1997 E300D KEY ISSUE - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rodm · #1 01-04-2018, 08:43 PM

Happy New Year to all

Opened the drivers door today and immediately the dash display states 'TAKE KEY' and starts beeping. The key was not in the ignition. Upon placing key in the ignition it turns a few degrees but not to position 1. The dash display goes to normal once the door is closed. Repeated tries with the key makes no difference. The dash continue with TAKE KEY once the door is open. Any idea?? No previous issues before. The lock and unlock with the key fob works. Battery fully charged.

Rod

Murkybenz · #2 01-05-2018, 07:57 AM

Bring curious I searched “take key” and found this

To clarify, the 'Take Key' warning should come on when you open the door while the key is still in the ignition but the engine is not running. If it comes on after you remove the key, then I think you might have a problem in the DAS (Drive Authorization System).

I have never had this message pop up on my 97 w210 dash (I am in the UK) and until I opened your post never heard of take key so it must be specific to the US models.

jay_bob · #3 01-05-2018, 08:01 AM

This is a 97 with the switch blade key right? Where you insert an actual key into the lock?

This sounds like a jammed cylinder unfortunately.

There is a microswitch in the cylinder assembly that triggers the “take key” warning. It is tied into the drivers door switch. If your cylinder is stuck it is probably holding the switch in the “key in the lock” position.

Fortunately the 210 dashboard is not that hard to remove. I know when I took mine apart for the evaporator replacement the key switch assembly is its own piece. I do have the 98 with the Smart Key however. I am not sure how they handled the interlocking with the steering wheel on the pre 98 models with the blade key. I did not have to have the key inserted to remove the switch assembly from the steering column.

Official MB Video on how to disassemble various things, including the dash, on a W210:
https://youtu.be/Zdp4FDFJRcM

They really made the 210 easy to work on if you know the tricks. Just be slow and careful with the speaker grills in the dash, they are very easy to crack from years of baking in the sun.

One other thing, they do call for a special tool to remove the trim ring around the switch. It looks like the Rook in a chess set. It is available on the forum sponsor for about $30. If you don’t want to wait, you can improvise with two small screwdrivers, but be careful to avoid marring up the switch assembly or scratching the dash.

rodm · #4 01-05-2018, 08:28 AM

Murktbenz, as you said it only previously came on for me when the key was still in the switch, engine off and door open. Now as I said with the door open it immediately comes on with the door being opened and key not in the ignition.

Jay bob, great information I am currently at work and have a real ROOK to play with, now you know what I do for a living, LOL. Will it mean that I have to change the switch and key. The key is about 5 years old. Or will I have to change everything. I have not looked at the link as yet but, will do so when I return home.

Thanks Rod

jay_bob · #5 01-05-2018, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murkybenz

Bring curious I searched “take key” and found this

To clarify, the 'Take Key' warning should come on when you open the door while the key is still in the ignition but the engine is not running. If it comes on after you remove the key, then I think you might have a problem in the DAS (Drive Authorization System).

I have never had this message pop up on my 97 w210 dash (I am in the UK) and until I opened your post never heard of take key so it must be specific to the US models.

This is a USA specific device. The US government many years ago (mid 1970s IIRC) decided that people were too stupid to remember to take their keys with them when they left the car, so it was decreed that every US car have a warning device such that key in switch, in the off position, plus drivers door open = obnoxious warning sound. In the 210 it’s the same noise that it makes if you leave the headlights on. MB added a message to the new to the W210 digital dashboard so you would know why the car was beeping.

I remember our family having a 1960s Chevy when I was a child. The key switch positions from left to right: lock, off, acccessory, run, start. You could turn the switch from off to start without a key. It had tabs you could grip to rotate the barrel and a key slot in the center. If you were concerned about someone starting the car without a key, you put the key in and rotated back to lock and removed the key. We lived in a small town in downstate Illinois and I don’t remember ever seeing my parents use the lock feature (or locking the car doors for that matter).

nelbur · #6 01-05-2018, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodm

Murktbenz, as you said it only previously came on for me when the key was still in the switch, engine off and door open. Now as I said with the door open it immediately comes on with the door being opened and key not in the ignition.

Jay bob, great information I am currently at work and have a real ROOK to play with, now you know what I do for a living, LOL. Will it mean that I have to change the switch and key. The key is about 5 years old. Or will I have to change everything. I have not looked at the link as yet but, will do so when I return home.

Thanks Rod

When I replaced the tumbler in my '97, I was able to get a tumbler that fit my old key. An indi. did the work but they had to go through a local dealer for the tumbler.

rodm · #7 01-07-2018, 02:04 PM

I have now read everything on every site to make myself dangerous. It appears that like others have said its the tumbler that is causing the key not to turn in the lock. It also appears that I do not have to take the dashboard apart. I have removed the trim ring around the lock assembly and also the ring that holds the' wire' that goes also around the assembly. So far no damage. After much playing with the key in the lock the only key that I can get to turn to position 1 is the slab key with the infrared unit. I am now having difficulty turning the lock assembly 90 degree's counterclockwise with the key in the lock.

Once I accomplish this it appears there are certain steps I have to take to remove the tumbler assembly from the electrical switch part and that is where I am getting confused.

Also I assume the dealership has to have the new tumbler assembly set to my key vin # and there is no way to set the tumbler to my key on my own???

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks Rod

nelbur · #8 01-08-2018, 03:35 PM

You can likely order the new cylinder from the dealer using your vin#. I am told that one risks setting off the steering wheel lock when removing the cylinder from the electric switch portion. I chickened out and had someone do it that knew what he was doing, so I am not sure how to avoid the steering wheel lock.

jay_bob · #9 01-08-2018, 06:03 PM

Disconnect the battery first.

rodm · #10 01-10-2018, 09:37 PM

I ordered the tumbler cover removal tool. It barely fit over the key fob with much force but could not get any further. I decided to use channel lock pliers and luckily was able to find and buy a pair whereby the jaws were able to fit in the cavity around the lock. After days of frustration after work I have been able to turn the cover 90 degrees but the cover will not come off what now???

HELP Rod

jay_bob · #11 01-10-2018, 09:42 PM

The cover remover is used with the key out of the lock. It releases the escutcheon ring so that you can remove the dashboard cover, to be able to remove the key mechanism.

rodm · #12 01-14-2018, 10:33 AM

I have looked at several 'youtube' videos they all insist the key must be in the ignition and turned to position 1. The tumbler cover is then turned 90 degrees counter clockwise. I am doing these things and the tumbler will not come out.....Further if you try to remove the tumbler without the key in you lock the steering column and then have to cut it out. Any insight anyone.

Thanks Rod

rodm · #13 02-03-2018, 06:34 PM

After trying almost every day for an hour or so I have been able to get the black cover to turn 90 degrees and more with the key in what I believe is position 1. I however still could not get the tumbler out. Today I assumed I would have to drill the tumbler out as I need to put this car back in service. I started with a very small drill bit in the key slot to hit the wafers in the tumbler to see if I would get anything to happen. Lo and behold the black cover came off when I turned it. The only problem is the cylinder will not come out and the key will still fit in the slot but very tightly now BUT would not turn. Is there a way to get the tumbler now out with the black cover off and the key in but not able to turn to position 1.

THANKS Rod

rodm · #14 03-27-2018, 08:21 AM

I drilled the tumbler out but ended up having to take the car to an indy shop. He kept the vehicle for 5 weeks as he stated he had a back injury like mine which stopped him from going under the dashboard....visiting him several times he had the car in various states of disassembly, instruments out, steering column removed etc. I paid him $900.00 as he said it took him 8 HRS.................NOT HAPPY WOULD NOT USE HIM AGAIN......

alipak · #15 03-27-2018, 05:36 PM

I had similar problem with my W210 & I had dealer to order the vin specific cylinder & they do ask for your title to prove ownership. Local Indi charged me $70 but this 4-5 years ago.