Weird starting issue?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
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Weird starting issue?
So the other day I drove back home and turned off the car, I then tried to start it right back up, and it didn't even try at all. Turn key and nothing, no click no crank. I try it again a few hours later and it starts right up as normal. Next morning I get in to drive it and when I go to start it up it clicked the first time then on the following tries again nothing. Since then it's fired right up every time. I was thinking something wrong with the wiring or maybe the battery. Here's where it gets weird though. After it didn't start those two times it both starts and drives better than it has since I've owned it... I didn't touch it so I'm kind of weary that something really isn't right. Opinions?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 273
From: Dunedin NZ.
On my "70 it was a worn ignition switch, it is not were you think in front of the key but mounted under the dash on top of the steering column. Worn contacts in the switch can cause the problem your are having, there is a fore and aft adjustment on the switch because it is actuated by a rod from the key part. All hard to get at to adjust or replace without dropping the steering column down. PM me if you want the instructions for this I don't know how to attach a pdf to this post. You didn't say if the car is manual or auto. Autos have a lockout contact in the start circuit to stop the engine being started in gear, this contact can also cause the same problem. I verified that it was the ignition switch circuit causing the problem by bypassing this circuit at the starter motor and the engine turned over fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
So the other day I drove back home and turned off the car, I then tried to start it right back up, and it didn't even try at all. Turn key and nothing, no click no crank. I try it again a few hours later and it starts right up as normal. Next morning I get in to drive it and when I go to start it up it clicked the first time then on the following tries again nothing. Since then it's fired right up every time. I was thinking something wrong with the wiring or maybe the battery. Here's where it gets weird though. After it didn't start those two times it both starts and drives better than it has since I've owned it... I didn't touch it so I'm kind of weary that something really isn't right. Opinions?
It sounds like a worn out ignition or neutral safety switch because both switches are used every time you start your car and take off. The neutral safety switch actually gets used more because every time you back up that switch gets used.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 42
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These two switches though, they're located in the steering column? How would I check which is the problem?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
On my "70 it was a worn ignition switch, it is not were you think in front of the key but mounted under the dash on top of the steering column. Worn contacts in the switch can cause the problem your are having, there is a fore and aft adjustment on the switch because it is actuated by a rod from the key part. All hard to get at to adjust or replace without dropping the steering column down. PM me if you want the instructions for this I don't know how to attach a pdf to this post. You didn't say if the car is manual or auto. Autos have a lockout contact in the start circuit to stop the engine being started in gear, this contact can also cause the same problem. I verified that it was the ignition switch circuit causing the problem by bypassing this circuit at the starter motor and the engine turned over fine.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Actually I think it's neither switch giving me the problem, it started up moved around the battery and tightened the terminals so I think it's just a power connection issue, hopefully it doesn't happen again so I won't need to test that any more
