8/13/01

• We have a 1991 300 E.  About one month ago, my wife had difficulty starting the car because the ignition switch would not turn.  A friend helped her and they finally (after much "jiggling") got it started.  When she got home we turned it off and again we could not turn the switch.  I put graphite in it and it started operating just fine.  We had no trouble until today when it again refused to turn.  Before I went to bring the car home I called the service manager for a Mercedes Dealer.  He advised that I should try "jiggling" the steering wheel and that if I could get it started we should replace the tumblers in the ignition (about $200) or it would probably seize and we would probably have to do extensive repairs in the steering column (about $600).  When I moved the steering wheel, the ignition freed up instantly and has been operating just fine.  Do you think we should take any other action?  I don't especially want to spend $200 for new tumblers if they are not needed but I don't like the other scenario ($600 cost) that the service manager described. 
   
  Thank you in advance for your opinion of the best option.
   
  James

• The ignition tumbler should be replaced immediately. The tumbler which comes with a matching key when ordered with the chassis # should cost about $75.00. It takes less a minute to install ( when the key turns ) The dealer will probably charge you one hour.  When one of my customers comes in I give them a shop tumbler to use until the matching one comes in. Get it done today because it is 600.00 to fix it if it locks up again. JON

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