Sorry if this has been addressed previously... I've looked back over several months of threads, but haven't found one that addresses this problem...

A couple of days ago I noticed that when I removed my key from the ignition, the familiar "click" was suddenly absent... The warning 'beep' that you hear if you have left your key in the ignition, and open the door, continues & the remote lock/unlock doesn't work... I thought it might have something to do with the batteries in the remote needing to be replaced, but found out this evening that it must be something a bit more involved, after I replaced the batteries with no impact on the problem...

Any insights/suggestions would be greatly appreciated !

SLN

98 ML320

I think that may be a problem with the shift interlock cable, needs adjusting

"Ron" is on the right track....making sure that the trans is in park is the needed signal for the steering lock operation.

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...Ron & Doc ! I had a somewhat similar situation with my Volvo, a year or so ago, in that there is apparently a switch in the shifter which allows the car to start... Basicaly telling the system that it was in 'Park'... Is the MB system similar (i.e. switch), or is it an actual 'cable', as Ron refers to ? If 'cable', is that a major repair/hard to accomplish adjustment ??

Thanks in advance...

SLN

98 ML320

...a DIY project or not ? Do I require a manual, or is the adjustment process fairly straight forward ?? Any tricks I need to know ???

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated !


SLN

98 ML320

On the ML mine needed the adjustment when the vehicle was new so it was done under warrenty. As I recall it did not take very long.

Just the other day I adjusted the shift interlock cable on my 124 wagon. The way it works on that vehicle is there are two cables that go to the shift lever. I don't know exactly how to describe what it looked like but there are two cams, when you turn the key one releases and when you step on brake pedal the other releases so you can shift out of park. I could shift my car out of park without stepping on brake and that was the cable I adjusted. I had my 124 wagon pretty much apart for evaporator replacement so it was very easy to access the cables. I suspect the ML is pretty much the same type of setup but I'm not sure.

The problem here is the cylinder /tumbler holding the ignition key.

It has some locks inside and at the proper position when the key is removed the "click sound comes in"

Solutions
Level 1
1. Make sure tranny is in Park
2. Make sure that keey is fully turned off before pulling the key

Level 2
1. If after removing the key the click still does not occur gently jiggle the cylinder by fumbling the sorrounds of the cylinder

Level 3
1. Remove cyliner and clean the insides.