[R129 SL] Can anyone help Wendy?

[Tom Reynolds]

Cross posting from another list, wondering if anyone has had this problem
and can help Wendy at mailto:golfwendy@lycos.com
Tom Reynolds
Hereford, AZ
((((((email history of problem follows))))))))))))
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 16:52:30  0000
From: "wendy e engquist" <golfwendy@lycos.com>
Subject: [MB] Re: electrical problem/Jim Mahaffey

 Jim thanks for jumping in where others dare not tread!!!!  Is this
ignition switch problem one that when they plug the car into one of their
diagnostic computers it's going to tell them that's the problem or will
they spend hours trying to eliminate things that are not the problem???

thanks,
Wendy

>From: "Jim Mahaffey" <benzdr@bellsouth.net>
>Subject: RE: [MB] I think it's electrical, how about you???
>Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 10:41:07 -0400
>
>Wendy,
>
>I could be anything, from the fuses to the connector-contacts under a
>relay somewhere, but I think, from some long experience, that it's the
>ignition-switch assembly.
>
>Over the decades the ignition switch has become gradually more
>complicated, without a gradual increase in durability.  This problem
>sounds like the type of action one gets from a worn ignition switch, in
>a car made in the past 15 years particularly but not exclusively. 
>
>Jim
>
>
>
>> A problem I had last spring that magically disappeared has reappeared.
>It's apparently a problem that isn't eminent but I'd like to nip it in
>the bud if someone can get me close to a reasonable explanation.
>
>> It's my 500SL.  When I start my car I always let it warm up a bit.  I
>doubt it's ever at complete warm up but the oil has had a chance to
>circulate.  In less than 1-1/2 miles of my home the battery light goes
>on and the car stalls.  I pull over, shut everything off then try to
>restart, if I restart to soon all the lights on the dash go on and she
>just grinds.  If I wait an apparently appropriate amount of time she
>turns right over again and although I have fear of it happening again,
>off I go, problem gone.  This has happened three times in the past week
>and one half. ARGHHHHHH!
>
>>The first two times it was fairly early in the morning, the temp. was
>probably about 43 with quite a bit of moisture in the air.  I started to
>think it was temperature or humidity related BUT yesterday it happened
>and it was 60 something no humidity.  Also my car is garaged.  So then
>I'm thinking it has something to do with the wiring, I'm doing something
>in particular that causes a short or something.  The first time I was
>going about 30, making a very slow sweeping curve to the left, the
>second time I was on the straight about ready to make a right turn,
>crawling in stop and go traffic, the third time I was idling in front of
>my neighbors, I was turned slightly left.  If it were the battery, I
>wouldn't be able to restart would I? Batteries don't go between having
>good days and bad do they??  Also, so far it always happens when I first
>start driving, lets say less than 2 miles from home.  I'm so afraid the
>problem will progress however and I'll be flying down the expressway!
>at  70 when she does this, not good!!
>
>> I know it's asking a lot of someone to try to figure this out, but if
>you can get close or offer a suggestion that will save me the labor
>hours of the MB techs trying to figure this out, I'd be VERY grateful!!
>
>Thanks
>Wendy
>'91 500 SL   23K miles