a reset button.  It slides in, and plugs in.  There is a slider thingy that can be pushed in to eject this thing.  Without the slider thingy, it would be damn difficult to get it out.  I think that I have added a picture.

OK, I may have figured this out.  It looks like it is the GPS.  Seems like an odd installation of GPS.  I have a lot of devices with GPS, and none of them are this big.  It may be a crash scene black box for all I know. 

By glove box, do you mean the center console storage box? Regardless, it would likely be a Mercedes Sprinter device. So maybe the chassis year would be helpful. Mine is a 2019 chassis and I don't recall seeing such a device.

RonS,

Sorry.  It is a 2018 Twin Bed on a 2017 chassis.  By glove box, an old fashioned term, I mean the storage are right in front of the passenger seat.  The one that hinges down practically on to the passengers knees.  There is also a USB connector on a short cable in there that does not seem to be associated with the mystery box.  My picture is so close up that it is hard to tell where it is taken.  Anyway, it is not a problem.  Just a curiosity.

Tim

Ahh,I see.  The 2019+ chassis doesn't have a traditional glove box, just an open bin for tossing-in stuff. That's what prompted my question. I've seen such "black boxes" on many cars over the years. I doubt it is GPS related, probably some control unit for electronics (maybe seat belt/air bag).

that is the GPS module for the Becker Sat-Nav (GPS) that runs on the head unit.  You need a plastic key to insert on the top so it slides out and you can then update the maps or the systems.  DO NOT waste your money; the Becker GPS sucks and maps are expensive.  I screwed up the update process half way through and there is no way to fix it so I had a brick.  A friend upgraded his  stereo head unit and gave me his so I no longer have the message SAT-NAV missing.  I got a Garmin with lifetime maps
key looks like this BECKER MAP PILOT Removal KEY EJECT OPEN RELEASE BUTTON - Original £15.00 -...
and you do not need a trickle charger if you disconnect the chassis battery using the "Battery Isolating cable"  by the gas pedal.  Mine is 6 yrs old with no charging for 4 months with -15C temps over 4 months in the winter and same voltage when I replugged the cable this month.  You need to read the instruction before you pull it out so you do not lose all your data.

cbaarch,

Thank you for that.  I knew about the disconnect, but I was unsure if it would do what I wanted it to do.  I do not really like the GPS that came with the 2017 chassis, but it is good enough for now.  I have a couple of other projects.

Tim