Hello all,

Just bought a 300SL (1990) and it's at my tech's shop for a few routine things. Yesterday, he locked the car and went to drive it 5 mins later. It won't start -- the green light on the drivers door doesn't flash (alarm staying armed). We only have the two "regular" keys, and the infrared keys didn't come with the car.

He has figured out that the drivers door handle was somewhat broken (some kind of plastic piece) and the previous owner had glued it together. It apparently broke and won't "disable" the alarm computer. Problem is, the alarm computer tells the engine computer to disable the engine so it won't crank (starter interlock).

Possible solutions according are:
-Disable the relay that provides the starter interlock. Apparently a relay (K38 I think) grounds the starter whenl it's ok for the car to start. I suggested pulling the relay and bridging the contacts to keep the starter grounded at all times. This was my suggestion but he didn't seem to like it (will it work??)
-Order a remote key. Tech says this will enable & disable the alarm properly even if the handle is screwed up. He says once we disable it, he can yank the plug on the alarm controller so this won't happen again. Is this actually going to work or will I just be out another $200 for a remote key? Will the key still operate the door locks remotely or will it be a throwaway item since the alarm box is disabled?
-any other ideas? We're both at wit's end. He's a former MB tech and says these are so theft-proof that once the engine computer has been shut down, only the alarm box can re-enable it.

We've tried to use the trunk or pass. door to disable the alarm but it doesn't work. Apparently the system needs all of the parts there (like ABS) or it doesn't work. I suggested disconnecting the drivers door handle but that didn't do anything since apparently the alarm "sensed" it wasn't there and wouldn't authorize an unlock signal from the other locations.

Any thoughts? Any help? We can't drive the car and the temporary plate runs out tomorrow (can't get any more temp plates) so we'll have to start towing the car to move it!

Wife is ready to kill me (this may have been obvious but thought I'd point it out..)

Neal
(neal@bhattmail.net)

__________________
'83 300SD 335,000km (207k) mi SOLD
'87 560SL 163,000km (101k mi) SOLD
'86 300SDL 356,000km (220k mi) SOLD
'92 500SEL 250,000km (155k mi) SOLD
'90 300SL 140,000km (87k mi) SOLD
'01 S430 260,000km (161k mi) SOLD
'03 SL500 167,000km (104k mi) SOLD
'07 S550 4MATIC 235,000km (146k mi) SOLD
'07 GL320 CDI 4MATIC 348,000km (215k mi)
'13 GL350 BlueTec 4MATIC 170,000km (105k mi)
'14 SL550 72,000km (43k mi)