Hey guys, just wondering if my ignition switch might be dying out; I've had this situation happen three times already:

I put the key in, turn it to "on" so the pump primes, then I turn the key to "crank" and nothing happens- silence! I let off the key, flip it again to "crank", and the car starts up perfectly. The starter sounds strong and the charging system/battery is perfect.

So could the ignition switch be acting up? Anyone else have this problem? This has happened 3 times over the past two days... but every other time I start the car, its the same "strong" startup action.

The car does have over 278,000 miles on it; I replaced the key cylinder last year, but I've never replaced the ignition switch itself.

 

Could be.

It'll cost you about $12 and 20 minutes to find out. No big deal.

 

Could be the rod down to the switch is getting out of shape. Maybe loosen switch and push it up toward the steering wheel, retighten, and get a bit more use without getting into it deeper.

 

$12?? That's it? Wow. Are there any adjustments I have to make if I install a new one? Or is the adjustment that tom3 mentioned the only one?

It happened again last night- 3 times in a row, without starting. So this time I got to pay close attention...

I did hear a click when the key was turned to "crank". My lights didn't really dim though (yes they were bright!) when I turned the key to crank.

Is it more probable that my solenoid is going out, and it was really the starter and not the switch?

 

yeah.. sounds more like a starter, solenoid, bad ground problem.

 

Cool, thanks! Looks like I'll be changing the starter soon, then. I think I still have my old busted one in the garage; I could send that one in as my core.

I guess I'll replace the ignition switch too while I'm at it... "might as well"! Are the ignition switches (not the key cylinders) standard, as in, they were used on a ton of GM cars? Just curious.

 

the igniniton switch ain't no 12 dollar part. more like 46 dollars scince i bought one this usmmer cause myn got run over after taking my car apart.

 

I've seen em for $20 Canadian here...

 

well i gusse frendly chev ain't so freindly any more....

 

I bought one for one of my cars a couple of months ago. It was $12.

I didn't get it at the dealer. That's just not the right place for that sort of part. I got it at the corner parts store.

 

And the non-GM one is holding up fine so far? Cool! Do you remember who made it?

Well I think it is the switch; happened today again when I left work. I went from off, to on, to crank- "click". Let off the key, to on, to crank- "click". Did it once more, same thing.

Then I turned the key all the way off, then to on, then to crank- started right up!

Happened again 3 hours later, same thing... as soon as I flip the key all the way back to off, then crank it, it starts right up.

So looks like I'll tackle that switch first, then if it still acts up, it'll be the starter. Hopefully it's just the switch!

 

Standard Ignition, I think. But it doesn't matter; all of the ignition parts companies have them. Std, Niehoff, Borg-Warner, Sorensen, etc. It's kind of a no-brainer... some brass strips slide across some copper lumps. Not much magic to it.

 

Cool! Any idea about what would be different as far as whether or not the column is tilt or standard? (I've got an automatic trans) Seems like I can just pull up part #s for tilt wheels, but there's no non-tilt wheels. Altho; I didn't search for years other than '86...

When I replaced the key cylinder, the GM dealer thought it was odd that my column wasn't a tilt wheel... I just took it to mean that my car was special- but I already knew that

 

No, no difference.