Your going to get stuck!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 753
Likes: 2
From: Denville NJ
Your going to get stuck!!
Yes, probably! You may want to study up and search "ignition switch". When it goes, the car stops as though you ran out of gas! It will crank and maybe sputter a bit but that's it. I guess we can add it to the lists of bum parts on our Vetts.
Like the steering column lock or the multifunction switch it seems like most of us will be struck with this mine at 68k. Just hope you are close to home like in my case. Bill Curlee was a great help in helping with the diagnosis and has a good tutorial on this where you can actually fix the switch by cleaning the burnt contacts. Mine had quite a few burned ones which I did not bother to clean, and just replaced it with new from my local auto guy for $72. Not a real tough job especially if you had your dash covers apart before. You may as well replace your flasher switch at the same time (another common Vette part to go). Good luck, and thanks Bill Curlee!!
Like the steering column lock or the multifunction switch it seems like most of us will be struck with this mine at 68k. Just hope you are close to home like in my case. Bill Curlee was a great help in helping with the diagnosis and has a good tutorial on this where you can actually fix the switch by cleaning the burnt contacts. Mine had quite a few burned ones which I did not bother to clean, and just replaced it with new from my local auto guy for $72. Not a real tough job especially if you had your dash covers apart before. You may as well replace your flasher switch at the same time (another common Vette part to go). Good luck, and thanks Bill Curlee!!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Stafford Va
Yep, happened to me. I was a couple of miles away and a "Reduced Engine Power" signal came up on the DIC. Most speed out was around 5mph and barely made it up into my garage. Funny thing is it comes and goes. Took some searching to identify the problem and sure enough the brass contacts were in pretty bad shape. Changed out the back part of the switch and all is well for now.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,767
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
Yes, probably! You may want to study up and search "ignition switch". When it goes, the car stops as though you ran out of gas! It will crank and maybe sputter a bit but that's it. I guess we can add it to the lists of bum parts on our Vetts. Like the steering column lock or the multifunction switch it seems like most of us will be struck with this mine at 68k. Just hope you are close to home like in my case. Bill Curlee was a great help in helping with the diagnosis and has a good tutorial on this where you can actually fix the switch by cleaning the burnt contacts. Mine had quite a few burned ones which I did not bother to clean, and just replaced it with new from my local auto guy for $72. Not a real tough job especially if you had your dash covers apart before. You may as well replace your flasher switch at the same time (another common Vette part to go). Good luck, and thanks Bill Curlee!!
Like the steering column lock or the multifunction switch it seems like most of us will be struck with this mine at 68k. Just hope you are close to home like in my case. Bill Curlee was a great help in helping with the diagnosis and has a good tutorial on this where you can actually fix the switch by cleaning the burnt contacts. Mine had quite a few burned ones which I did not bother to clean, and just replaced it with new from my local auto guy for $72. Not a real tough job especially if you had your dash covers apart before. You may as well replace your flasher switch at the same time (another common Vette part to go). Good luck, and thanks Bill Curlee!!
Just one of the many things Bill has helped us out with over the years.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
yep mine would die when I stopped at a light or turned to the left. Did some reading here and took it out and cleaned it just to make sure that was the problem. Cleaned it and it's been fine ever since, I think that was a little over a year ago. If it happens again I'll just swap it out and keep the old one and clean it for a spare.
Mine always started right back up though.
Exactly how long have they been making ignition switches?
Mine always started right back up though.
Exactly how long have they been making ignition switches?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
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From: Marana, Arizona
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A very useful post.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 753
Likes: 2
From: Denville NJ
Can someone do a poll on this? It would be good to know how many C5 people have had this problem. It appears there are lots! This must be like: the crummy HVAC display, the headlight motors, the window motors, the multifunction switch, the four way flasher unit, the air pump check valve (behind the engine), the oil pressure switch (behind the engine), etc. I probably left several off; if I didn't do most of my own work, I could not afford to keep my car, but I still like it, go figure.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,767
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
Can someone do a poll on this? It would be good to know how many C5 people have had this problem. It appears there are lots! This must be like: the crummy HVAC display, the headlight motors, the window motors, the multifunction switch, the four way flasher unit, the air pump check valve (behind the engine), the oil pressure switch (behind the engine), etc. I probably left several off; if I didn't do most of my own work, I could not afford to keep my car, but I still like it, go figure.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 23
From: Anaheim CA
I like a good McGuyver as much as the next person, but I have to ask: given that the labor/parts ratio on this job is so high, is it really worth $80 not to put in a new one?
I know $80 isn't exactly sofa-cushion change, but it's dirt-cheap compared to some of the $$$$$$ stuff we buy for these things.
I know $80 isn't exactly sofa-cushion change, but it's dirt-cheap compared to some of the $$$$$$ stuff we buy for these things.
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 580
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Suburb
St. Jude Donor '13
I Switch Replaxcement
I like a good McGuyver as much as the next person, but I have to ask: given that the labor/parts ratio on this job is so high, is it really worth $80 not to put in a new one?
I know $80 isn't exactly sofa-cushion change, but it's dirt-cheap compared to some of the $$$$$$ stuff we buy for these things.
I know $80 isn't exactly sofa-cushion change, but it's dirt-cheap compared to some of the $$$$$$ stuff we buy for these things.
What he said...
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,767
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
I like a good McGuyver as much as the next person, but I have to ask: given that the labor/parts ratio on this job is so high, is it really worth $80 not to put in a new one?
I know $80 isn't exactly sofa-cushion change, but it's dirt-cheap compared to some of the $$$$$$ stuff we buy for these things.
I know $80 isn't exactly sofa-cushion change, but it's dirt-cheap compared to some of the $$$$$$ stuff we buy for these things.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 23
From: Anaheim CA
I'm reading the Bill Curlee tutorial linked upthread, and it looks like the whole IPC comes out. If it's really a 15 minute job to remove/replace, forget what I said.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,767
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
I guess it would really depend on how familiar you are with taking apart the center console, radio bezel, and other associated interior parts. I've had mine out and back in quite a few times so I do admit that I can probably do it a lot faster than someone who has never taken them apart before. Even so, it's not a huge job and it's good experience.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 23
From: Anaheim CA
I guess it would really depend on how familiar you are with taking apart the center console, radio bezel, and other associated interior parts. I've had mine out and back in quite a few times so I do admit that I can probably do it a lot faster than someone who has never taken them apart before. Even so, it's not a huge job and it's good experience.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,767
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
I thought it was going to be a huge job myself; I think the detail Bill put into the entire process makes it seem more lengthy than it actually is. Going by your stereo install you'd only be looking at a few more screws to take out to remove the remaining dash sections so you can get to the switch.