I had this problem about 3 years ago. I bought a new ignition switch and key. I think it was a new Mercedes part too. but, now it won't turn again.

1) How can I get it to turn so I can get the car home?
2) How can I prevent this from happening again?

I had this happen in my G. It is likely that the key wont turn because the column lock is jammed. Though a completely different vehicle the lock cylinder and how it locks the steering column is the same. In the link below you can ignore how I'm disassembling the dash and jump to the part about pinning the column lock.



https://clubgwagen.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=17639&p=167706&hilit=ignition#p167706

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Old Blue - '83 240D 6 speed manual trans, OM648
Green Machine - 2001 Europa G500
'87 300SDL Bought on Peachparts
'02 E320 4matic wagon

Patchouli Wagon - 2004 E500 - SOLD
333k mile 97 BMW 750il V12. - SOLD
The Californian - 85 300TD - SOLD
Daily Super Sedan - 03 Audi S8 - SOLD
Family Truckster - 2012 VW Touareg TDI - SOLD

W123 cars have a history of locking ignition switches. A knowledgeable Mercedes mechanic advised to use a genuine Mercedes key and to only have one or two keys on your key ring. Multiple keys on the key ring causes problems. It is worth a try to try to unlock the switch with the key multiple times, otherwise you may have to drill out the hardened lock pin.

W123 key switch sticking / stuck
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?share_fid=31137&share_tid=408467&share_pid=4098722&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Epeachparts%2Ecom%2Fshopforum%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Fp%3D4098722&share_type=t&link_source=app


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Thanks for that link. I was able top get it turned so that I could drive it home. The car is now in my garage with the key in the on position and battery disconnected.

In reading that tech article, I'm gathering that disabling the steering column lock is likely to prevent this from happening in the future. Is that your understanding as well? Also, the tech article wasn't specific on how to disable that steering column lock.

BirthdayBenz... Is the G wagon switch interchangeable with the W123?

They are not directly interchangeable but functionality is identical.

Check out the attached photo I found on the internet. There is a locking pin (circled in red) which is what locks the steering column in place and keeps wheel from turning. When you turn the key this pin is retracted out of the hole in the steering column in the direction of the red arrow.

What I believe is happening is that it's not the key getting jammed in the lock tumblers but rather that this pin is not able to retract. The pin is spring loaded and can be pushed in with your finger and pinned as in my thread on clubgwagen. This prevents the column from ever locking again.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Old Blue - '83 240D 6 speed manual trans, OM648
Green Machine - 2001 Europa G500
'87 300SDL Bought on Peachparts
'02 E320 4matic wagon

Patchouli Wagon - 2004 E500 - SOLD
333k mile 97 BMW 750il V12. - SOLD
The Californian - 85 300TD - SOLD
Daily Super Sedan - 03 Audi S8 - SOLD
Family Truckster - 2012 VW Touareg TDI - SOLD

Its not a good idea to be messing around with the steering lock mechanism.

Parts inside of my Steering Colum Lock were broken. If I had not messed with it I would not have known that.

When I got the new Steering Colum Lock there is a spring loaded button on it that locks it into the Bracket that holds the Steering Colum in if your key is not in that special position and that is want makes the Colums hard to get out if something goes wrong inside of it.

If you push the locking plunger in and depress that Button the locking plunger is will no longer lock. When I got the new Steering Colum Lock I epoxied in that Button in the depressed position so it holds in the locking plunger. I did that back in 2013. Have had zero issues with that and doing that relieves some of the spring tension you turn against when you turn the key. That means your Lock Tumbler does not get as stressed.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Thank you Diesel911. If I'm understanding you correctly, I could do that with my current steering lock. Then It won't lock but, it should prevent the problem from happening again, correct?

No.
There is a issue that is missed. When the Key gets stuck you cannot turn it to the position needed to remove the Sleeve to get the Lock Tumbler out.

You also cannot depress that button that locks it into the Bracket that holds the Steering Colum Lock in place and that means you cannot remove the Steering Colum Lock unless you grind down or drill out that button.

Also on the later models like my 84 300D you cannot remove the Ignition Switch from the inside of the Steering Colum lock because it also has a metal peace that keeps it from being removed unless the key is turned to a specific position.

By epoxying the Button in the depressed position all it means is I can remove the Steering Colum Lock even if the Lock Tumbler won't allow won't allow me to turn it.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

value, safety, or other concern???


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Safety. Last thing you want is this thing locking up while you're driving.

I understand your suspicion but if the parts inside of the steering column look are in good condition as soon as you turn the Key the locking plunger is moved out of position and blocked from returning unless you turn the key back.

Some of us have had our steering column locks apart and in fact I sawed my old one apart to see what was inside.

This only about what I did to deactivate my Locking Plunger on the Steering Colum Lock. I cannot speak for what others did.

Look at the attached picture. you see a black arrow pointing at a small metal piece/Pin. That piece is part of the anti-theft device to keep people from yanking out the Steering Colum Lock without having a key to turn it into the proper position to remove the Steering Colum Lock.

In the picture you see when the Key is turned into the proper position how the Steering Colum Lock Plunger when it is disengaged has a slot around it. In the pic you see the Pin is depressed and it goes into the slot. When that pin is depressed into the slot it holds the Locking Plunger/deactivates it. And, at the same time allows you to pull the Steering Colum Lock out of the Steering Colum Bracket.

What I did is while that Pin is depressed inwards and holding holding/deactivation the Locking Plunger I epoxied it in the depressed position so it permanently holds/deactivates the Locking Plunger (meaning on mine the Locking Plunger never locks the steering column).

In what must be a nearly impossible event that the epoxy did not hold and the pin popped back out the Locking Plunger would simply return to the normal operation. It is not going to lock up from that while you are driving because in order to drive the key is turned to a position that keeps has the Locking Plunger always unlocked.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

If you get the key to turn you should as soon as possible get it turned into the proper position to remove the Sleeve that holds in the Lock Tumbler.

Even if you get the Lock Tumbler out and it appears to be OK removing and inspecting the innards of the steering column lock will tell if something is broken inside. That is important because the steering column lock is between the Lock Tumbler and your Ignition Switch.

When I had your issue I found that my Steering Colum Lock was busted in 2 areas inside of it and that the Ignition Switch had one of the contacts points burned off.

Another issue is that that a year or so ago the Steering Colum Lock supply was drying up.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I thought that this was the typical Lock Tumbler issue till I looked into it
https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/333785-steering-colum-lock-ignition-lock-housing-causes-ignition-switch-failure.html

About a year later this happend:
Thread on my issue: https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/387730-another-type-ignition-lock-tumbler-issue-w123-pictures.html?highlight=steering

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel