Trish,
I really doubt that your ignition key is going to lock up on you without warning.
These are not esoteric devices. People have been building lock cylinders for thousands of years. We have a pretty good understanding of how they work and how they fail.
Due to their inherent nature and the way they work, keys and locks necessarily have two big risks: 1) dirt getting into the mechanism; 2) metal bits (tiny bits) wearing off the key or the lock parts and collecting in the mechanism. Either 1) or 2) or both can lead to a build up that eventually causes a lock to jam.
Now, think about a car key / lock. It gets a lot of use. It is in constantly changing environments. It is much more likely than a house key / lock to collect spillled drinks, salt from those french fries you nibble while driving (or catering left overs), as well as environmental schmootz. So there is probably a greater potential risk of wear or clogging in a car's system.
BUT, like most wear or clogging, you will probably get long advance notice with sticking, grinding, etc. And you may well be able to clear some problems with spray-in lock lube/cleaner (messy stuff, be careful).
To give you perspective, my 300SD has more than 353 THOUSAND miles on it. NO problems with the lock cylinder. Some weeks ago, Nate helpfully sprayed some cleaner / lube into the driver's side door lock. Instantly froze up. Now I have a replacement, rekeyed for my key, but haven't had time to install it. So I have to open the passenger's side and reach across to unlock the driver's door.
But the ignition lock is fine.
Tom
In a message dated 10/20/2011 8:12:27 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, purrfectharmonyfarm@wifi45.com writes:
OK. But WHY do they lock up? Is there any warning?
On Thu, Oct 20, 2011 at 10:06 AM, Nate Rector
<tccservice111@yahoo.com> wrote:
Go to Mercedes Source and order a new tumbler,or used ignition lock.Parts come with instructions.
From: Trish Dougherty <purrfectharmonyfarm@wifi45.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 11:01 AM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Ignition switch locking up?
I recall reading on here a couple of times that the ignition switch or something of that nature has a habit of locking up?
Please explain.
I don't want to get stuck somewhere at O'dark thirty not able to get home. Since I work in catering, most of my shifts end around midnight and I'm usually at least an hour from home.
I'm pushing the limit with Kevin my "mechanic" husband as he's pulling the motor/trans out to replace that for me. I can't have anything else go out on me for a while...or I have to be able to fix it myself...like when I got towed home that day and didn't tell him until he called a few hours later to see how the car was running. :) I'm not totally incapable of taking care of myself. Geez.
--
Trish Dougherty
PurrFect Harmony Farm
Ennis, TX
http:/purrfectharmonyfarm.intuitwebsites.com
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