84 300td key switch

[Stutsman]

I have read about this before but now I have experienced it myself- at least my wife has. The key switch hangs up occasionally when trying to start the car. The tumbler is pretty loose in the barrel. Should I replace the entire assembly or can I get a new tumbler to fix this problem? She swears she takes the load off the steering lock pin to no avail.

[Grey Ghost]

if this cylinder fails, it will leave you STRANDED with no way to start the engine

replace the whole cylinder (my indie mechanic just did mine because I had the same complaint)

"Chief" Grey Ghost

p.s. a special blessing goes out to your wife...it's not many women who will drive an 80's vintage diesel, no matter how marvelously engineered! note however that it's my experience that the first time a wife/girlfriend gets stranded by your antique, that's the LAST time she drives it!

[Stutsman]

G.G. Thanks. The truth is, my wife wanted this car against my better (?) judgement. We were moving backwards in age of cars,and, after all, it WAS a diesel. I have grown to appreciate the car a little more, especially the engineering. However, she loves it still. It will now become my 16 year old daughter's car. She swore she would not be caught dead in it (mustard yellow) but she is slowly realizing that beggars can't be choosers. All I need to do is keep it running!

[VLayton]

Been there, 1980 300D, it required more and more violent jerking of the wheel while turning key to free it up, until one day, she refused for an hour, and took a tow for a replacement assembly.

I think there is about 10-12 things that always break, and this falls into "often break"

Vince

PS Skip, My wife is the most mind bogglingly perfect wife a car nut like me could ever dream for, puts up with stranding, even when she didn't leave the lights on! She even helps with high sensory, early indication wear analysis!

[Grey Ghost]

Vince, make sure you treat that woman RIGHT

buy her some flowers tonight

she's too precious to lose