Ignition switch?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 366
Likes: 17
Ignition switch?
Recently had starter replaced and car has been cranking and running Iike a pro last week or two. Before it sat a few months with no start issue. Battery tested good. Tried to crank during heavy rain this morning to take to get inspection and it didn't crank. A few gours later of no rain it cranked right up. Waited another hour and it cranked right up again and I drove it into garage. When it wouldn't crank no codes and all electronics worked like normal. Any ideas? Also aftermarket radio stopped working few months back too
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 799
From: Espanola New Mexico
Was your Security light off or flashing? Could you hear the TDR clicking in the passenger footwell area when the key was turned to start the car? Is your car a automatic or standard because it could be the Park safety switch, or the clutch safety switch.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 366
Likes: 17
it is an automatic. It was hard to hear anything because the rain was heavy and loud. Where would I see the security light? On the dash is would literally say security correct? Only sound I could faintly hear sounded like it was coming from engine bay area but it was honestly difficult to determine
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 799
From: Espanola New Mexico
There is the the word Security that lights and flashes and then turns off before you turn the key to crank the engine over. The TDR is the heart of the starting circuit you must determine if it is being energized when you turn the key to start, the contacts of that relay provide 12v to the starter solenoid. It is located above the BCM in the passenger footwell area behind the toe board.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 366
Likes: 17
There is the the word Security that lights and flashes and then turns off before you turn the key to crank the engine over. The TDR is the heart of the starting circuit you must determine if it is being energized when you turn the key to start, the contacts of that relay provide 12v to the starter solenoid. It is located above the BCM in the passenger footwell area behind the toe board.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 799
From: Espanola New Mexico
Your cars ignition switch has a set of contacts that press against the keys resistor pellet, those contacts may be worn or dirty, you can spray electronic contact cleaner into the very front part of the switch and on the key and insert and pull the key multiple times. Those contacts are wired to the BCM which recognizes that the correct key is inserted and then provides a ground to the TDR coil.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 366
Likes: 17
Left car in garage for 2 days while it rained and have driven it the last two days to and from gym, work, store, etc. No problem whatsoever. Stocked up on a can of electronic connector cleaner and keep spare in center console at all times to be safe. Just trying to avoid driving in rain for time being. Will eventually use the guide on this forum and YouTube to pull and clean ignition switch.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 366
Likes: 17
Haven't let car sit and/or driven it in rain all since last time and it has started non-issue for last 2 weeks. This morning drove to church and back just fine. Went to go to the gym and no start again. I can hear a click and it sounds like a whirring noise as if starter is engaging. Lights work. Battery reading 11.8 -12.1 volts. Any thoughts?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 799
From: Espanola New Mexico
That whirring sound is probably the starter spinning but not turning the engine over because the starter drive gear is going bad, have to make certain that the starter is just spinning, and will need to be replaced.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 366
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the starter is brand new and was literally replaced in the last 4 weeks and maybe 100 miles driven since. Could it have already gone bad?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 799
From: Espanola New Mexico
New starters can indeed go bad, if you are hearing a whirring sound when you turn the key to crank the engine over and the engine doesn't crank over the starter drive gear has failed or it is not engaging with the flywheel.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 500
From: Hilton NY
When trying to start the car after driving in the rain and the starter doesn't spin, the switch on the transmission that's moved by the shifter could be bad. Water could be entering the switch then when it dries out it sometimes works again. The switch is supposed to only allow the starter to engage when it's in the Park or Neutral positions. To rule out most of the starter system circuits, bypass the Theft Deterrent Relay (TDR) located above the body computer in the passenger footwell and make sure the car is in PARK. If the starter is good it will crank the engine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 799
From: Espanola New Mexico
The click sound you are hearing is either the TDR relay located above the BCM in the passenger footwell area, it could also be the starter solenoid but that click will be loud compared to the TDR. Did you replace the starter yourself or had the work done, I would check the cable connections at the starter, maybe they were not tighten enough when the starter was replaced.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 366
Likes: 17
The click sound you are hearing is either the TDR relay located above the BCM in the passenger footwell area, it could also be the starter solenoid but that click will be loud compared to the TDR. Did you replace the starter yourself or had the work done, I would check the cable connections at the starter, maybe they were not tighten enough when the starter was replaced.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 799
From: Espanola New Mexico
The TDR socket has four wires two small gauge yellow wires and a heavier gauge red and violet wire.. Strip the insulation on both ends of a short length of wire and jumper the red and violet wires, leave the key in the on position and make absolutely sure the car is in Park or neutral. If the car cranks and starts the TDR is bad, you simply unplug the TDR from its socket to replace.