Makes it look so easy! Changing mine on my 79 was a little more involved, ......oh, maybe because I had no key for my old lock. The design did change in 1980 though.

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1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

I bet your ignition tumbler and key was sticky for quite a while? Sounds like a classic ignition tumbler gone bad. All tumblers do that after 20 plus years of use. Since you probably neglected it for quite a while, and got stuck, it's all too little too late.

I personally recommend OEM ignition tumbler in this case. Had tumbler been replaced prior to it failing, it would've been $100-$150 in parts and labor to fix if you paid a mechanic. BUT if the tumbler is toast, it'll cost much more to remove and replace now that its broken.

This is a simple case of a little preventative maintence paying off in the long term.

Best of luck.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

But that video makes it look so easy

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1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

got her towed to my home ... great video.... just one problem...

My key will not turn to the ACC position... I haven't had time to read all the threads... I used PPB blaster, graphite, pliers and prayer

none of it worked... what would the next step be?

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81' 240d 4 spd 140k on the clock

Just how hot was your tumbler?

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1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

I would suggest wiggle wiggle wiggle....Just move the key around a good bit while shaking the steering wheel. Mine stuck once and it finally turned. I then replaced it.

I know you think I'm nuts but I took a cold key ( not in sun) from my pocket and put it in the cylinder and when I was thru diddling with the key it was almost to hot to touch.
Battery was almost dead as well.

I first thought well its a hot day but the longer I held my thumb on the cylinder I had to pull away it got so hot. remember I am stuck in the first position too- I cant get it to turn to ACC

I'm in Orem btw Brandon...

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81' 240d 4 spd 140k on the clock

The Ignition Switch is on the end but that is about 4 inches or so away from the key. There is nothing Electric right hear the Tumbler. Maybe something in the Ignition Switch Melted and that is why the tumble will not move.

7- Ignition switch
5-6- Lock Tumbler
2- Lock Tumbler Cover

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

In case there is something electrical causing excess heat, you might want to try taking your battery out overnight to charge it, then attempt to turn your key tomorrow before re-installing the battery. Since the problem happened today, on the HDOY - cooling off overnight might help.

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1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

That's a great pic to show what needs to happen to remove the ignition tumbler. #6 in the pic is a spring-like "key". When you get the paperclip/dental pic/whatever through the hole and aligned, it retracts that block and then you unscrew #2. You can then lift the whole the thing out.

Hottest day may have also had something to do with it. Maybe using some compressed air to cool the switch may help.

The FSM has good how-to pics and procedures for this whole thing.