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Signs of a bad ignition switch?

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  #1  
Old 09-13-2005, 01:30 PM
Kevin in Iowa
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Signs of a bad ignition switch?

My wife went out to goto work this morning in her 90 Accord LX
and her car would start and then immeditaly die, I had read somewhere
in the group about holding the key between the on and start position
to see if it ran there, it does, but as soon as I go back to the on
position, it dies. In the on postition, the radio plays as well as
I can put the windows down (power), so it may be getting some current
through it. The local dealers do not have the part in stock, so this
will give me a couple of days to try different things. If not the
switch, what are the other possibilities?

TIA
Kevin

 
  #2  
Old 09-13-2005, 02:43 PM
Elmo P. Shagnasty
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Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

In article <1126631919.568201.306380@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups .com>,
"Kevin in Iowa" <kevininiowa@aol.com> wrote:

> In the on postition, the radio plays as well as
> I can put the windows down (power), so it may be getting some current
> through it.


Then it's not a bad ignition switch.

 
  #3  
Old 09-13-2005, 02:43 PM
Remco
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

Kevin in Iowa wrote:
> My wife went out to goto work this morning in her 90 Accord LX
> and her car would start and then immeditaly die, I had read somewhere
> in the group about holding the key between the on and start position
> to see if it ran there, it does, but as soon as I go back to the on
> position, it dies. In the on postition, the radio plays as well as
> I can put the windows down (power), so it may be getting some current
> through it. The local dealers do not have the part in stock, so this
> will give me a couple of days to try different things. If not the
> switch, what are the other possibilities?
>
> TIA
> Kevin


Sounds like the main relay (the portion of the relay that assures that
current continues to flow to the fuel pump after starting).
They can be repaired by resoldering.

Here's a very good explanation:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/start...html#mainrelay

 
  #4  
Old 09-13-2005, 04:30 PM
Kevin in Iowa
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Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

I had the main relay changed out a couple of weeks ago for a hard
starting
issue with the car, like Teggers web site I felt the relay and did get
the 3
clicks from the relays inside it. All of the gauges go dark when in the
on
position but if held between the on and start position they light up, I
still
have the old relay and may give that a try.

Kevin

 
  #5  
Old 09-13-2005, 06:30 PM
Kevin in Iowa
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

UPDATE: I took my old relay and repaired it as the web
site shows, and changed it out with the new relay, still
does the same thing, so it is looking more like the
ignition switch.

Kevin

 
  #6  
Old 09-13-2005, 07:30 PM
Remco
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

Kevin in Iowa wrote:
> I had the main relay changed out a couple of weeks ago for a hard
> starting
> issue with the car, like Teggers web site I felt the relay and did get
> the 3
> clicks from the relays inside it. All of the gauges go dark when in the
> on
> position but if held between the on and start position they light up, I
> still
> have the old relay and may give that a try.
>
> Kevin


Ok, that's a very good clue. That points to the ignition switch to me -
forget what I said about the main relay.
Maybe see if you can hotwire the switch to make sure it is bad.

Remco

 
  #7  
Old 09-13-2005, 07:30 PM
Remco
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

Kevin in Iowa wrote:
> UPDATE: I took my old relay and repaired it as the web
> site shows, and changed it out with the new relay, still
> does the same thing, so it is looking more like the
> ignition switch.
>
> Kevin


oops -- just noticed your follow up post.
Right -- check the ignition switch. It usually is a dual (or sometimes
even more than 2) pole switch so one pole must be bad. You can probably
hotwire it with some clip leads to make sure your switch is indeed bad.

Remco

 
  #8  
Old 09-13-2005, 07:30 PM
E Meyer
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

On 9/13/05 5:43 PM, in article
1126651386.694114.247540@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups. com, "Remco"
<whybcuz@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Kevin in Iowa wrote:
>> UPDATE: I took my old relay and repaired it as the web
>> site shows, and changed it out with the new relay, still
>> does the same thing, so it is looking more like the
>> ignition switch.
>>
>> Kevin

>
> oops -- just noticed your follow up post.
> Right -- check the ignition switch. It usually is a dual (or sometimes
> even more than 2) pole switch so one pole must be bad. You can probably
> hotwire it with some clip leads to make sure your switch is indeed bad.
>
> Remco
>


If this ignition switch is anything like the ones they were using in
'95-'96, you can take if off, pop it open and clean up the burnt contacts.
You might be able to clean them up enough to make it run again for several
more days until the dealer gets the part.

 
  #9  
Old 09-13-2005, 09:32 PM
Chris
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

In article <1126650442.710289.199970@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups .com>,
whybcuz@yahoo.com says...
> Kevin in Iowa wrote:
> > I had the main relay changed out a couple of weeks ago for a hard
> > starting
> > issue with the car, like Teggers web site I felt the relay and did get
> > the 3
> > clicks from the relays inside it. All of the gauges go dark when in the
> > on
> > position but if held between the on and start position they light up, I
> > still
> > have the old relay and may give that a try.
> >
> > Kevin

>
> Ok, that's a very good clue. That points to the ignition switch to me -
> forget what I said about the main relay.
> Maybe see if you can hotwire the switch to make sure it is bad.
>
> Remco
>
>

Just done mine. It (the ignition switch assby.) was held on to the key
mechanism with two bolts. I popped it open and found a load of burnt crud
where the contacts rest in drive. I cleaned up both contacts and away it
went. You can operate the switch with a cross-head screwdriver to test it
before reinstalling.
Actually the ignition switch sub-harness on a (UK spec.) 92 accord is
only about 3 feet long and plugs into the footwell fusebox, with only
one other two pin plug for the key illuminator lamp. I took the whole
section out and cleaned & tested the switch on the bench. I could
probably source the harness section from a breakers if becomes necessary
again.

Good luck
--
Chris Notton
Replace "nospam" with my surname to reply by email
Sostituisca il "nospam" con il mio cognome per rispondere
}<////(*>
 
  #10  
Old 09-13-2005, 10:30 PM
Kevin in Iowa
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

Thanks for all of the replies, do I need to pull the steering wheel
to get to the switch or just the plastic housing around the column?
Thanks!

Kevin

 
  #11  
Old 09-13-2005, 10:30 PM
E Meyer
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

On 9/13/05 8:37 PM, in article
1126661821.308850.25060@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.c om, "Kevin in Iowa"
<kevininiowa@aol.com> wrote:

> Thanks for all of the replies, do I need to pull the steering wheel
> to get to the switch or just the plastic housing around the column?
> Thanks!
>
> Kevin
>


It should be accessible if you take off the plastic around the column.

 
  #12  
Old 09-14-2005, 12:30 AM
'Curly Q. Links'
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Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

Kevin in Iowa wrote:
>
> Thanks for all of the replies, do I need to pull the steering wheel
> to get to the switch or just the plastic housing around the column?
> Thanks!
>
> Kevin


===========================

Kevin, are you aware that Honda replaces a few million of those ignition
switches worldwide in a recall a few years ago? It covered '95, '96,
'97, '98 and maybe more of ACcord, odyssey, CR-V, etc. Here's directions
for a '97 CR-v for popping the cowl apart. . .Might help with yours.

http://www.hondasuv.com/pdf/crv/firs...ritysystem.pdf

When our switch first manifested, the cruise control just disengaged
itself on the highway . . five minutes later the engine died and tach
dropped. Car restarted OK. Two weeks later it stalled in an intersection
with traffic coming. Dealer replaced it free, but it was a '97 CR-V.
Ours had 200,000 Km on it at the time.

'Curly'
 
  #13  
Old 09-14-2005, 01:30 AM
Kevin in Iowa
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

I wish that this one was covered by the recall, but too old.
I took the cover off of the column and was able to remove
switch, one thing that I found when removing the plastic
column housing was a BIG gob of melted solder that had
melted off of the Bat lead on the switch, I took it apart and
cleaned the contacts, put it back together and still no
contact between the Bat and IGN lead when in the run mode.
I then took it back apart and put a layer of solder on the
contacts and was able to make good contact between the
Bat and IGN lead, reinstalled in car and was able to use a
screwdriver to start the vehicle and let it run like it should.
I am going to still replace the switch and will take pictures
and put on my website when done.
Thanks for all of the help!
Kevin

 
  #14  
Old 09-14-2005, 08:30 AM
Frank Boettcher
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

It is the ignition switch. My 90 accord did the same thing last year.
I'm the guy who suggested holding the key halfway between the start/on
position. I drove home about fifteen miles with my son sitting in the
passenger seat holding that switch position. Replaced the switch,
problem solved.

On 13 Sep 2005 10:18:39 -0700, "Kevin in Iowa" <kevininiowa@aol.com>
wrote:

>My wife went out to goto work this morning in her 90 Accord LX
>and her car would start and then immeditaly die, I had read somewhere
>in the group about holding the key between the on and start position
>to see if it ran there, it does, but as soon as I go back to the on
>position, it dies. In the on postition, the radio plays as well as
>I can put the windows down (power), so it may be getting some current
>through it. The local dealers do not have the part in stock, so this
>will give me a couple of days to try different things. If not the
>switch, what are the other possibilities?
>
>TIA
>Kevin


 
  #15  
Old 09-14-2005, 10:30 AM
Remco
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

Kevin in Iowa wrote:
> I wish that this one was covered by the recall, but too old.
> I took the cover off of the column and was able to remove
> switch, one thing that I found when removing the plastic
> column housing was a BIG gob of melted solder that had
> melted off of the Bat lead on the switch, I took it apart and
> cleaned the contacts, put it back together and still no
> contact between the Bat and IGN lead when in the run mode.
> I then took it back apart and put a layer of solder on the
> contacts and was able to make good contact between the
> Bat and IGN lead, reinstalled in car and was able to use a
> screwdriver to start the vehicle and let it run like it should.
> I am going to still replace the switch and will take pictures
> and put on my website when done.
> Thanks for all of the help!
> Kevin


Glad you got it semi fixed.
You may want to mention your fix and findings to John (Tegger) -- he
might want to put it in his FAQ. It sounds like a very useful thing to
have there.

Remco

 
  #16  
Old 09-14-2005, 10:32 PM
TeGGeR®
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

"Remco" <whybcuz@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:1126706806.667158.99030@f14g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com:

> Kevin in Iowa wrote:
>> I wish that this one was covered by the recall, but too old.
>> I took the cover off of the column and was able to remove
>> switch, one thing that I found when removing the plastic
>> column housing was a BIG gob of melted solder that had
>> melted off of the Bat lead on the switch, I took it apart and
>> cleaned the contacts, put it back together and still no
>> contact between the Bat and IGN lead when in the run mode.
>> I then took it back apart and put a layer of solder on the
>> contacts and was able to make good contact between the
>> Bat and IGN lead, reinstalled in car and was able to use a
>> screwdriver to start the vehicle and let it run like it should.
>> I am going to still replace the switch and will take pictures
>> and put on my website when done.
>> Thanks for all of the help!
>> Kevin

>
> Glad you got it semi fixed.
> You may want to mention your fix and findings to John (Tegger) -- he
> might want to put it in his FAQ. It sounds like a very useful thing to
> have there.
>




Excellent idea!

All I've got now are schematics from the manual. Actual photos of somebody
actually fixing an actual problem would be scrumptious indeed.

Nothing like good photos to convey ideas.


--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
 
  #17  
Old 09-15-2005, 12:30 AM
Kevin in Iowa
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Signs of a bad ignition switch?

I'll do that, I ordered a new switch today, and will have
photos this weekend.

 
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