Help!!! Ignition stuck...wont turn!!!

[infinite007]

Help guys! My ignition wont turn. All of a sudden, out of the blue, It got stuck... I know it isnt the steering wheel locking thing because I turn the steering wheel and it lets it go a little... and the wheel can rotate... Is there a button to press or an ignition release button thing anywhere for the MB C280? The key could turn a little... but it seems like there is a second locking mechanism that has jammed...not the steering locking mech... Please Help! I'm leaving it overnight at my condo because it is stuck there! I want to be able to pick it up tomorrow.... PLEEEEEEEEEEESE if anyone knows what to do... please reply!!! thanks..


~Manny

Same bizarre thing happened to my 95 E300d. I lent the car to a friend and she called from the store to say the ignition was stuck. Iwent over and sure enough--no way to turn it. somehow by moving the steering wheel and the shifer and turning the key-make sure the key is all the way in, it worked. It has never done it since. Are your wheels straight ahead and is the steering lock engaged? Try turning the key while turning the wheel free of the lock point. The wheel should turn a little bit in one direction, but not in the other if it is jammed against the lock.
Sorry for the unscientific response. Hope it helps.

[infinite007]

hehehe...

steve.. I tried for 4 hours!!! My neighbors were looking at me funny... for a while I even thought that it was caused by the antitheft system.. so I locked the doors.. and triggered the alarm by having my dad open the doors from the inside... it alarmed and they joked "call 911.. there's a thief trying to steal a mercedes benz!!!"
I think this happened about 2 years ago also... but it fixed itself in about 2 mins.. this one is really stuck... could it be the shifter? One thing that puzzled me was that when you take out your key, there is usually this loud click as though something is letting go... that didnt sound.. then when I put in the key... it didnt move! I was able to disengage the steering wheel from it's locked position... the key moved a little.. but wouldnt get out of the "off" position. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.. i hope I dont have to replace the whole assembly! HOw much is that going to cost! I just spent 1400 for my new lorinser suspension!!!!

~manny

[stevebfl]

Must be the weather, we had four cars in the shop this week for tumbler/steering lock problems. One we saved, the other three needed surgery.

The one we saved was the oldest of them all an 83 380SL, the 92 300E and the 91 190E2.6 had to be drilled. The other was a Honda and it was there because someone tried to steal it and messed the lock.

The one we saved, we did by getting another key and got it to work one more time whereas we quickly snatched the tumbler out and put in a loaner.(til a coded one could be ordered). The others got steering locks and tumblers. MB is getting quicker with coded tumblers they all got out this week.

[infinite007]

good gosh...

how much did it cost to have that replaced? I think mine is totally shot right now beause this was the second time already in 2 years and it is really stuck! I may try tomorrow.. giving it at least 12 hours to settle... but what is the procedure of ordering that assembly? How expensive is it? The car is already 7 years old... going on 8 pretty soon... been in extreme hot weather all it's life! Thanks for your quick response!

[stevebfl]

I don't know whether it is good or not but most of the steering locks have gotten cheaper with the newer models. I haven't priced a 202 lock but the steering lock used in both the 201 and 124 bodies (they were the same) was only fourty some dollars. I didn't see the price for the tumbler (its probably that much).

The real cost is the labor. If the key can't be turned we usually charge 3 hours to do the surgery. In our case that is $195.

[infinite007]

I'll see tomorrow... if it is good to go... then I'm good to go... otherwise.. I'll have to get myself that tumbler and stuff ... Where can I get it? From this website? I know that our dealership here on guam is no longer a dealership and charges over 125% markup already...

Thanks steve...

[stevebfl]

The steering lock is easy to buy. I imagine partsshop would have it. You will also need the black collar (also easy to et). The tumbler coded so that you have only one key is the hard part. We have otten them from our local dealer in just a day or two lately. Because of the need for codin this will have to come from a dealer where you will be asked to show proof of ownership.

[DEPRIEST]

I had a similar problem with my 86 300e. First the key wouldn't go in at all. Then, after 15 minutes or so of messing with that, It wouldn't turn. I just had to keep trying and trying. Finally, it went. I took it straight to the dealership and they had to remove the tumbler. They told me that it was a good thing that I was able to get the original key in there, because the tumbler assembily came out in 3 broken pieces. Had I not been able to insert my key, it would have had to have been drilled out. They gave me a loaner key and ignion switch, so for about a month, I had two keys. One for the doors and one for the ignition. They had to order the proper one from Germany or somewhere so that it matched my key. They installed that one and it's been smooth sailing (or rather, driving) ever since. My advice is get that key to turn! Keep messing with it and take it straight to the dealership. Unless your car is totally different from mine, this is my best advice.
Good Luck

[infinite007]

Nope... totally stuck!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

[DEPRIEST]

Will it go in and out, just not turn, or is it totally stuck? Can you maybe try to put some lubricant on it to help slide things along? I would definately take it to the dealership asap. Either drive it or tow it. Try to turn it upsidedown and reinsert it. If it won't come out and it won't budge, I'm afraid that I'm out of ideas. The dealership is my best advice. I'd be reluctant to take it to an independent, but that's just me. That has sometimes cost me more in the long run that the dealership would have. Anyway, sorry I can't be of any more help.
Good Luck.

[infinite007]

ok now this is ridiculous... I went to the "dealer" (in quotes because they no longer are a dealer...we no longer have an official dealership.) anyway... they told me that it will take 10 hours of labor and the part will cost over 200 dollars for the tumbler.. so basically the whole job will cost over $1000.00....

ok.here;s the situation.. the key can go in and out. I can turn it just enough to disengage the steering wheel lock. But it wont go past that. It will turn maybe only a little.. but it is just stuck after that. well.. I'll see if there is another guy who can do this.

[Machnumber2]

these are probably dumb ideas but who knows...get a small hand held electric sander, the kind that vibrates, hold that behind the key so that it causes the key to vibrate in the tumbler, gently work that key back and forth, use lots of lube on the key. Also if you have other copies of the key, try those. If you have access to compressed air, hold the nozzel over the key hole and blow the air in there hard, maybe that will loosen or free whatever it is thats messed up. If everthing fails, take a long very thin screwdriver, insert it in the keyhole and bend the screwdrier handle back and forth around and around to bend the tumbler and move it around a bit,then do the key. after awhile you might as well try to use greater force since its going to be drilled anyway...heres a messy one..take a powerwasher, hold the nozzel over the key hole and spray the high pressure water in there, then try the key.
I have the same problem right now, it was $455 total cost to replace tumbler and lock and get a new coded key. You may want to consider getting a new tumbler with just a generic key then settle on using two keys for the life of the car.
Good luck

[DEPRIEST]

Machnumber2,
I like your idea's with the power sander and the compressed air. I don't know about the pressure washer. The tubler's must be stuck. Perhaps placing a small block of wood over the ignition (without the key in there) and hit the block rather gently with a hammer. That might loosen up whatever is stuck. Also, maybe this will work. My ideas are as dumb as anyones. get the key in there and turn it as far as it will go. Put the tranny in neutral and have some friends roll the car back and forth about a yard each way. While turning the steering wheel back and forth, try the key. If any of these tricks do work, take it to someone other than those dorks who quoted you 10 hours to correct.
Again, Good Luck
-Kyle

[Ron Johnstone]

You could, assuming that your steering lock is truly unlocked and will stay that way, break into the wiring and add a toggle switch to turn on the ignition and a push button to activate the starter. It is a matter of spending a lot of money to have a key that works or $10 to be able to start the car. Obviously your choice. Incidentally, when the lock on one of my GM cars went bad, I was told that the cause might have been the weight of my key ring.