Help! Car not starting
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,395
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis IN
Help! Car not starting
I apologize in advance for the undiscriptive message to follow...I am posting this for my husband, Draco, who is out of town. He called this morning and said to find out if anyone knows about a fix for the key in the ignition not working sometimes. Is this a common problem? He has had, on occasion, the car not respond to turning the key. He's been able to get it going after a while, but wants to figure out what's going on before he gets stranded somewhere. Of course I'd appreciate that too.
Anyway, thanks for your help!
Arana
Anyway, thanks for your help!
Arana
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,450
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City Missouri
Re: Help! Car not starting (Draco)
Cool of you to do that for your husband. Im not sure what it is, but it could be that the "pellet" in his key has been dirty or wet at these times when it wouldnd start. You could also help him out by going to the search area, typing in "start", and searching the archives in the C5 tech performance area. I recently had some starting problems, and I think I recall seeing some info on a problem like yours while researching. Good luck :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 3
From: Memphis Tn
Re: Help! Car not starting (Draco)
:lol: The chip could be worn, or just dirty. You can clean it with alcohol. If it's not the key, check the battery. Mainly the positive post, as they are prone to leaking. Also check that battery cable are tight. :flag
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 1
From: Newland US
Re: Help! Car not starting ()
Draco,
Some have had like symptoms, which turned out to be nothing more than a loose battery cable.
If the cables are tight, then I think there is a relay in the passenger foot well, that must close to energize the starter solenoid. I would guess that this is the more likely source of the gremlin.
Another possibility is the clutch switch or the park/neutral safety switch, depending if the car is manual or automatic transmissioin.
Good luck.
Mark
[Modified by MDT, 11:17 PM 9/11/2002]
Some have had like symptoms, which turned out to be nothing more than a loose battery cable.
If the cables are tight, then I think there is a relay in the passenger foot well, that must close to energize the starter solenoid. I would guess that this is the more likely source of the gremlin.
Another possibility is the clutch switch or the park/neutral safety switch, depending if the car is manual or automatic transmissioin.
Good luck.
Mark
[Modified by MDT, 11:17 PM 9/11/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 1
From: Richmond Ca
Re: Help! Car not starting (Draco)
Assuming you have an alternate key(s) you can rule out the key if the backup key works.
It the problem continues after switching to the alternate key then the contacts in the ignition switch may be dirty. Get some solvent and a cue-tip and clean the pellet contacts in the key-hole.
If that's not it, it could be a faulty ignition switch (you usually get a message about that), or as some others have said problems under the hood (loose battery cable, bad starter, or even a low battery). Good luck!
It the problem continues after switching to the alternate key then the contacts in the ignition switch may be dirty. Get some solvent and a cue-tip and clean the pellet contacts in the key-hole.
If that's not it, it could be a faulty ignition switch (you usually get a message about that), or as some others have said problems under the hood (loose battery cable, bad starter, or even a low battery). Good luck!
