Turning OFF factory cellular telephone

[RicardoD]

I have a 1994 E500 with the factory cellular phone in the armrest. I notice when I take it off the "hook" you get that old analog phone dial tone chime, and the overhead console controls light up, and the radio antenna extends. In the middle of my armrest shock replacement, I noticed I could unplug the factory cellular phone and recover the valuable armrest storage space. Unfortunately, when you unplug the cellular phone in the armrest the car behaves as if the phone is off the hook all the time. Every time I turn on the car, I get the cell phone chime, the overhead controls light up, and the radio antenna extends. Ok, I thought I will pull the fuse. Thanks to this website I determined that the fuse is on the left side of the car near the front left strut top mount in the engine compartment (picture below). However, that fuse, a blue one I believe, was already missing. So why is my factory cellular phone still working inside the car?? Isn't the other red fuse for the heated seats?

Can anyone else tell me how to kill the factory cellular phone without snipping wires anywhere? I think I can disconnect it from the back of the Becker radio?

 

[kwontumspeed]

You didn't mention this but you have to turn the phone off through the handset. Then remove. Seems like the system is on and you're unplugging it while it's "live".

Edit: Don't toss the handset because the system tends to wake up every now and again and you need it to turn it off again.

 

[gsxr]

You can also fully disable the system by disconnecting the phone brain box in the trunk. It should be mounted on the driver's side, a black box about the size of a shoe. Disconnect/unplug the wires attached.

 

[RicardoD]

I re-plugged in the handset and hit the PWR button to shut off the system and that seemed to work. I did find the system in the trunk and found the large connector (photo attached). You have to unscrew the two hold down bolts and for now I didn't want to do that and leave the connector loose in the trunk. So I will see how this works for now. Thanks guys for your help.

 

[kwontumspeed]

FYI, disconnect the plug if you haven't already. Wasn't aware that it was possible the empty phone plug would carry enough voltage but today coming home from work (S124) the plug started to smoke - probably something metallic jammed in there. Cleared everything out and the phone would not shut off but the plug area remained hot to the touch. This could've possibly gone very wrong. Just unplugged the main plug at the brain in the trunk to both 124s.

 

[RicardoD]

Wow, thanks for the heads up. Glad you caught it.

 

[JC220]

a black box about the size of a shoe.