Ignition help...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Ignition help...
It seems like the reader which detects the resistor in the key has gone south... my car won't start all the time.
I changed the key to my spare (which was brand new), eliminating the resistor itself. Also, I had the electrical system checked out.. alt. is ok and battery is ok.
Anyone have tips on this? Do I take it to the butchers and see what they do? Or is there anything I can do myself to solve this. Already tried wiping the inside with rubbing alcohol and Q-Tip... problem is still intermittent. TIA.
Dave
PS- Car's an '03, A4 with 45k on it.
I changed the key to my spare (which was brand new), eliminating the resistor itself. Also, I had the electrical system checked out.. alt. is ok and battery is ok.
Anyone have tips on this? Do I take it to the butchers and see what they do? Or is there anything I can do myself to solve this. Already tried wiping the inside with rubbing alcohol and Q-Tip... problem is still intermittent. TIA.
Dave
PS- Car's an '03, A4 with 45k on it.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
my understanding is the resistor does not stop the car from starting, only from moving. when i first bought my car (10 mins after actually lol) it kept cutting off everytime I would start moving (i later found out > 1mph) and I blamed it on me just stalling (which I now know is about impossible in these things). after calling the guy i bought it from he told me he sometimes had trouble with that and just to clean the pellet on the key. i cleaned it with sandpaper and the ignition itself with some contact cleaner and a little scraping and haven't had the problem much since...
edit: one thing I always do is slide the key in and out a few times real quick before i start it, seems to give me a lot less trouble when i do that, mine has 180K miles on it...
edit: one thing I always do is slide the key in and out a few times real quick before i start it, seems to give me a lot less trouble when i do that, mine has 180K miles on it...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
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From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by schpenxel
i cleaned it with sandpaper and the ignition itself with some contact cleaner and a little scraping and haven't had the problem much since...
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
its pretty close to the top of the lock cylinder (you can see the contacts)..use a flashlight and look at how far the pellet goes into the cylinder when you put the key in, its not very far in...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
Originally Posted by schpenxel
my understanding is the resistor does not stop the car from starting, only from moving. when i first bought my car (10 mins after actually lol) it kept cutting off everytime I would start moving (i later found out > 1mph) and I blamed it on me just stalling (which I now know is about impossible in these things). after calling the guy i bought it from he told me he sometimes had trouble with that and just to clean the pellet on the key. i cleaned it with sandpaper and the ignition itself with some contact cleaner and a little scraping and haven't had the problem much since...
edit: one thing I always do is slide the key in and out a few times real quick before i start it, seems to give me a lot less trouble when i do that, mine has 180K miles on it...
edit: one thing I always do is slide the key in and out a few times real quick before i start it, seems to give me a lot less trouble when i do that, mine has 180K miles on it...
extra wears the switch. Need to get in the dash find the yellow wires. Don't cut nothing till sure ,you'll pop your bag. Measure the resisor in the key.
Match the value at Radio Shack. Soilder in series in the wire.
Thats the fix . or change the switch.Ls-1 .dot .com had a writeup.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The first thing that I would do is see if there are any codes set. If you have codes, post them.
Will the starter turn over??? Or does it crank and not start???
If the starter will not turn over, your Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR) could be the problem. There is a relay in the passengers foot well on the fire wall. Look above the BCM (Big Silver Box): In this picture You can see the relay!
The TDR will have four wires. (RED, PURPLE, Yellow/black stripe and Yellow.
A bad Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR) will prevent the starter from starting.
Mine was fried! It got moisture in it from the AC System condenstaion!
You can pull the relay off the fire wall, open it up and check the contacts. If you close the relay contacts with the ignition switch on, the car will/should start!
****MAke sure it is in park or in netural with the brake on or the car can take off on you!!!!!!!
****
Will the starter turn over??? Or does it crank and not start???
If the starter will not turn over, your Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR) could be the problem. There is a relay in the passengers foot well on the fire wall. Look above the BCM (Big Silver Box): In this picture You can see the relay!
The TDR will have four wires. (RED, PURPLE, Yellow/black stripe and Yellow.
A bad Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR) will prevent the starter from starting.
Mine was fried! It got moisture in it from the AC System condenstaion!
You can pull the relay off the fire wall, open it up and check the contacts. If you close the relay contacts with the ignition switch on, the car will/should start!
****MAke sure it is in park or in netural with the brake on or the car can take off on you!!!!!!!
****
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Oct 2, 2005 at 12:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
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From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Thanks a lot you guys.
I'll check into it and see what turns up... If I see any codes, I'll post 'em for sure.
Thanks again you guys... it's great to have help from you all
Dave
I'll check into it and see what turns up... If I see any codes, I'll post 'em for sure.
Thanks again you guys... it's great to have help from you all
Dave
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Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 18
From: Tulsa OK
I had the same issue. I ended up buying a new lock cylinder from Fred Beans and had a locksmith cut it to my current key. Then I installed it myself (pretty easy) and it has worked like a charm ever since. If you want more info, send me a PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh NC
Similar Problem, Any Answers?
Dave,
Im having a similar problem, intermittent not starting, it doesn't turn over and i too have checked the battery. Did you resolve your issues? What was the answer?
Ed
Im having a similar problem, intermittent not starting, it doesn't turn over and i too have checked the battery. Did you resolve your issues? What was the answer?
Ed