Yesterday I took my N reg C200 Esprit to the garage to have a new key coded and whilst they were coding the key the steering locked and they could not unlock it. I am now having to pay to have a new ignition fitted to the car but wonder if it could be something to do with the key being coded.
Unable to unlock the steering
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television
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Lets put it this way, there are three parts to this. The coded part is done by a transponder, that is a coil of wire that picks up the signal from the key.
Next you have the switch part that energizes the circuits and starter as the key is turned. The third part is when the key is inserted into the lock it disengages the steering lock, that is a pin in the steering.
If the wrong key has been forced in the steering lock will be the first to go.
It would appear to me that this work has been done by a not very experienced eng; though sometimes even things go wrong with the best
An expensive job in the end.
Malcolm
Next you have the switch part that energizes the circuits and starter as the key is turned. The third part is when the key is inserted into the lock it disengages the steering lock, that is a pin in the steering.
If the wrong key has been forced in the steering lock will be the first to go.
It would appear to me that this work has been done by a not very experienced eng; though sometimes even things go wrong with the best
An expensive job in the end.
Malcolm
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Thanks for your help television. The car was at a Mercedes garage to have the key coded when this happened so I was very surprised (not to say shocked) when landed with all this extra expense. Do steering locks go like that without any warning as I had never had any trouble with it before?
television
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What happened in the first place, when things started to go wrong, dont wait up, I am going to bed.
malcolm
malcolm
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We left the car with the garage to have the key coded and about 3/4 of an hour later the garage rang to say that they had coded the key but that the steering lock was now on and they were unable to unlock it.
Mary
Mary
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We have had a few people with almost the same problem, maybe they will see the thread and join in.
The thing that I am thinking now is that it might have been the lock in the first place, and it was on its last legs, and it failed completely when they were trying.
I can re call radio shops of years gone by that would not fit new batteries on the grounds that if the set did not work, they could not get the blame, and the customer saying it was perfect when I brought it in.
Malcolm
The thing that I am thinking now is that it might have been the lock in the first place, and it was on its last legs, and it failed completely when they were trying.
I can re call radio shops of years gone by that would not fit new batteries on the grounds that if the set did not work, they could not get the blame, and the customer saying it was perfect when I brought it in.
Malcolm
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The battle with the garage goes on. They are supposed to be returning the car to me this afternoon and when they rang to say that the work had been done they tried to add another £20.00 to the bill saying they had to replace 2 different parts of the ignition switch. Fortunately I had insisted that they wrote out the orginal quote for me (I didn't want any more misunderstandings) so they had to charge me the amount they had quoted. They have however insisted that I pay them over the phone with my credit card before they would return my car, they even refused to let me pay them by cheque although I had said they could check with the bank first. I live in the welsh mountains and they are our nearest MB dealer and are about 80 miles away so they had me over a barrel as I need my car back. I am not a happy bunny and have contacted Trading Standards who are appalled at the garages behaviour and advised me to take it further.
Mary
Mary
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You cant hold MB responsible for 10 years, things do go wrong and just because they may have miss read the fault, you cant make them pay as other parts on your car are worn out.
Reminds me ot a TV I repaired, this TV came in, I gave them the estimate, they accepted, and I did the job, they picked it up and off they went. That evening their dog ate the remote control, so they rang me and asked for their money back on the grounds that they could not use the set, and a replacement was not available.
Malcolm
Reminds me ot a TV I repaired, this TV came in, I gave them the estimate, they accepted, and I did the job, they picked it up and off they went. That evening their dog ate the remote control, so they rang me and asked for their money back on the grounds that they could not use the set, and a replacement was not available.
Malcolm
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I fully appreciate that things do go wrong particularly in an older vehicle but as my car has only done 80000 miles and we have never had any sign that there was any wear in the steering lock although it has been regularly serviced. It is a bit of a coincidence that as they were messing with the ignition the steering locked and the extra parts that they had to use are parts that they broke whilst trying to repair it so why should I have to pay them another £200.00 when all I went to them for originally was a new key fob and the car was in perfect working order when I left it at their garage.
fouskos
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I have the same problem with my C180 (1995).
Sometimes it is impossible to turn the key. But if it unlocks it works like if its in perfect condition. I am wondering if this is a `mechanical´ or ´elecrical´ problem.
Please take into consideration that when this happens I overcome it by rentering several times the key (slowly) or by locking and unlocking through the remote control.
Sometimes it is impossible to turn the key. But if it unlocks it works like if its in perfect condition. I am wondering if this is a `mechanical´ or ´elecrical´ problem.
Please take into consideration that when this happens I overcome it by rentering several times the key (slowly) or by locking and unlocking through the remote control.
jberks
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rooky said:
Didn't see this one the first time - I'll just add that back in '98 I collected my first ever Merc from the dealer. A gleaming, 19,000 mile not quite 3 year old C220. Drove home with a huge grin from ear to ear. Pulled up at my Dad's. Gave my dad the key and jumped into the passenger seat. He put the key in and it wouldn't turn. 3 hours and several dealer mechanic visits later and she was being pulled onto a low loader for the trip back to the dealership... to have the barrel replaced. I'd spent a couple of hours test driving it, it had been moved around the forecourt and I had started it fine to go home - never was there any hint of a problem. So, it can happen at any time and without warning! Nobody's fault I'm afraid.
