Ignition Switch Problem 500SL

[gfern]

Can anyone help please, just recently when I insert key and turn to start the car, the engine turns over but won't start. I notice that on the occasions that this occurs the warning lights aren't coming on. When the warning lights are on the car starts as normal. I think that it is something in the switch, has anyone had the problem and is it fixable or do I need a new switch. This is an intermittent fault so far and a few in and outs with the key normally gets it going but it needs fixing sooner rather than later so any suggestions will be much appreciated.

 

[television]

Hello Mr Fern, My 99 has had a new one, and I know of 50 others. these switches unplug,many people in the USA have taken them apart and have cleaned and adjusted the contacts with complete success, otherwise its a new one at I believe around £60, many symptons before this are failure of wipers and heated rear window and indicators doing odd things, but it is very individual as they are multi contact.

Malcolm

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I'm having the same problem on my E320CDi (see earlier post - Fri). The symtoms range from no ignition light and glow plug light to sometimes not starting. It might take 2 or 3 attempts to start the car.

Malcolm 'television' thinks that its worth removing the switch and spraying some switch cleaner inside to clean up the contacts so I shall give that a try before forking out the £308 + fitting that MB want.

Malcolm will no doubt have a better idea.

 

[gfern]

Thanks "Malcolms" for your interest, just how difficult is it to remove to clean? I see that you have replaced yours Malcolm TV, can you help with instructions please and exactly what part is it that I need. Thanks.

Geoff

 

[Arnie]

Hi,

I have the same problem on a year-2000 SL (R129). It was intermittent at first, with the instruments cutting out once or twice in traffic, but now it's completely gone; the instruments are dead and the car won't start. Fiddling with the connector on the switch would sometimes make it work again, but not any more. I think it requires dismantling...

There's a link here on how to do it:

http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/R129IgnitionSwitch

 

[television]

Hi,

I have the same problem on a year-2000 SL (R129). It was intermittent at first, with the instruments cutting out once or twice in traffic, but now it's completely gone; the instruments are dead and the car won't start. Fiddling with the connector on the switch would sometimes make it work again, but not any more. I think it requires dismantling...

There's a link here on how to do it:

http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/R129IgnitionSwitch

That's a handy link, there are 6 variants of the switch,yours being a 2000 is the last version and a little easier, I had another link where someone took the switch part to bits, cleaned and adjusted contacts. I find it interesting that they can fail in so many different ways. it is said that it helps not to have the house keys on the same ring.

malcolm