I have spent at least an hour looking at old posts concerning "No Start Problems". None seem to fit my problem. Here is the story.
Two weeks ago I purchased a 1989 190E, 2.6. The car has 143 K on the meter and cosmetically looked pretty good. I noticed several small problems (most from neglect) but at a 2000 price, I took a chance.
For the past week, the car has been in the repair shop. My mechanic replaced the spark plugs, plug wiring, distibutor and rotor. He started the engine and said that it ran great. A half hour later he tried to start the car again and the key would not turn in the ignition. The steering wheel is also locked. He tried most of the things I have read on this forum to get the key to turn. There had been no previous indication that the ignition switch was going bad.
I am hoping that some one with a similar car can shed some light on this problem. Are we missing something other than the fact that the ignition lock suddenly went bad.
This car is equipped with a factory alarm system. Is that acting up?
Any ideas will be welcome.
tcowles, Inverness, FL

Do a "search".

The Mercedes keys are steel and the wear takes place in the lock cylinder.

No fun to replace... if you can't turn the key...LOTS of information.

New lock cylinder (with keys/keyed to your V.I.N. less than $100.00)

It ain't your switch (ELECTRICAL- behind and mated mechanically to the lock).

The alarm system has no bearing on the BAD luck of no one noticing that the
tumblers were on their last legs.

This tumbler system has to "Throw" a 1 Lb. bolt home into the steering column every time you remove the key.

Symptoms are "Funky" engage/disengage of ignition."Feeling" the difficulty
of turning the key is a very subjective (and learned) experience.You don't
want to become an expert at this sensitivity.

GOT a Mercedes with over 100K "on the clock"? ...Get a new IG lockset.

Are you sure he used the right key? Did you try your other key? Have you lubricated the lock? Did you move the wheel back and forth while trying to turn the key?

__________________
Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

I agree with all the previous stuff, especially "use the search" function, but what you need to research is the steering wheel lock assembly. This is a really BAD job to do when the key won't turn. Need a steering lock, a lock cylinder (which will come with a new key) and probably end up with a new ignition switch also. The lock cylinder goes into the steering wheel lock which is connected to the steering column, the switch is on the back of all this.
Be SURE to order the lock cylinder for THIS car, it only takes an extra day or two, depending on the time of day it's ordered. If it's ordered early in the day you should have it the next day, the order is faxed in (probably by computer now) and next-day delivered, very fast. The dealer MAY try to just sell you a "generic" one off the shelf, I wouldn't do that, really makes life rough later on if you need to order a key. IF you do this (accept a generic) save all the packagiong materials, I think there is info on there that may make it possible to order a key.
These pieces all interlock together, but if the key can't be turned to the first click, it won't come apart, not without ruining itself.
Gilly

__________________
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I read one post in which the crafty owner affixed some sort of vibrator to the
key (in a desperate last ditch attempt to turn it to the #1 position to be able
to remove the bad lockset tumbler... and it worked)

Try Anything you can.WBAIN is correct. So's GILLY.

People who cannot turn the key have attempted to drill out the lockset...
(The damn thing must be made of some sort of NASA Titanium alloy)
50% / 50% chance of success [may be even less].