1990 300 sl w129 71k miles

[michaelk3289]

Hi there, i'm presently experiencing problems with my car when starting. On some occasions the dashboard is completely dead when you turn the key to the last position before starting. Sometimes it is flashing on and off and sometimes it starts as normal. If you jiggle the key in the ighition barrel when it plays up this tends to send it into action. However the car completely died while i was driving on the open road, i stopped, put it into park turned the car off and restarted and off we went.Spoken to a few mechanics and other owners and the general opinin is that the ignition barrel maybe worn.

Can anyone shed some light on this?.

 

[michaelk3289]

just to clarify, this is my friends car, i have posted this for him

cheers guys

 

[alibally]

I have changed a few ignition switches for this fault. It wasn't the barrel and key it was the electrical part. You have to be careful though because if the tube the electrical section is situated is removed without the key being in the auxiliary position then the steering lock locks in and it will have to be cut off. This is a theft prevention feature.