Key Won't Start My Car! Advice Please

[Yaelle]

My key turns in the tumbler of the ignition but doesn’t start the car reliably. The key doesn’t get stuck – I just have to take it in and out until it catches and starts the car, the tumblers feel very “sloppy”, sometimes it will start with the first try and sometimes it will take twenty tries. It is a 1989 300E - any ideas would be very appreciated!

[MBeige]

See if shifting to N helps start the car. I have this problem in our TE as well, but shifting to N usually gets it going. The neutral safety switch is what I believe needs to be looked at in my case, maybe the same for yours.

[Yaelle]

I tried - it doesn't make a difference. Thanks for the idea.

[Bob J]

It sounds to me that your ignition switch is failing. I think that if you'll do a search on this topic, you'll see that everyone recommends that you have this fixed before it finally fails because then you'll spend a fortune having it drilled out. I replaced mine after it failed. It was only 7 years old at the time but the symptoms were the same as yours. Good luck. Bob

[Yaelle]

Is there a way to tell if it is the ignition switch and not some other electrical part?