If you take your burned up boat starter to the rebuild store they will advise you to replace your ignition switch, as they commonly corrode inside and hang up, keeping the starter engaged. This has NOTHING to do with heavy keyrings. In my case the key has only a plastic float which weighs a few ounces. So........ there are other explanations. If you want to argue that inside your MB there is no corrosion, or that there is no dirt/dust/grime to gum up the works, knock yourself out. Anyone who has spent any time under the dash will tell you about the debris that finds your eyes.
Now Marshall warns us that MB themselves have issued warnings about keychain weight. Using my logic, this means they think that added weight in the ignition switch causes wear/damage/harm. Is this correct? If so then why would my 126 body key weigh 12 grams, (per my carb float scale) and my 220 body key weigh 30 grams? The factory themselves increased the weight of the key by 2 1/2 times. How does that make sense? Having said that, my entire keychain weighs 93 grams, 5 keys and a CPR shield. The mercedes key being the heaviest item. Ken In a message dated 8/20/2005 8:58:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: From: "Wilton Strickland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [MBZ] Switch tumblers, etc. To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" This is not an urban myth. This is absolute fact. Several years ago, my wife burned out the starter in our 80 240D by letting a very heavy key ring hang so that the key could not return to the ON/RUNNING position from the START position. The weight hanging on the right hand side of the key held it in the START position, of course, keeping the starter running as she drove along. Again, it was a HEAVY key ring. LESSON: BE VERY CAREFUL USING HEAVY KEY RINGS. BEST NOT TO USE THEM. Wilton