I finally got my door tumbler to start working again with some graphite lubricate!

However the lock was feeling too loose, so I tried my mail box key. That subsequently unlocked my door


In fact a flat head screw driver is enough to open my car. Comforting to know this I guess, I now lock my trunk and leave absolutely nothing of value in the cabin.

I'm guessing I need a new door tumbler.I also know this is a dealer only item, but is there any way to refurbish the existing tumbler (eg unsticking the pins)?

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

sure, the tumbler is easy to open up and clean out. but if you have no issues turning it with a flat key, it's likely the leaves are damaged.
you could go to a salvage yard, and pull the tumblers from other cars and gather up the leaves by the numbers on them and rebuild your tumbler.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Where do you live?

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

Theres a thread here somewhere about opening it with a tennis ball--Why the f did they have to make the door locks vaccum anyway?????????????????????

I wish they'd sell them somewhere, because they're often worn. And only a few of mine had numbers for some reason. Maybe a locksmith can rebuild...

Yeah, after I got into my sd's driver tumbler both my benz keys will open the driver door...haven't tried my motorcycle key in it yet...but that probably works too.

I just don't yell it too loud. maybe now I'll need to build a new tumbler for it.

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77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

Thats just a myth. Can't happen. The lock mechanism is a bit more sophisticated than that. Also, the vacuum unit is way down inside the door. A tennis ball would do nothing.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Hey josha,
Do you consider yourself a "flat object"?
Do you think you could start it as easy as it would be to open!!
I am just stirring!!

Adam,
How good is your ignition lock?

I knew a guy, back when I was a student, that used to remove the rotor button from his gasser so that no one could start it.
Not sure what you could do to a diesel.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Why bother is what I say. If you leave something of value in your car, no thief is going to stick a key in the door when the window is so much easier to break in.

The chances of someone trying to steal your diesel benz vs the chances of you catching up with them on foot as they attempt to get away?

As long as YOU can get in the car I wouldnt bother messing with it. If you leave valuables in your car its just a matter of time before you are going to replace the window. Your best bet is to quit leaving crack bait in the car and leave the doors unlocked. Maybe even windows down. In the summer when its not rainy I generally leave my windows down.

When I worked downtown I passed an Explorer with a funny PostIT note in the window "Come on in, the doors unlocked".

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Yes, a locksmith can rebuild, we have a master locksmith here at work. he's rebuilding my gray market car locks.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

that's just it with the benz. it's EASY to take out and rebuild the tumblers.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

This random hick town. I think it's called Seacattle in the state of Washingtown or something

I agree with Winmutt, I don't leave anything of value in my car (except the tools in my trunk) however it is just a little unnerving knowing that.

@Layback, the ignition switch is perfectly fine. I have no issues starting the car and releasing the wheel lock. I think the door tumblers have been damaged because of water in the lock from the constant freezing. I just got them working again since I got out here to California.

Wow VS you're fast at editing titles!

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.