PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Steering wheel locked, ignition will not turn

EricSilver · #82 09-11-2003, 09:52 PM

Well, it's fixed. The new ignition switch, steering/ignition lock, bezel etc. plus drilling out the old stuff came to about $480.00. Add $100 for the tumbler & key I bought.

I used one of the recommended ShopForum shops -- Silver Star Motors in Vienna, VA. They seem to receive nothing but praise, and I think they did a very good job on the ignition. I was not happy, however, that they broke my drivers side window switch in the process, and would not admit responsibility beyond an offer to install a new switch if I brought it to them.

I also thought it was unusual that they did not question the fact that my key does not work in the door locks -- because they both have an accumulation of graphite lubricant powder that needs to be cleaned and, ironically, was to be my weekend project before the ignition failed. (There is a good thread here on how to do that. Also, contrary to popular belief, it is not a good idea to introduce any liquid or solid into a lock.) Perhaps Silver Star thought I would blame them for it. Nonetheless, I think it is unusual that they did not mention it, and wonder if they will choose not to mention other obvious faults, which I am not aware of, should I take my car there again.

Finally, I got comments about a handful of things that were not done to "Mercedes spec" i.e. an odd wire, or some aspect of a repair or patch the previous owner had done, and which I have no compulsion to change if there is no good reason to. Perhaps I am being sensitive, but I am well aware of what is "wrong" with my car and don't need a critique. It leaves a bad taste in a potential customer's mouth, especially when that customer initially had such high expectations, and is now opting to stick with his own mechanic rather than consider switching to this new one.

On the bright side, however, they did narrow my rough idle and lack of normal pep to a fuel system component -- air/fuel mixture, fuel accumulator, fuel filter, or O2 sensor -- and ruled out air and electrical issues. Identifying and fixing the culprit(s) should be sraightforward for any tech to do, and will restore the car's performance to optimal.