Help! SLR 300 (1988) Dying Suddenly

[DomHiatt]

Help! I am completely clueless with all things technical/practical and have a problem with my recently purchased Mercedes SLR 300 (1988) that needs to be rectified ASAP.

Basically, over the past few weeks it has, probably half a dozen or so times, completely 'died' while I have been driving. Basically, everything turns off - all the clocks, the entire dashboard - everything. It's like something has flicked a switch so I'm presuming it's electrical.

I spoke to a fantastic specialist electrics mechanic (a local car mechanic put me through to him) who suggested (because the battery light flashes briefly after it dies) that it is probably the ignition motor/switch and that I should replace that.

He said it's a bit of a nightmare problem, as it's basically impossible to diagnose as it only happens very sporadically and then everything is back to normal. So it's only wrong when it's wrong and so very difficult, if not impossible, to pinpoint.

If anyone has had anything like this happen, or thinks they know what it is, I would be really grateful to know. I am, as I said, completely clueless!

I live in Pulborough, West Sussex, and would happily pay anyone to sort it ASAP as obviously it could be quite dangerous if the damn thing went on a motorway!

 

[jberks]

Firstly I'm asuming its an SL, not an SLR
So when everything dies, you don't get all the warning lights, it's just like you've turned off the ignition? As they key is in the ignition position when it occurs, do you just flick the key back a notch, then restart and all is well?
If so, I'd tend to agree with the engineer - sounds a lot like an electrical fault in the igntition switch to me - but wait for others and see what they say.

 

[Bolide]

I can recommend AutoTechnics just south of Chichester. Barry there is a good engineer, knows his German cars and can tackle this kind of job

http://www.autotechnicschichester.co.uk

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Alex Crow]

the ignition switches are well known to cause problems on these if you have the very early R129

 

[DomHiatt]

Hi all, thanks a lot for your very useful comments. And yes, jberks, it is an SL, not an SLR (not sure where I got that from!). Yep, it's just like I've turned off the ignition — everything goes off instantly and it happens completely randomly. It does restart soon afterwards - if not the first time then after 2-3 goes.

Obviously, you just don't feel confident driving it - if it goes on the motorway in the fast lane, god only knows what could happen (although will be avoiding fast lanes until it's fixed).

I'll be giving Alex and Barry a call on Monday to see if they can help fix it!

Thanks again for your very helpful advice.

Dominic

 

[television]

Yes I am with Alex on this one, the ignition switch fits the bill perfectly and what better man to fix it than Alex