Ignition switch problem?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Palm beach gardens Florida
Ignition switch problem?
I have had my dash lights blinking with low voltage SES service active handling intermittently for a few weeks but would always start and run fine after a couple tries. I did the switch repair about a week ago, contacts were badly burned but had the same problems. Today it cranks but wont start just get the service messages and cant pull any codes up. Checked the fuses with the key on and only have 7 volts to PCM #16, F/PUMP #!3, BCM #22 and IPC #19 which would indicate a bad switch. is there anything else I should check before I get a new one? Battery and grounds are good!
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
I have the PERFECT POST for ya!
-C5 ignition Switch repair - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html
Follow this. Its FREE!
-C5 ignition Switch repair - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ch-repair.html
Follow this. Its FREE!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Palm beach gardens Florida
Thanks Bill, I did the repair last week (contacts were burnt) and had the same problems. Yesterday it wouldnt start but would crank, so I checked the fuses in your post (found only 7v on 4 of them). Today I will remove the switch and do the resistance check you discribe. Anything else that would prevent me from having battery voltage on those fuses?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
It's probably still your ignition switch. This sounds similar to what happened to me.
I pulled my switch, cleaned it, put it back together and thought all was good. A few months later the same symptoms returned, and I went crazy trying to diagnose it. At my wits end, I pulled the ignition switch again only to find it carboned up in the same spots as before.
The last time, all I did was clean the carbon off. This time I looked carefully at the contact surfaces, and noticed a lot of pitting and irregularity presumeably from the electrical arcing. So this time I took a little whetstone and actually smoothed the contact surfaces out. It hasn't acted up on me again.
I pulled my switch, cleaned it, put it back together and thought all was good. A few months later the same symptoms returned, and I went crazy trying to diagnose it. At my wits end, I pulled the ignition switch again only to find it carboned up in the same spots as before.
The last time, all I did was clean the carbon off. This time I looked carefully at the contact surfaces, and noticed a lot of pitting and irregularity presumeably from the electrical arcing. So this time I took a little whetstone and actually smoothed the contact surfaces out. It hasn't acted up on me again.
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
Make sure that you re-arch the springs so theres more tension on the pionts. Thats covered in the post.
Ive seen corrosion with the FUSE BLOCK! Pill the fuses and MAKE SURE that theres NO corrosion and the fuse fits in the holder TIGHT!
Ive seen corrosion with the FUSE BLOCK! Pill the fuses and MAKE SURE that theres NO corrosion and the fuse fits in the holder TIGHT!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Palm beach gardens Florida
Thanks guys ignition switch was the problem, 2 of the contacts were burnt after only a week! cleaned & added a little more tension, all is well again. On to the next problem!
Thanks again
Ty
Thanks again
Ty
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Yep, same damn thing that happened to me. I really think you need to smooth the contact faces back down, or they'll just keep arcing and carboning up.
