Turn key in ignition, nothing

Post by **erikv11** » 03 Aug 2011, 19:39

This problem has been intermittent. Sometimes when I go to start the car, I turn the key and nothing happens. If I hold it there for a few seconds, nothing. Then, and it is *always* like this, the second time I turn the key it starts cranking the engine right away.

The car will do this for like a week then it will go away, then it comes back. Been going on about a month.

I had the battery checked it showed fine, the alternator was just rebuilt. I was wondering if it could be the electrical portion of the switch, that has never been replaced, but there are no other symptoms (e.g. no other, goofy behavior of the car's electrical system).

Post by **jblackburn** » 03 Aug 2011, 20:10

Do the dash lights and stuff come on before you turn the key?

We had a car that used to do this - it was a bad ground connection on the main negative cable. Otherwise, it would run fine - it was just when you tried to activate the starter.

Post by **erikv11** » 03 Aug 2011, 20:57

Hmmm thing is I just added a second ground off the battery, when I did the engine swap. I'll recheck the contacts but I have a feeling they are clean.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 04 Aug 2011, 12:05

A bad PNP switch can cause the starter not to work as well but it normally shows up in other forms as well like the flashing up arrow. The PNP problems tend to rear their ugly head more in the winter than in the summer.

...Lee

Post by **phat78ta** » 04 Aug 2011, 20:13

Could it be the Ignition switch itself? The electrical part? I know that is a common failure point also.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 04 Aug 2011, 21:27

The way to find out which side of the ignition switch the issue is is to use the service starter wire. It sticks out of the wiring harness next to the left hand strut tower. As I recall it is either a red wire with a green stripe or a green wire with a red stripe but it has a connector on the end. Battery voltage to that wire should trigger the starter if the PNP is OK.

If the starter is reliable from that point then look back towards the ignition switch.

...Lee

headdragon · Post by **headdragon** » 12 Aug 2011, 10:59

Does the key also go all the way around none stop once and awhile.

Post by **erikv11** » 12 Aug 2011, 11:58

The key just turns regularly, moves only to the correct positions and returns normally.

I have not been troubleshooting this because the car is down for some engine work right now. But will get to it ...