Needing Help Ignition Switch
 

1991 190E can't turn key in ignition. Can anyone help on how to get the igniton switch out? I think it has to be turned to get the ring off?? Any help would be appreciated.

one last ditch effort.... put some graphite in there and see if you can get the key to position 1..... then you can get it out with a home made tool..

chances are the metal inside the switch broke into pieces....usually you get one or two shots to get it in the number 1 position....

spray some wd40 in there. the key has to be in position 1 (i think) in order to pull the tumbler out. try your best to get it there, else you need to drill it out to replace the unit.

If you end of destroying the tumbler getting it out can you get a new one to match your old keys?

yes, dealership can provide you with a new tumbler and key given the VIN and a week

my experience, which may be dated now, was that they could get an order for a new ignition lock within a couple days.
The new lock will come with a new key, just so you know, and yes if they order by vin it will be the same key cut as original.
I found the easiest way to deal with this is to remove the upper steering column and do the dirty work on a bench. Lots of arguments for and against various ways of doing this job, there are various ways that have been developed and tried, but ultimately it was less headache and hazard to other parts of the car to just remove the column.
Gilly

PS and besides the lock you will need at least the lock housing and I'd recommend replacing the ignition switch (electric part) since you will have it in your hands.

Wiggle it a lot and in all different ways, varying the force and pushing/pulling action. You may get lucky and it will rotate one last time. That first sentence sounds horrible.

Last Ditch Effort
 

Some have had luck with clamping the key in a Sander's clamp and using the
vibration to help "Force the Issue".

(Hell , if it happened to me ,I'd run out to the mall and get a sacrificial vibrator
to "Gorilla Glue" to the key head.["Tye Wrap" the key to the vibrator and glop
on the "GG", let it sit overnight to set up and try your luck] )

I appreciate the immediate help on this issue. I am like still in the position of between a rock and a hard spot of this. I read the diy on this that was posted, and I think, I will give this a time out. I don't really cherish pulling the steering column etc. I am leaning toward the last ditch effort & the viberator! Luck will have it I am not stuck out on the road some place.

My switch went out the day I bought my 380se.. Had stopped and restarted the car numerous times during my driving test.. switch turned easily... Had to be towed from supermarket parking lot..sigh..

I have made some headway on the ignition switch. I now have it at the position to insert the tool to remove the tumbler. I made the tool up, but for the life of me it won't release, and I never heard the click you are suppose to hear when the tool has released the probe inside. My lock has two holes. Some threads say on this model only tool in the top hole to release the tumbler. I have installed in both ways to no avail. Any help to release this tumbler would be appreciated. Thanks!!

you will do it... it's taken me hours ...and another time it took my son a minute....

the real key is to have the ends of your wire tool filed to proper angle so they can get in the slots and release..

you might not hear a click..

you have to work the tool with one hand and gently pull on the key with the other.

It's not clear from what you've written but you need to use a tool/s simultaneously in both holes. The are two levers in the black security cover, when these are both moved to release the cover will usually pop slightly forward/upward then the lock cylinder itself can be pulled out with the key in its place.

The FSM tool is U shaped so as to interface with both holes, if you use two separate tools its best to have them L shaped so that you can maneuver their angled tips around a little as you insert them.


P. S. I've made a tool fron one of the wires from a chef's wire whip/whisk, the dia. of it's wire was perfect and more importantly the U shape is about 12" long, that allows one to insert the two legs in the holes and the apply sufficient pressure and "jiggle" to assist moving its' tips past the the springs that secure the lock cylinder in place and then further into the mechanism to the release the levers which secure the black security cover. The usually available tool is about 4" long and can be had to use if things are not lined up and working perfectly in the 20 year old non-functioning mechanism.

Thanks for all the advises! I am still unsure after reading all the threads on removing the tumbler on the 91 190E series. Some say you just instert the tool & it comes out with the bezel. However, others say you insert the tool & unscrew the black cover ccw & then then you remove the tumbler. Does anyone know which way to do it on this car? I don't have the new one yet to view & and still trying to remove the tumbler.

it comes out with the bezel... case dismissed.