Ignition switch issues
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,309
Likes: 13
From: FW/d Texas
Ignition switch issues
I have a question for the guys that's had the problem with ignition switch contacts / bad switch / not starting or losing power while driving. Do the ones that have this problem live near the coast or where the humitidy is high all the time? I live in the Dallas / Ft Worth area and I had my '01 for 9 years before I had to sell it and never had that problem. Since then I've been able to buy an '04 that's always been in this area and it's never had that problem according to the records. Was just wondering if this was unique to coastal / high humdity areas.
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 580
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Suburb
St. Jude Donor '13
From what I've seen on this forum where owners had repaired their own switches, and from my own experience, contacts on C5 ignition switches almost all show sign of burns, not corrosion.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
It's more an arcing matter than corrosion. That is something characteristic of DC voltage when switched. Contact material, size and tension are three things that contribute (or not) to any problems. I think the situation also has come up in cars pretty much around the country, not just coastal. I haven't noticed any specific pattern.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 361
From: Midland TX
It's more an arcing matter than corrosion. That is something characteristic of DC voltage when switched. Contact material, size and tension are three things that contribute (or not) to any problems. I think the situation also has come up in cars pretty much around the country, not just coastal. I haven't noticed any specific pattern.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,744
Likes: 3,265
From: Phoenix area, AZ
I have a question for the guys that's had the problem with ignition switch contacts / bad switch / not starting or losing power while driving. Do the ones that have this problem live near the coast or where the humitidy is high all the time? I live in the Dallas / Ft Worth area and I had my '01 for 9 years before I had to sell it and never had that problem. Since then I've been able to buy an '04 that's always been in this area and it's never had that problem according to the records. Was just wondering if this was unique to coastal / high humdity areas.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,309
Likes: 13
From: FW/d Texas
... was just wondering about this since both of mine - '01 that i had for 9 years and my recent '04 purchase - neither have had the problem. Guess I've been lucky - so far! 
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,744
Likes: 3,265
From: Phoenix area, AZ
Have you taken your switch apart to see what it looks like? I wasn't having any problems when I rebuilt mine, but if I hadn't decided to perform the preventative maintenance it would have become a problem eventually.
Last edited by Corvette_Ed; Aug 8, 2013 at 11:10 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,309
Likes: 13
From: FW/d Texas
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Pflugerville TX
I live in central Texas and I have to clean my contacts on my 02 every year to year and half or I get ugly electrical issue. My honest opinion it is car by car specif. My BIL has a 02 and we have never had to clean the contacts on his.
Dustinztx
Dustinztx
