hotwiring a 124 and ignition lock replacement - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Johnson Chan · #1 03-25-2004, 06:49 AM

Hello guys, this question is on my 92 300D 2.5 turbo. I have two questions:

1) the ignition lock tumbler broke, so when i stick the key in, it cannot turn and my sunroof is open and its raining outside

I ordered a new tumbler and getting ready to replace it, how do i do it? any special tools? I did some searches but the instructions were kind of vague.

2) had this happened to me in the boonies/country or on a road trip, I would have been screwed. Is there any easy way to hot wire the car to get it mobile again? Since I own the car, im not doing anything illegal, i just want to know how to get mobile in an emergancy situation.

thanks in advance

Johnson Chan · #2 03-25-2004, 06:51 AM

Oh i forgot to mention, the steering wheel is locked too. So i cannot tow the car. Stuck in park, stuck steering wheel, and open sunroof and its supposed to rain all week!

chazola · #3 03-25-2004, 09:37 AM

That sucks...can't help you with the tumbler, but get a tarp for the open sunroof.

glenmore · #4 03-25-2004, 10:40 AM

Search under "tumbler" and check for the appropriately titled thread.

It is paramount to be able to turn the key to position #1 (about 1-2 o'clock). Then you use a home made bent wire tool to remove and replace with a new tumbler.

If you can't get it to position #1, you are in a heapful of trouble and will then have to have it drilled and chiseled out. There is an antitheft hardened steel insert that you have to get past.

Get the new tumbler, fashion the tool, use spray lubricant and try like heck to jiggle and conjole that key to position #1, insert the tool and it will pop right out.

glenmore
1991 300CE
1990 LS400

Jim Anderson · #5 03-25-2004, 10:50 AM

There might be a manual hand crank/nob on the sunroof motor in the back fender accessable from the trunk. You might have to take some trunk cladding out.

Ferdman · #6 03-25-2004, 12:27 PM

Johnson, check your Owner's Manual for the directions to close the sunroof manually.

Ferdman · #7 03-25-2004, 12:36 PM

Johnson, as for the tumbler replacement try a combination of moving the gear shift and steering wheel so that the key can be turned to position #1. Once you get the key there you may have to fiddle with the homemade wire a bit to release the tumbler. I recently removed and replaced the tumbler in our 1992 300CE and it took some cajoling before the old tumbler released. It may be worthwhile to buy the wire tool from the dealer ... it will be the proper diameter wire and the ends will be cut to the precise configuration.

84300DT · #8 03-25-2004, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ferdman
Johnson, check your Owner's Manual for the directions to close the sunroof manually.

if that can't be done then you could try to jump the fuse to the batt./ heard a while back someone did that to shut a power window.

Johnson Chan · #9 03-25-2004, 08:57 PM

Hello guys,

For the sunroof, i had it cracked at a 45 degree angle, so it would be harder to close than a sliding back and forth motion as mentioned in the manual. But anyway, i fixed this problem today.

I managed to start the car and drive it into my garage AND close the sunroof. So now i just need to know how to change the tumbler.

Question 1: right now i am taking apart the trim below the steering wheel, the hood release cable is in the way. Does all this have to be removed?

Question 2: Glen- when i use my key and turn to position 1, what is this wire tool supposed to go into? Did you have to remove the lower trim, etc. ?

Thanks in advance

tvpierce · #10 03-25-2004, 11:02 PM

Johnson,

Use the search function on this site. I just went through this procedure on my 201, and there is a load of info here that will help you (it helped me).

First off, if you get the key to move again (and that?s a BIG ?IF?) then do not under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES turn it to the ?off? position. With the key in the ?off? position, you are looking at a horrific job (and potential damage to the car) to get the tumbler out. If you can get the key in the #1 position, then the whole process should take a trained tech about 5 minutes to do.

No interior trim needs to be removed. With the key in the #1 position, you simply insert a u-shaped piece of wire with the ends ground to 60-degree angles, and the tumbler should pull right out.

Good luck, and post back with an update.

Jeff Pierce

jrmd01 · #11 03-26-2004, 03:04 AM

Johnson Chan

I just did my ignition tumbler on my car. The most important thing is to get your key to turn to the #1position. If you can't do that, you're screwed....$400++++ job (minimum) All kinds of drilling needed. If you can turn it the key, it's a $50 job DIY

Anyway if you can turn your key to the #1 position, get a thin clothes hanger wire and bend it like a "U" stick them into the 2 holes around the tumbler and pull the whole assembly out. If done correctly you can get this job done in 10min. Oh before I forget, it's important that the ends of the "U" are at a 45degree angle.

Do a search on this forum, someone posted a pic of the wire and what it's supposed to look like at the ends. That 45 degree is VERY important. You'll never get it out otherwise.

Good luck,

jrmd01@yahoo.com

Ferdman · #12 03-26-2004, 08:58 AM

Johnson, if you have the Model 124 Sevice Manual Library CD you're all set. Insert Disc 2, Click on the Chassis and Body Manual then click on Steering and go to 8110 - Removing and installing lock cylinder. This section illustrates how to make the removal tool and the removal/installation sequence.

You do need to remove the trim cover around the steering lock/ignition switch. The removal tool is a 320mm long piece of 2mm diameter wire shaped in a "U" 20mm across with the ends filed at a 45 degree angle. Once you remove the trim cover you'll see the slots where you insert the release wire. As was mentioned previously the key must be turned to position "1" when you insert the wire.

tvpierce · #13 03-26-2004, 09:09 AM

I was wrong about the angle: It's 70-degrees, not 60.

Here's a link with a couple of pix that should help:

Help! Newbie has Tumbler problem

Good luck.

Jeff Pierce

Ferdman · #14 03-26-2004, 02:02 PM

Johnson, although the illustration on the Model 124 Service Manual Library CD shows a 45 degree angle on the release wire ends, from experience I would agree that a 70 degree angle may work more effectively. It took me about 30 minutes of wiggling and jiggling to release the lock cylinder in our 1992 300CE. It's important that the wire be 2mm diameter so that it fits in the slots without too much clearance. Otherwise, it will not bear against the side of the slots and release the lock cylinder.

Johnson Chan · #15 03-28-2004, 12:05 AM

I tried to make the "special tool" use some paper clips, and when i inserted it into the holes and use a pair of pliers to turn the tumber counterclockwise, one of the paperclips broke inside the hole!

So am i screwed with one of the paperclips stuck in the hole?

I will try to do it again, but if i have the paper clips in, do i turn the key and tumbler counterclockwise or just pull it straight out?

Many thanks in advance...