I did look this up and found that I can disconnect a relay that is under the passenger floor mat (is that where it is?).

The catch with this happening is that it occurred when I was putting everything back together after having the engine torn apart and the only key that I have is the Valet key (The last owner lost the Master key). I was told that the Valet key will not turn off the alarm or start the car if the alarm is going off. This sounded kind of odd to me and would like some more info.

Is this true that the Valet key will not turn off the alarm or start the car if the alarm is going off.



thanks,
dan

The valet will not disarm the alarm. You need the master key to arm it (by locking the doors or trunk / hatch) or disarm it, by unlocking. I'm not sure about starting the car with the alarm going off...

You can purchase a new key over the phone from the dealer. To pick it up you'll need the VIN, ID (drivers license) and proof of ownership (current registration worked for me). They also checked the key in the door to make sure it was the right chassis / car.

__________________
1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

Yup. Buy a master key. They're only $20.

__________________
A.S.E Tech A1,A6,A7,A8 & MVAC 609 + EPA 608

Unless stated otherwise, any question I ask is about my greymarket 1985 380SEL.

Those factory alarms of that era are junk. They frequently freak out when it gets cold, and I have seen them drain a battery more than once. On both my W126 cars, the solution was to disconnect them completely.

__________________
-tp


1990 300SE "Corinne"- 145k daily driver - street modified differential - PARTING OUT OR SELLING SOON - PORTLAND OR. AREA - PM ME FOR DETAILS
1988 560SEL "Gunther"- 190K passes anything except a gas station
1997 S420 - 265k just bought it with a rebuilt trans. Lovely condition

I am sorry the reply is a bit long, it is the story of how I got where I am today. If you do not want to read that just skip to the last paragraph.

Also, thank you for the info and advice.



I have heard the same thing about the factory system.....Although it was not cold here in Houston when mine freaked out on me, I just decided that since I was in no rush and had a lot of work yet to do that I would worry about it when the time came....... And it's time.

I do need to explain the situation at hand. My Wife and I bought this car from out of state and it was a good price along with a pretty honest owner so I knew what I was getting into and it was intended to be a bit of a project car. Well, We got it shipped to our house and I drove it around for a few days to see what I was getting into and surprisingly it was right on track with what the previous owner told me (I was shocked). In most parts of Texas (that I know off) you need to pass an inspection and depending on the age of the car an emissions test..... I did not believe it would pass.

So I dug in and started ripping her down, well some how while working on it I left the key in the on position and left something on (or did something else, I am not sure) and I ran the battery almost dead (just enough to click the solenoid) and I set the alarm off.....This was all with the Valet Key because we never had the Master Key and neither did the previous owner. Now I am to the point where I want to start it before I put the finishing touches on assembly and I charged the battery up and thought that maybe the voltage drop had something to do with the alarm going of, That was no luck because it is still doing it.

So this leaves me where I am. A person with a not completely assembled 300 TE with the alarm going off that may need a Master Key to turn the alarm off and so I can start it.....Like I said before the car is not completely together so I cannot just swing by the dealership when the key comes in so they can make sure it is my car, and because I could not get the car inspected because it would not have passed I did not get the car registered and get the title transferred..

I am going to call around tomorrow since I have been very busy and the Wagon is not a priority right now. So I will see if the dealership will give me the new key if we have the title in the previous owners name and the bill of sale..... I would say they should but I have also heard and had some people tell me that they had to drive the car to the dealership so they could come out and check the key, that they would not just give them the key with proof of ownership. I thought that was odd, Has anyone else heard these stories?

In my case with our 88 300E, I just showed them the title, maybe my driver licence too but that's it. This was 4 years ago to the day, I remember because we had just brought our first-born home and he just turned four. Maybe they are more strict now but I doubt it. Especially when it comes to 21 year old cars. Regards, Eric

__________________
89 300E "Benzer1" 15.924 Uncorrected
93 400E "Benzer3" 14.200 U.C.
95 E420 "Benzer4"
92 300E "Benzer5" 16.299 U.C. Future turbo CNG
87 300D "Benzer7"
87 300D "Benzer8"
87 300D "Benzer9"
87 300D/70 AMC Javelin "Sidewinder-Benzer"
87 300TD "Benzer11"
06 E320 CDI "Benzer12"
05 E320 CDI "Benzer12A"
71 AMC Javelin AMX 401 "Sidewinder"
74 AMC Hornet 401 "C.K.10" 13.63 U.C.
74 Bricklin SV1 "Presto" AMC 360 pwrd.