ignition lock cylinder (300D)???

[sun tortise]

Ignition key hard to get off the "off" position, but turns fine in either direction once past that initial point.

So i pulled the cylinder, & found it turns freely when out of its receptacle.

THE ODD THING IS, that the switch at the bottom of the receptacle turns fine with a needlenose plier, (one "needle" in each of the little holes that the lock cylinder normally engages). Tried a new cylinder, and it has the same difficulty. Either turns freely by itself, but with difficulty when assembled

Noticed a little tab sticking up from a slot in the bottom of the receptacle, wondering if that needs to be bent a little or something.

Baffled in Lake Worth

[newtodiesel]

Sorry I dont have the correct answer for you other than to replace it now or else have a failure in the future when you dont want it. Best to get from dealer.
Also you can search there are tons of threads about this exact problem, ..many more will chime in I am sure..
Welcome to our awesome forum this is the most informative and friendly place to learn about your old diesel

[whunter]

Originally Posted by sun tortise

Ignition key hard to get off the "off" position, but turns fine in either direction once past that initial point.

So i pulled the cylinder, & found it turns freely when out of its receptacle.

THE ODD THING IS, that the switch at the bottom of the receptacle turns fine with a needlenose plier, (one "needle" in each of the little holes that the lock cylinder normally engages). Tried a new cylinder, and it has the same difficulty. Either turns freely by itself, but with difficulty when assembled

Noticed a little tab sticking up from a slot in the bottom of the receptacle, wondering if that needs to be bent a little or something.

Baffled in Lake Worth

99% odds the Steering lock assembly is damaged.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/142232-ignition-cylinder-tumbler-replacement%3B-mixed-diesel-gas.html#post1065596


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[sun tortise]

Thanx for the reply. On further checking realized that the cylinder and the rest of the mechanism needs much jiggling when the key is first inserted, but if the key is left in, will turn smoothly back and forth including the off position. It is only when the key is first inserted that it is difficult. This is the case with either the new or the old cylinder.

So, assuming it is the steering lock, is there any simple repair, or just as good, a way to disable that steering lock. Don't need it anyway. If someone wants to steal this car, they porobably deserve it!

Thanks.

[rscurtis]

Remove the key with the wheel 90* from straight and the lock won't engage.

[whunter]

Originally Posted by sun tortise

Thanx for the reply. On further checking realized that the cylinder and the rest of the mechanism needs much jiggling when the key is first inserted, but if the key is left in, will turn smoothly back and forth including the off position. It is only when the key is first inserted that it is difficult. This is the case with either the new or the old cylinder.

So, assuming it is the steering lock, is there any simple repair, or just as good, a way to disable that steering lock. Don't need it anyway. If someone wants to steal this car, they probably deserve it!

Thanks.

It takes the same effort to remove the steering lock to disable it, as it does to replace it.


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[sun tortise]

I'm wondering how the steering lock "knows" the key is inserted. There is a little tab sticking up at an angle from a slot in the bottom of the housing that the key cylinder installs into. I'm wondering if there was some way to keep that tab down, maybe some JB weld or something, if that would keep the mechanism "thinking" the key is still inserted, and therefore the steering lock deactivated.

Just a thought...

[Diesel911]

Originally Posted by sun tortise

I'm wondering how the steering lock "knows" the key is inserted. There is a little tab sticking up at an angle from a slot in the bottom of the housing that the key cylinder installs into. I'm wondering if there was some way to keep that tab down, maybe some JB weld or something, if that would keep the mechanism "thinking" the key is still inserted, and therefore the steering lock deactivated.

Just a thought...

In the Pic the Steel Finger that stick out inside of the Colum Lock is depressed by the sloped/angeled part of the tip of your Key.

[mespe]

Originally Posted by whunter

99% odds the Steering lock assembly is damaged.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/142232-ignition-cylinder-tumbler-replacement%3B-mixed-diesel-gas.html#post1065596


.

I would say 99.99999% probablility.

Two fixes, (2 free fixes)

1) NEVER remove the key and thus never locking teh steering wheel
2) remove ignition switch and deform the steering locking tab (the portion that locks the steeriing wheel) so that it NEVER extends to lock the wheel.

[Diesel911]

Originally Posted by mespe

I would say 99.99999% probablility.

Two fixes, (2 free fixes)

1) NEVER remove the key and thus never locking teh steering wheel
2) remove ignition switch and deform the steering locking tab (the portion that locks the steeriing wheel) so that it NEVER extends to lock the wheel.

On mine I did not want to permantly alter a brand new Steering Colum Lock so I shoved in the Locking Rod depressed the Steering Colum Rod Locking Pin and filled the cavity with Epoxy taped over it and used a C-clamp to keep it depressed till the Epoxy cured.
After removing the C-clamp and Tape I filled any voids with Epoxy; let it cure and filed the epoxy flush with the housing.

Another way would be to Push in the Steering Colum Locking Rod, Depress the the Steering Colum Locking Rod Pin and use a Punch to deform the Hole in the Housing the Pin moves in to keep the Pin down and the Rod locked.
If the Locking Pin is visalble from under the dash Board it might be possible to do that with the Steering Colum Lock in Place. You could as a temp measure hold the Locking Pin in the pressed in position with Super Glue and then go back and Punch the Housing to deform the Hole.

In the diagram I should have labled the part Steering Colum Locking Rod instead of Pin. The Black Arrow points to the Locking Pin that locks the Locking Rod.

[LNGfish]

Do yourself a favor and change entire steering lock assembly which includes the switch and while you are at it replace tumbler with a Mercedes one. Tumbler has a new key. Pelican has what you need. I just finished mine. Very smooth now, like new.

[sun tortise]

Car has other issues, and of course ideally i should replace the whole shebang, but unless and until its running well enough to prove itself worthy of restoration, looking for a temporary solution.

Does anyone know if gluing that little tab at the bottom of the cylinder housing down would bypass the problem by making the mechanism behave as if the key were inserted?.

[Diesel911]

A few of the Sellers advertised Steering Colum/Ignition Lock Housings made by Valeo as OEM. Recently looking for Alternator Parts I found Valeo is a French Company.

I received the new Steering Colum/Ignition Lock Housing from Mercedes and on the Box it has Made in France. Cast into the Steering Colum Lock Housing is Neiman.

One of the Internet Sellers advertises the OEM Steering Colum/Ignition Lock Housing as made by Valeo/Neiman.
So Apparently that is true. If I had bought a Valeo Housing I might have saved a little.

When I shopped around last month the Valeo Steering Colum Lock was around $122 but you need to show arround.

[LNGfish]

Diesel,

The one I just purchased was a Neiman in a Valeo box. $156 from Pelican with free shipping. The one I got from Pelican was top notch quality and I guess Mercedes uses them, so OK.

I'm glad you posted that Mercedes uses them.

I can't wait to open up my old switch to see how bad it is.

The Valeo (Neimann) steering lock assembly is very postive sounding and nothing sloppie anymore and Key goes in good. I got the Pelican MB Tumbler with one key. I asked for a second key. Pelican looking into that.

[vstech]

Originally Posted by LNGfish

Diesel,

The one I just purchased was a Neiman in a Valeo box. $156 from Pelican with free shipping. The one I got from Pelican was top notch quality and I guess Mercedes uses them, so OK.

I'm glad you posted that Mercedes uses them.

I can't wait to open up my old switch to see how bad it is.

The Valeo (Neimann) steering lock assembly is very postive sounding and nothing sloppie anymore and Key goes in good. I got the Pelican MB Tumbler with one key. I asked for a second key. Pelican looking into that.

you should just sell the tumbler with the key, and get a matching one from the dealer that goes with your vin.