Sticky ignition
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 16
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From: Raleigh, NC
Re: Sticky ignition
Not sure your situation and whether you can afford (have time) to keep at it, but it sounds like everything is functional, just doesn't go back together quite right. If the dash is still in pieces, I'd repeat the steps that started the car and keep turning over the engine as you inch the key back into the cylinder.
I'd slowly piece it back together, attempting to start the car every time a piece is replaced and identify where exactly it stops turning over.
If it's not ignition control, the tumblers, or SKREEM I'd suspect something is funny with the ring or wiring. Connections can be wonky at times and sometimes appear good but corrode at the terminals or a dozen other things. Piecing it back together and finding out when it fails would identify which connections could be at fault.
I'd slowly piece it back together, attempting to start the car every time a piece is replaced and identify where exactly it stops turning over.
If it's not ignition control, the tumblers, or SKREEM I'd suspect something is funny with the ring or wiring. Connections can be wonky at times and sometimes appear good but corrode at the terminals or a dozen other things. Piecing it back together and finding out when it fails would identify which connections could be at fault.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Ontario
Re: Sticky ignition
Had a friend come by today to help. At the conclusion we established the ignition switch- o.k., lock cylinder housing- o.k. Ignition harness- o.k., SKREEM- o.k., antenna ring- o.k. Fuses- o.k. How do I know?, connected everything EXCEPT the key/ tumbler. Set antennae ring in ashtray then rested key inside of ring, took screw driver and turned the cylinder housing. Car started right up! No problem. BUT... WHEN PUTTING THE TUMBLER BACK IN CYLINDER ( CORRECTLY ) as well as black locking cap and antenna ring ( sits at 12 o' clock ) no pinched wires,turn key to position "1" everything fine, turn to "2", start, nothing, same as before. Can't figure out what's wrong with tumbler. At least I did process of elimination and narrowed it down. I guess I just figured out how to hot wire a car!! It sure was nice to hear car start up I love the sound, sure did miss it! Will go to dealership this week with tumbler/key and see about new one. Do you guys recommend Mercedes dealer or Chrysler? By the sounds of a lot of posts I have read lately it seems Mercedes came up on top. Anyone agree??
Are you sure that the tumbler is not rotated 180 degrees? Or that the key is not at position 1 when you put it back together.
I am probably all wrong but that is the way I remember it.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2015
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 25,429
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From: Ontario
Re: Sticky ignition
Of course you could get the whole thing from a Chrysler dealer, new ignition assembly, new fob and god knows what else. Probably cost $2,000 if they do the work. Can they supply a whole kit that matches your key? Probably not as they will want to make as much as possible.
My suggestion is fix what you have, lf you did not play with the tumbler you must be repeating the same mistake all the time.
I think the tumbler is upside down, or the key is not in position one when you put it in.
When you have it together do you have an accessory position? That is one position to the left.
When you have the tumbler in your hand, does it look like it aligns with the slot in the switch?
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,714
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From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Re: Sticky ignition
It is a couple of years since I did mine but I thought the antenna wire sat at 6 o'clock. If that is what you mean.
Are you sure that the tumbler is not rotated 180 degrees? Or that the key is not at position 1 when you put it back together.
I am probably all wrong but that is the way I remember it.
Are you sure that the tumbler is not rotated 180 degrees? Or that the key is not at position 1 when you put it back together.
I am probably all wrong but that is the way I remember it.
Agree with the 6 o'clock. Did the Sticky Key repair on the Turbo Crossfire yesterday.
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Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Lineville, AL
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,932
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From: SE Alabama
Re: Sticky ignition
Several people now have said it should fit at 6 o'clock, so I would definitely take a good look at that. If the problem persists and you are taking the tumbler and key to a dealership looking for a new part you may as well first stop at a locksmith with some good auto experience and have him look at those tumblers. Maybe he can get what you have working again for you. It would be much less than buying new.
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 251
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From: St. Cloud, FL.
Re: Sticky ignition
A shame that you don't live closer to Orlando? I found a lock smith who can fix any igination problem, usually in an hour. I found him by accident, trying to find someone to cut new key blanks from my old ones. I told him my trials and tribulations with the sticky ignition. Towing, Chrysler dealer and $1800 for whole new ignition and labor. It still end up costing about $900. He told me had I know him, he would have sent one of his people and fixed it in about 2hrs and would have charged $300, max. I went thought the
halo hanging loose with chip taped to it. The new cut keys were put in new fobs. Anyways his # is kept in my wallet just encase.
Last edited by djohn14296; 01-31-2017 at 05:17 PM. Reason: for to proof read, duh
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Ontario
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Central South Carolina
Re: Sticky ignition
Cue the 'JAWS' theme song, building into a 'crashendo' (yeah I know I spelled it wrong, totally intended). Can you imagine driving down the road and the entire lockset pops out into your lap and the steering wheel locks? O M GAWD..... .
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Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Lineville, AL
Re: Sticky ignition
Pucker factor of 12 on a 1-10 scale !
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 30
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
Re: Sticky ignition
Problem not solved yet. Been working (some of us still have to) and still trying to figure out why engine does not engage. Everything works fine until I put tumbler in. Tumbler does go in correctly as well as black cylinder cap. I've put transponder ring in at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock. Key is recognized by skreem but engine does not turn over. When I remove key/tumbler and put screwdriver in ignition cylinder it cranks right up. I ordered a lock cylinder today- Mercedes part- and will be here Monday. I will then change out the pins and put old in new cylinder while keeping my old key since there is no problem with the key. We'll see. You guys have been extremely helpful and I appreciate all the time you have put in trying to assist me. Very grateful.
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Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Alma, MI
Re: Sticky ignition
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 25,429
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From: Ontario
Re: Sticky ignition
Whatever protrudes from the tumbler assembly must locate in the switch body and turn when the key is turned. So what stops it?
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Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Alma, MI
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 16
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From: Raleigh, NC
Re: Sticky ignition
Problem not solved yet. Been working (some of us still have to) and still trying to figure out why engine does not engage. Everything works fine until I put tumbler in. Tumbler does go in correctly as well as black cylinder cap. I've put transponder ring in at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock. Key is recognized by skreem but engine does not turn over. When I remove key/tumbler and put screwdriver in ignition cylinder it cranks right up. I ordered a lock cylinder today- Mercedes part- and will be here Monday. I will then change out the pins and put old in new cylinder while keeping my old key since there is no problem with the key. We'll see. You guys have been extremely helpful and I appreciate all the time you have put in trying to assist me. Very grateful.
Good to have photos of failed parts, always something to be learned from it.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,012
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From: Central South Carolina
Re: Sticky ignition
I read this with interest, and just the last few posts my light bulb started flickering a little brighter. You said you could use a flat headed screwdriver in the ignition and it worked, my question, what is on the tumbler assembly that is supposed to 'interface' with the ignition assembly, that looks or acts like that screwdriver blade? I don't have (and never did) an ignition assembly apart in my hand, but if the screwdriver blade works then some sort of interface must either be missing, or not being inserted deep enough to interlock. Or, am I just burning out my light bulb again? .
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 25,429
Likes: 613
From: Ontario
Re: Sticky ignition
I read this with interest, and just the last few posts my light bulb started flickering a little brighter. You said you could use a flat headed screwdriver in the ignition and it worked, my question, what is on the tumbler assembly that is supposed to 'interface' with the ignition assembly, that looks or acts like that screwdriver blade? I don't have (and never did) an ignition assembly apart in my hand, but if the screwdriver blade works then some sort of interface must either be missing, or not being inserted deep enough to interlock. Or, am I just burning out my light bulb again? .
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,012
Likes: 516
From: Central South Carolina
Re: Sticky ignition
I asked this question in post #34 and got no reply, today I started to expand on it but gave up. It is simple, either the connection is damaged or the lock does not turn the same number of degrees as the switch can. This should be quite obvious but the feedback is somewhat lacking.
Totally agree. To coin a popular movie phrase 'What we have he'aah, is a failure to communicate'. I see it going one direction but then it ends flat out. It just seems a bridge to effective communication is lacking some. Is something preventing the assembly from completely seating? Maybe someone close can hook up with the OP and put a different set of eyeballs on it? .
