everything stopped working all at once checked all the obvious( fuses, relays) including ignition switch.everything seems fine but no power to anything. has anyone encountered this problem please let me know

The type of fuses used for this car can be a little deceptive. First, if they are aluminum, they are notorious for intermittent problems. Replace them with the copper, the slight extra cost is well worth the lack of frustration. Second, remove the fuse and check it physically as I've seen broken connections on the fuse ends. On mine, the PO must have had a habit of "spinning" the (aluminum) fuses and there were several where the fuse mount tension had worn the ends to the point of a broken connection.

How did you "check" the ignition switch?

__________________
Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

i replaced the fuses and replaced the ignition switch with a good one. when i took the dash out i also smelled something burned but i didn't find anything burned. the only relays behind the dash are the flasher, cruise control and glow relay timer and there all good. so far i'm stumped. any other ideas would be very helpful. thanks dominic

after you VERIFY the fuses are copper and all checked with a meter to be good,
pull the instrument cluster. it's simple, just grip the edges of the plastic with your fingers, and pull it out.
behind the cluster you will find a bolt with several brown wires on them.
make sure it's clean and tight.
that's the ground for most of the electrical parts in your car interior.
if that looks good, I'd verify the ignition switch is good, cause it sounds like the culprit to me.
the glow relay timer is not behind the cluster... it's under the hood.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

ahh, you changed the ignition switch, but did you check the socket out well? the wires could be the source of the burned smell...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

yes so far i've done most of that, and right the glow relay is under the hood the one i was talking about is the pre-glow relay thats under the dash. i have also jumped the individual connections on the plug that connects to the switch with a power wire and nothing still worked. thanks dominic