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
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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: 363
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: 15,763
Likes: 3,281
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: 15,763
Likes: 3,281
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.
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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
