All right out there, this is the latest on MY episode of the ignition key that sticks and finally failed to turn: first let me tell you, I am not a Chrysler fan. I have always preferred GM trucks and foreign cars so this job was totally new to me.

1. My daughters car is in Dallas in a parking garage and multi friends tried everything but the key won't budge out of the wheel lock position. (the position you have to be in to remove the key, key goes in and out but won't rotate clockwise out of the "0" position)
2. Chryler wants $1400.00 to fix it as they are sure they know it needs a key tumbler and the housing and they want 900.00 just for the two parts.
3. Dad says "let me look at it first" the same thing all dads say, unless they are the type that just writes a check.
4. First, I can't get it to budge either, so we take the lower dash panels off and go to remove the housing assembly, but per the manual you have to turn the key to the number "1" position to remove the housing. (If we could get the damn thing out of the "0" position....WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO CHANGE THE HOUSING NOW WOULD WE! The reason it needs to be in "1" position is to allow a small 1/8 inch lock pin, (about 2 inches to the left of the key tumbler) to retract into the housing and then the housing will slide out of the structural sleeve it fits into.
5. No way to release the locking pin so out comes the Dewalt with a number 24 drill bit and being extra carefull to stay on the pin.......you have to be careful here as you are at an angle and to hold the drill and apply enough pressure is much easier with an extra set of hands.....presto, no more locking pin and the housing can be removed.
6. Now for some really good info....take the housing to your local MERCEDES DEALER as they are the ones that make the housing P/N A1934600104 and the price....are you ready for this....$136.00 plus tax. (Chrysler wanted over 300.00 for this same part!) Mercedes guys were so cool once I bought the housing from them at the parts counter I asked one of the service managers for some help. They removed the original tumbler assembly and installed it in the new housing. (you have to break the old housing to do this) and I thought they were just fantastic for helping out. (William, thank you again for making this happen! When I have someone with a Mercedes problem I will send them to you personally.)
7. I then took the new housing with the original tumbler assembly and installed it, the car operates like new and my daughter was only out $150.00
8. Which makes her think I'm really smart.....which truely is all a good dad wants from his 25 year old offspring.

I hope this helps anyone with the same type of issue.

Tom Vroom tvroom007@charter.net
And yes....that is really my last name...happy motoring!