About Ricky Higdon Expertise I can answer all types of questions on all type of cars.
Foreign and domestic.
I cant answer questions on all electrical without the manual in front of me
Experience 20 yrs experience in Mercedes Benz Auto Repair.
Question My sister has a 1989 560 SEC and her key became stuck in the ignition lock and tumbler. To make a long story short, my brother in law forced the key and eventually broke it. Now, my expertise is in domestic and Japanese autos with over thirty years of heavy-line and front end and brake so I'm not exactly a rookie, but, I'm pretty much clueless with a Benz. I do see a small hole which looks like a detent pin release access. However, after using a paper clip and a piece of heavy wire stock it seems to do nothing. Outside of removing the entire ignition assembly is it still possible to remove the lock and tumbler to make a repair. I'm not intimidated by a Benz, but, my brother in law has a serious problem with his wallet if this job goes from minor to major. Thanks in advance.
Richard Butler
San Pedro, CA
Answer Good morning Richard!
That problem can be a pain!
Heres what you want to try first.
Take an air punch and put right up by the key to to farthest left on the tumbler.
When pulling the trigger on your punch ever so slightly, Take a screwdriver and turn the tumbler if there is a place to get it in by the broken key. It may take a few times to get it to release so you can turn on the ignition.
When and if you get it to turn you will need to turn it to the second position. There you see a slot right on the edge of the tumbler. You will need to make you a tumbler release out of a small allen. Some of these has two of these holes and you will release both at the same time with two of these allen wrenches in the number 2 position. Grind you a point on the allens so they will slide up in past the releases. These holes are 180 degrees away from each other.After you get it in number two posstion( The tumbler) and insert your allen keys untill you feel a slight spring load action ( you may have to do this a few times to get it to release), pull the tumbler out. And when installing the new one, make sure that you have the new tumbler turned in the same position as the one you took out.Installtion is reverse Procedure. Thanks and i hope this helps. To prevent his from happening again, Make sure you let whoever drives this car know trhat anytime that they see that they are having problems with turning on the ignition switch, or feels anything funny
about the key to have it checked out immiedetely, as all this can be prevented if caught in time. I hope this helps, feel free to ask if you have any more questions. Thanks, Ricky
