Ignition lock cylinder, not the tumbler.....

JimmyL · #1 07-13-2007, 01:31 AM

This is for the Squash.

Well, I'm ashamed to say, but I have been putting off dealing with a sticky ignition key situation for awhile now. A couple weeks ago coming home from the GTG in Centerville, I spent 15 minutes outside Dairy Queen trying to get my key to turn. I've had to mess with it before, but never for more than a minute or so. You would think that would have been my wakeup call. Not so much.
However, as "luck" would have it, it died it's hardest here at the house thank goodness! So, I spent over 2 hours yesterday trying to get the key to turn. I even got a blister. It finally broke loose, so I used my paper clip and removed the tumbler. I was a happy man. Got the key and tumbler from Scar and installed them into ignition lock assembly. Turned the "new" key and it started right up. Moved easily. Turned it back and forth several times, and it worked so well.
Well, {and you knew there would be a well}, I turned the steering wheel, which then snapped the locking tab into place from the ignition lock assembly. Uffff, no more key turning!!

So, my tumbler was fine, and the ignition lock assembly must be the culprit. No problem, I have the one from Scar, and probably can use the original tumbler and original key. Yay!!
So, here is my question. I've done a bunch of searching, and basically am at the point where I push in the button and pull out the ignition lock assembly.
Does the dash have to be removed to get the ignition assy to clear?? Surely not, but I sure can't seem to remove it the way it is. Do I need to drop the steering column a bit? Will that give me enough room? That tab is VERY hard to get to to unlock the thing. Now I just need the room to yank it out.
Lots of good info on this topic in the archives, some dating back to '2002. Lots of those guys are still around.
Thanks.

rs899 · #2 07-13-2007, 07:05 AM

Jimmy-

I changed the lock mechanism on my wife's 300D last year and I recall that I simply dropped the column a few inches and found the pin on the lock mechanism. Once you find the silly thing and can get a punch on it - it isn't so hard. If you have a parts car ( or have access to a upullit ) practice on an expendable vehicle first.

Rick

pleiades · #3 07-13-2007, 08:50 AM

Drop the kick panel out, and you might have to remove the instrument panel to loosen the bolts holding the steering column. I ground down the locking pin with a drill/grinding head.

JimmyL · #4 07-13-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

Jimmy-

I changed the lock mechanism on my wife's 300D last year and I recall that I simply dropped the column a few inches and found the pin on the lock mechanism. Once you find the silly thing and can get a punch on it - it isn't so hard. If you have a parts car ( or have access to a upullit ) practice on an expendable vehicle first.

Rick

Yep, the parts car I got the ignition lock assembly from already had the dash removed, so it was rather easy.

I guess I will head out there and drop the column a bit and see what happens. Very hot outside, and no shade. At least I have access to a fan or two.....

rs899 · #5 07-13-2007, 12:15 PM

Jimmy-

I might possibly suggest that you go ahead and do what you need to do now to drop the column. Then take a break and wait until very late in the day ( or even at night with a torch)to go looking for the pin. You will probably be looking up from an awkward position into the sun searcing for a black pin on a black assembly- tough to do. The pin is not obvious- at least it wasn't to me.

edit- oh- I see you did pull one off the parts car, so you should have an idea where it is located. That's good.

Rick

rhodes2010 · #6 07-13-2007, 12:31 PM

I had to do this on my 300sd a few weeks ago.

Just food for thought, remove the whole steering column lock pin and
the whole mechanism that feeds/turns it.

Leave in just the vacuum switch parts and electrical parts.

Now my key turns super easy and I won't ever be stuck again.

And... that mechanism will twist and come out of the steering column
without much trouble at all. I probably pulled the instrument cluster
out which took all of 1 minute.

winmutt · #7 07-13-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhodes2010

I had to do this on my 300sd a few weeks ago.

Just food for thought, remove the whole steering column lock pin and
the whole mechanism that feeds/turns it.

Leave in just the vacuum switch parts and electrical parts.

Now my key turns super easy and I won't ever be stuck again.

And... that mechanism will twist and come out of the steering column
without much trouble at all. I probably pulled the instrument cluster
out which took all of 1 minute.

Thats not such a bad idea.... I am faced with same sproblem on wifes car. Already removed the collar JIC.

JimmyL · #8 07-13-2007, 06:43 PM

Well Good Gravy!! This is straight from the popular "It's always something" department.
As usual, my forum buddies talked me through another procedure, the removal of the whole ignition assembly. It wasn't too bad:
First, avoid the Texas heat/humidity:

Pointing over the front of the car

Then directly over the work area:

The above is the rather rare "Diver's helmet fan". Not a fancy or particularly well made fan, but does have a certain cool factor.

I removed the two 13mm nuts that hold the steering column up against the dash, dropped it down and managed to push the tab and wiggle the ignition assembly out of the car:

This is where I realized something didn't look right.
First, it seems to be a pain to own a 1980 Mercedes! It was a transition year on so many different little things. And what is Scar, my parts warehouse? 1981.
The assembly from the 81 is on the left, and has a kind of cover thing over the pin area. And, one less pin than the one out of the 1980, and also from the other one I have from a 1977 300D that is the old style that doesn't use the hole and paperclip method to remove.

So, what exactly is involved in disabling the steering lock portion of these ignition assemblies. I don't see any way to get into the end piece that has the tab that pops out.

Also, if I install the one from the '77, without the paper clip hole, how do you get those out in the event that they fail?
Advice most welcome!

rs899 · #9 07-13-2007, 10:09 PM

Jimmy-

I think you should be able to swap out the electrical/pin/switch portion of your assembly.

I also believe the 77 tumbler comes out with a paper clip etc to the side in the space between it and the mechanism. RTFM (?) If you don't have one, let me know and I'll look it up for you in the paper FSM I have.

Cannot advise about disabling the steering lock pin- we rarely lock our cars so I rely on that pin!

Rick

JimmyL · #10 07-13-2007, 11:03 PM

OK, I got the ignition assembly replaced with the one from the '77. It now has the old style tumbler, but if it works I guess that doesn't matter. You are correct, there is a hole on the right side at about the 3:00 position that unlocks the tumbler in basically the same way. {I found an old thread with that info}
I hate that I now don't have the original key, and will require 2 keys to drive and lock the doors, but I will live with it like that for now, happy with the realization that at least I didn't have to shell out any $$$$$.
Thanks to all for the hints and advice. I'm appreciative.

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