ps2cho

On my 300TE..

The key only goes in 3/4 of the way....I tried everything...

Is the tumbler done for? Any advice on how to fix this?

rivcal4life

It more likely that your key is damaged. Check for scratches or dents that look like they would impede the pins in the tumbler.

Also, try just flipping the key over.

Just some suggestions.

ps2cho

I looked and the key looks fine....I also tried flipping it over too

rivcal4life

eek. Sorry buddy. I hope someone else can suggest something better.

Bigpete123

if your key works fine on other locks, then it's your tumbler.

I have heard about some people having success with spraying some WD-40 inside the lock. But that's just a temporary thing. At some point you'll have to replace that sucker. I'm sure there are tutorials on one of the MB forums on the procedure.

smithcb2

Don't spray WD40 in your ignition... I recently was having trouble getting mine to turn, and tried that tactic. It made the problem much worse, and upon speaking with my normal mechanic, he said that the factory uses some sort of powder inside the tumbler, and WD40 gums that powder up into a mess.

I ended up buying a new tumbler set for my ignition, but I was able to get it to unlock one last time.

YNVDIZW124

Is this ignition? doors? I've re-keyed a whole w124 I bought at an auction and it was a b eeeeotch...well not really...I took the glove box, trunk, door handles, and ignition switch from a donor 300e and it worked fine...


BTW, MB doesn't use pins....they use blades that slide up and down...I've taken them apart before and made keys but i wouldn't recommended it....it's sorta like a last option...

ps2cho

Sorry, Ignition.

95e300dez

I had this problem and yes wd-40 will get you a little fix you are going to have to replace your ignition switch I am on deployment so my wife had a shop do it for 290 out the door.

ps2cho

Tried WD40 and the key still won't turn. In the process of figuring out how to drill through the inner ring....Problem is its hardened steel so all my drills won't touch it. Once I can make a small hole in that ring, I can insert the tool I made the release the tumbler.

I think I can figure it out w/o having to pay someone $300.

For reference, how much of the dash will I have to remove to gain access to the entire ignition cylinder? I wonder if I can get enough access to pop that inner ring anti-theft cover off?

pifcat2

I went through this recently to fix the po's hatchet job.

It's easier if you can get the lock assembly off the column but the switch has to be in the right orientation to remove the plug. Then you can push the pin to release it. It's tight but you should be able to remove it without dropping the column. If you can't remove the plug at least you can work on the car's floor or your lap.

The hardened lock cover is held by two spring loaded cast latches in a groove inside the cover, you can dremel the base off. Once you get that off then you can drill the hole to release the tumbler. It's a thin spring strip so be careful not to drill through. It and the tumbler is released by the two prong tool "if" it's in the right orientation. Replacement cover costs less than $20 from Autohaus. Once you remove the tumbler do NOT turn the switch without the tumbler installed or you will destroy it. I had to buy a new lock assembly that cost $110.

The pic shows an early lock (smaller) cover on the left.

95e300dez

I never questioned your intelligent level and it must not be high because you are still asking how to do it even though you have the maintenance manual on cd. Another thing is I could of done mine to but I am deployed to Iraq defending you and other people who don't have enough testicular fortitude to be in harms way.

ps2cho

Oh the irony.

I won't even bother arguing with you. Waste of my intelligent level I guess!

rivcal4life

Not to mention this little correction:

I won't even get into the punctuation...

ps2cho

Just to add as well, the FSM generally always takes the long road. EG: For head gasket, they tell you to remove and pull apart the entire intake side -- this adds several extra hours work when you can just unbolt and leave it completely alone. That is why I asked for any advice

95e300dez

Yeah you must be so smart you know how to correct my spelling thanks for being my secretary I knew you were just a little bit__ fill in the blanks. You don't have a clue what it is like to make a sacrifice for the country. Yeah enjoy your day at the beach in Cal. your life must be so hard when everything has been handed to you. Take your college degree and do something useful like all the rest of those California freak's and make a piece of crap movie.I am so tired of those type of people on here that poke at people not even knowing who they are or what they do. When the your state is on fire and you see Blackhawks putting out the fire ,think man that could be the guy I just poke fun at his spelling. DUSTOFF

ps2cho

Yeh whatever buddy. Oh and yes I will enjoy the beach Many many times over. I'm glad everything is handed to me so I can join this site, come here and say Hey ppl I got a problem -- I took it to the dealership and got it fixed!!

Just stop posting you are making a fool out of yourself.

appatula

I remember I had a similar issue with the ignition key and I basically got really pissed off and hammered the key in . It worked, however, I would not recommend that. Good luck, and if you end up ripping the tumbler out be sure to take some pics .




.......And for the idiot who is begging for "war sympathy", find another way to advertise your services because what you wrote up there is, without question, the LAMEST way to get people to respect what you are doing for our country.

e320newbie

i go into the dealership on the 3rd to replace my ignition, part was $200 canadian, and they quoted me the labour at anywhere from 4-8 hours ill update yall when i get the final bill

appatula

Sympathy card goes to you, for sure. Wonder what it'll end up costing.

ps2cho

Almost got it....Had to head home for the cable guy...

I ended up removing the front dash panel to gain complete access to that lock cover. Dremeled a nice line down it, but damn this steel is tough to pull off. Once that is off, it should be home run as I will be free to drill the hole I need and insert the tool. Gonna need to dremel it more to get it off.

I'm taking some pics so fingers crossed by the end of the day wagon will be up and running at a total cost of $17 for tumbler and $20 (gotta buy now) for the lock cover.

ps2cho

Got it!!

Absolute hack job and it took absolutely forever....but eventually with enough dremeling it came out. I had to completely cut + pry off the lock housing which took most of the day. Once it came out, the first pin fell right out (that must have been the broken one) and with the correct tool that I made, it came right out without much hassle.

pifcat2

Glad you got it done, I felt your pain a couple of months ago...

$17 for a universal tumbler? What is the dealer charging for a vin correct tumbler these days?

ps2cho

Yep $17. I heard the dealership charged someone $280 for the tumbler matching door key. Its a no brainer for me as for $17 at least I can change my mind a little way down the road with ease.. I'd much rather spend $280 on the wagon's keyless entry then I won't even need to use the main door key anyways!

Oh and also -- The second plug you can see in the picture seems to be for the buzzer. Is this plug ONLY for the buzzer or does it have anything else to do with the lights/SRS? The buzzer drives me nuts to be honest so I'd love to pull that thing out and leave it out.

ps2cho

Oh no I think I may have just messed up big time....

I got my lock cover and I couldn't tell which way the right orientation was, so without the tumbler in, I pushed it up against the lock cylinder and it seems to have "clicked" in place and won't come out.

Have I just screwed this up or can I release the lock cover without the tumbler in?

Can't believe this