I went two years starting my car with a flat-head screw driver. I told everybody that the valet key was a phillips-head.

Yeah I know, I said that before...............

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Toblin

'79 300D, "Liesel von Diesel", 235K

I kid proofed the house....but they still get in

the ignition key in my '82 w123 (240d) failed to work. i took dieselgiant.com advice (thank you!!!) on grinding down the pin potruding into the steering column. regardless the key still did not work! i bypassed the system by removing the vacuum lines and plugging them before starting...
glowplugs don't work but a squirt of WD40 does it everytime... I just short connectors on starter ad it comes right up
and unplugging the vacuum lines to kill the car!

my question is will continued use in this state cause any damage to the electrical sys or otherwise???

thank you for any input!
john

Have you determined if the problem is in the tumbler or the ignition lock? Have you tried to turn the igntion lock (in lieu of the tumbler) & were you able to start the engine?

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Have you determined if the problem is in the tumbler or the ignition lock? Have you tried to turn the igntion lock (in lieu of the tumbler) & were you able to start the engine?

the key, which is brass, is severly worn didnt know it required a steel key
until reading up on it here. so no the whole assembly will not turn!
how do you remove the tumbler?
steering wheel is free, i pulled vacuum lines off and plug both to start and operate then unplug to kill engine. no probs at all there.

my concern is with the ignition switch not turned to
notch # 2 but the engine running and the alternator charging that way
is it possible for the electical system to incurr damage ?

thank you!

Sounds like you have a tumbler that is gunked up and a worn key. Since you grounded the tumbler down, why didn't you use it to start the car instead of jumping the starter?

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked