81 300D starter switch problem (AGAIN!!) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

showme · #1 01-24-2011, 07:38 AM

About a year ago, I changed out my starter switch tumbler. Then, earlier in 2010 it got "stuck" in the locked position, but I finally got it freed and working again. Yesterday, when I was turning the key to start the car, it JUST KEPT TURNING! The key (tumbler) will just keep turning to the right, all the way around. Nothing happens, nothing catches, so apparently, the one year old tumbler is kaput. I'm calling the place I bought it from today (Auto haus Az) and see what they'll do, but my question is, how (or what) is it able to spin all the way around? If anyone has had this happen, is it fixable? (At least temporarily till I get a replacement? It's my only transportation right now, so it's critical. Hate to say it, but this ignition switch has been an ongoing problem with this car. And I haven't even gotten the vacuum pump rebuilt yet! Anybody have any comments or ideas of what's going on in there before I start to tear it apart again? Also, if anybody can direct me back to the post on removal\repair of these tumblers, please post it. I didn't think I'd need it this soon, so I didn't keep it. Thanks, everybody!

vstech · #2 01-24-2011, 09:08 AM

I'd pull the tumbler out, and see if the lock can be turned with a screwdriver.
does your steering wheel lock?

ngarover · #3 01-24-2011, 09:37 AM

I'm having this same issue basically with the 81 I just got. If the car is cold, you turn on the key, goto start it and the starter will just continue to try and start, even if you turn the key off and remove it. But, after you have been able to get the car started and ran, it's fine. Last night I left it plugged in all night and this morning, if fired right off again without issue. I have a feeling it's not the tumbler, but the starter solenoid sticking. Almost like the grease gets to cold in there or something and prevents it from disengaging. But once is warms up enough it allows it to slip better and works. ?

we'll see.

I have a replacement starter coming.

vstech · #4 01-24-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ngarover

I'm having this same issue basically with the 81 I just got. If the car is cold, you turn on the key, goto start it and the starter will just continue to try and start, even if you turn the key off and remove it. But, after you have been able to get the car started and ran, it's fine. Last night I left it plugged in all night and this morning, if fired right off again without issue. I have a feeling it's not the tumbler, but the starter solenoid sticking. Almost like the grease gets to cold in there or something and prevents it from disengaging. But once is warms up enough it allows it to slip better and works. ?

we'll see.

I have a replacement starter coming.

This certainly sounds like stuck solenoid on the starter! I'd pull it and have it cleaned/rebuilt.

showme · #5 01-24-2011, 01:08 PM

vstech- I'm getting ready to go out and try pulling it again. Tried last night till it got dark. I used a paper clip, which wasn't working, and some tie wire (16 gauge annealed) that fit the hole, but didn't seem to do the trick, either. Even with a pair of channel locks on the black collar. I'm not sure what the heck I'm not doing right. That IS a regular thread on that, right? Not a reverse thread? Seems like as much experience that I've had with this, I'd know by now. Like I said before, if anybody can point me to a good post or DIY thread, I'd appreciate it. Don't know why I can find those articles sometimes, but other times they just don't appear. Thanks guys.

vstech · #6 01-24-2011, 01:32 PM

... you can't get the pin to pop... sounds like the tumbler is not turning the outer collar... ick. can you get the tumbler to position II? do you feel the pin retract when you push in with the paperclip? I had to get an allen wrench to get mine to depress... that collar is a serious PIA to remove and replace... I never put mine back in.

anyway, does the steering wheel lock and unlock with the key?

showme · #7 01-24-2011, 01:57 PM

Yeah, John, I can feel it going into the hole (as opposed to it not sliding in when I'm not in the right place.) The tumbler itself is turning all the way around, as in 360 degrees, so I can get it to go to ANY hole. I did notice that after worked on it last time, which was last year, that the 0-I-II notches were a little to the left of where the key actually sits in their respective positions. And another thing that has been plaguing me is that I have had to manually turn the key CCW to get it back to the "I" notch to get the heater\ac blower to function. I'm beginning to think that I don't have so much of a tumbler problem as maybe a tumbler "housing" problem.

Like I said before, I may just not have a thick enough paper clip. But even though the tie wire seems to go in (I think it is, maybe not), I'm looking for something else to use to get the keeper to move out of the way. I know it was a PIA the last time I took it out. Leaving it off sounds like a good idea to me. Fortunately, it's 40* here today, not the teens we've been getting lately. I'm beginning to think it may have been a Dieselgiant post that had all the nifty pictures of this tear down. Seems like when you're not looking for stuff, you see it in all the posts. I'm keeping everything I print off from now on. Thanks for your input, BTW. Lee