thanks for the old info
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: texas
thanks for the old info
A quick thanks to the old posters (especially Bill Curlee) and their ignition switch overhaul posts from days gone by. I used the info today to repair mine and would have been hesitant to try without the input from the forum guru's. I do have a question about the switch I haven't seen posted (may have missed it) ....do the contacts go bad over time or do they get messed up from a particular event involving the electrical system? The reason I ask is my car had always started on demand up until I set it up for a month for other repairs with battery disconnected. Upon completion, the battery needed jump starting which led to a new battery. Since then (about 2 months now) it has been failing to start consistently and even gave me the "pull key and wait" issue. I am pretty sure the switch was the issue (time will tell) due to the condition of the contacts and several other forum inspired trouble shooting steps I used. But again, due to the timing of my issue, did the switch just happen to show its age or is there something electrically that can toast them instantly that I don't want to do again? thanks again for the "old" but "timely" post and posters!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 372
Likes: 2
From: Richmond BC
Unless you are aware of a 'dead short' event in your car which may have caused something to smoke, I would say that it is a problem that worsens over time and is not instantaneous due to a single event. Arcing of the contacts may start due to dirty contacts, and as they arc slightly, they get pitted, which worsens the arcing and worsens the pitting, creating an exponential or 'snowball' effect.
We used to spray all of the switch contacts on our marine electronics, radar/sonar, etc with Nutrol to clean, lubricate and prevent arcing. Salt water kills! I would imagine that the same preventative measures can be applied here. But once the arcing starts it is probably too late.
We used to spray all of the switch contacts on our marine electronics, radar/sonar, etc with Nutrol to clean, lubricate and prevent arcing. Salt water kills! I would imagine that the same preventative measures can be applied here. But once the arcing starts it is probably too late.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: texas
Have not experienced the "smoking" event yet, no blown fuses, etc. . .just the intermittent starting that cropped up out of no where seemingly. Now that I know how simple the solution is for that particular condition, the idea of visiting the contacts every now and then to clean and check their condition will be considered as a maintenance item! Crazy how these simple issues can leave you parked sometimes.......
