Stuck ignition - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JamesB · #1 08-24-2006, 05:21 PM

I have A 1992 300e ive started it often with no prob turning the key. well ive noticed in the past week the ignition getting slightly harder to turn to the start position. my wife took the car to work last night on second shift. at 11.00 pm she called saying the key wont turn at all steering is locked. the car is in park wont come out of gear. Its stuck. i tried moving steering wheel right and left to brack it loose. no good. tried pushing brack peddle down turn the key no good. tried spraying carb cleaner . then w d40 no luck, tried pushing car back and forward to brack key loose no good. someone said maybe netural switch. whats that have to do with key turning to on position. Please someone Help me. The Dealer Waiting With money signs in his eyes.

TX76513 · #2 08-24-2006, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesB

I have A 1992 300e ive started it often with no prob turning the key. well ive noticed in the past week the ignition getting slightly harder to turn to the start position. my wife took the car to work last night on second shift. at 11.00 pm she called saying the key wont turn at all steering is locked. the car is in park wont come out of gear. Its stuck. i tried moving steering wheel right and left to brack it loose. no good. tried pushing brack peddle down turn the key no good. tried spraying carb cleaner . then w d40 no luck, tried pushing car back and forward to brack key loose no good. someone said maybe netural switch. whats that have to do with key turning to on position. Please someone Help me. The Dealer Waiting With money signs in his eyes.

There is quite a bit of writing on this subject. Using "search" and "stuck ignition" will probably get you several hours of reading. But you can start here:http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=122926

Your cylinder has been giving you warning signs and you choose not to pay attention. After you get cylinder to turn you need to replace the cylinder, you may not get another chance.

david s poole · #3 08-25-2006, 04:50 PM

if you can't get key to turn to pos.1 you will need to replace the whole steering lock.first call the local dealer and order a new ignition tumbler [it will come with a new key] coded by vin#.this will take a couple days.if you will call me i will describe to you how difficult this job is so you can make an informed decision whether to attempt it yourself.

EricSilver · #4 08-26-2006, 08:11 PM

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you cannot get the key to turn, you're screwed.

The exact same thing happened to me three years ago (with my '89 260E) and the tech at the dealership, after commenting that mine was the third or fourth 1989 model year car he has recently seen with the same problem, said, "the 89's are starting to go." Fast forward three years to 2006 and he is probably now saying, "the 92's are starting to go."

Do all you can to get the key to turn one last time. If you succeed, leave it in the ignition and in the ON position and follow the easy directions for tumbler removal. Then run to the dealer as fast as you can to order a new one. (Takes only 2 or 3 days.) Start the car with a scrwewdriver, or a temporary tumbler, in the meantime.

If you cannot turn the key, the tumbler will have to be drilled out. Try to find an independent shop. (Mine cost about $500.00, but I'm sure your dealer will find a way to charge at least three times that.)

Good luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesB

I have A 1992 300e ive started it often with no prob turning the key. well ive noticed in the past week the ignition getting slightly harder to turn to the start position. my wife took the car to work last night on second shift. at 11.00 pm she called saying the key wont turn at all steering is locked. the car is in park wont come out of gear. Its stuck. i tried moving steering wheel right and left to brack it loose. no good. tried pushing brack peddle down turn the key no good. tried spraying carb cleaner . then w d40 no luck, tried pushing car back and forward to brack key loose no good. someone said maybe netural switch. whats that have to do with key turning to on position. Please someone Help me. The Dealer Waiting With money signs in his eyes.

dtf · #5 09-07-2006, 02:44 PM

Where can I find the thread "follow the easy directions for tumbler removal". My tumbler has been acting up the last few days and I can't afford to get stuck hauling kids everywhere so I'll use the screw driver method for a while.

Also, is there anything detrimental to running the car using the screw driver method out side of the fact that anybody with a screw driver can start the car? Will the alarm work OK? I am assuming that the steering wheel locking mechanism is part of the tumbler?

zcc · #6 09-07-2006, 03:15 PM

My car and my sister's car (both W126) faced the same problem in the same day, do u belive it? Here in Kuwait, the steering lock is fixable without changing it with another one. I fixed both steering locks by a professional key maker.

#7 09-07-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcc

My car and my sister's car (both W126) faced the same problem in the same day, do u belive it? Here in Kuwait, the steering lock is fixable without changing it with another one. I fixed both steering locks by a professional key maker.

Yup, we don't fix anything here anymore, we just replace it.

dtf · #8 09-07-2006, 03:33 PM

So from 'Search' threads it looks like if I can get the key to pos 2 and stick a paper clip in the hole and remove the tumbler and then use the screw driver for the ignition. Correctamundo? Is also seems that a high probability that this is caused by the steering wheel locking mechanism?