Ignition Switch Problems: Signs, Causes, What to Do

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Mounted to the steering column behind the ignition cylinder is the ignition switch. This part is responsible for activating nearly all of the electrical systems onboard your vehicle. When the switch fails, you’ll notice one or more problems that you’ll want to address right away.

Symptoms of a Bad Ignition Switch

Ignition switch problems can range from flickering interior lights to something more severe, such as a no-start condition from your vehicle. If you notice one or more of the symptoms below, it may be time to have your ignition switch checked by a professional.

Ignition switch problems can range from flickering interior lights to something more severe, such as a no-start condition from your vehicle.

Engine Won’t Start

A bad ignition switch won’t be able to supply power to the starter motor, ignition system, and other engine controls, preventing the engine from starting. Keep in mind, however, that engine issues may also be caused by other electrical and mechanical problems, such as a dead battery or a faulty starter solenoid. To be sure, it’s best to consult a certified mechanic for an accurate diagnosis.

Vehicle Starts and Suddenly Stalls

In some cases, a faulty ignition switch will still allow your vehicle to start. However, the switch may only provide momentary power to the fuel pump and ignition system, eventually causing your vehicle to stall.

Ignition switch issues may also prevent you from restarting your vehicle due to worn-out ignition contacts, which have become more sensitive to heat and vibration.

Intermittent Loss of Lighting and Other Accessories

A defective ignition switch may cause your vehicle’s interior lights, dashboard lights, and other accessories to turn off momentarily.

Silent Starter Motor

A silent starter motor can indicate a bad ignition switch, but if you experience that, put the transmission in neutral and try again to see if there’s a problem with the neutral safety switch. However, if you hear any clicking sounds from the motor, you may be dealing with something other than an ignition switch problem.

Difficulty Turning the Key

A stuck key is another symptom of a defective ignition switch, which may leave the engine running even after it is removed. Usually, though, this kind of issue is more related to the ignition lock cylinder than the electrical part of the switch.

How the Ignition Switch Works

Your vehicle’s ignition switch has four positions that activate different systems:

Lock/Off

The lock/off position cuts off power from all circuits and locks the steering wheel. For automatic transmission vehicles, this position also locks the transmission gear.

Accessory

This position activates accessories, such as the radio, dashboard lights, and center console.

Run

The ignition switch’s third position powers the vehicle’s engine controls and other circuits except for the starter motor.

Start

The start position activates the starter motor and engine controls and allows the driver to crank the engine.

What Causes Ignition Switch Problems?

There are several reasons why your vehicle’s ignition switch may fail. Some of these include broken springs, worn ignition switch contacts, and temperature problems, which may prevent you from even getting your vehicle out of the garage. But if you do manage to get your engine running while having a defective ignition switch, it’ll most likely shut off while you’re driving.

Our Advice

A thorough diagnosis must be made to ensure that your vehicle is in need of an ignition switch replacement. An ignition switch replacement can cost you anywhere between $20 and $90 on parts and another $60 to $100 on labor. Costs may vary depending on your specific vehicle model as well as your location.

Keep in mind that installing a new ignition switch may require you to disable the steering column, which may deploy the vehicle’s airbags if done incorrectly. Some vehicles also require removing the air conditioning ducts.

To be safe, have a certified mechanic do it instead. Failure to replace a faulty ignition switch may leave you stranded in the middle of the road or cause your ride to stall in traffic, which is dangerous not only for you but for other drivers as well.

Various Configurations of the Ignition Switch and Lock Cylinder

The ignition key cylinder is connected to the ignition switch, which may be part of the key lock cylinder, but more often is mounted away from it and is operated by mechanical linkage. Some switches are mounted in line with the lock cylinder so that as the cylinder is turned, the switch rotates on the same axis.

Older Fords have a steel rod leading from the lock cylinder down to the switch where it’s mounted on the column. Some have plastic gears driving links that slide through channels in the steering column to operate the actual electric part of the switch, which is responsible for activating nearly all of the electrical systems onboard your vehicle. In extreme cases, the ignition switch, if it fails in certain ways, can set fire to the vehicle.

Older systems had some fairly heavy wires traveling through a rather robust ignition switch designed to carry a fair amount of current, but those switches could still fail like this Ford ignition switch. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian

More modern ignition switches tend to activate electronic modules, which in turn use relays to carry the heavy current that once traveled through the ignition switch (see 2019 Toyota schematic shown). Ignition switches don’t usually fail if they’re not carrying heavy loads.

2019 Toyota schematic showing relays that carry the heavy current that traveled through the ignition switch | Image Source: Richard McCuistian

Products Mentioned in this Guide

Ignition Switch Starter

The post Ignition Switch Problems: Signs, Causes, What to Do appeared first on In The Garage with CarParts.com.

https://ift.tt/g0RZ9Jx https://ift.tt/xEPNfIR https://notes.io//Tzb4 https://ift.tt/UJhjGZV https://ift.tt/DNhCLjG https://ift.tt/HKYVdZC https://ift.tt/L7IUKW9 https://ift.tt/xF5zGMn https://ift.tt/3oEKx8p https://ift.tt/vzOtxWU https://ift.tt/nAft6i7 https://ift.tt/afpgwQN https://ift.tt/wnfq3s8 https://ift.tt/mBDbwQe https://notes.io//Tzxx https://ift.tt/Yc8OntB https://ift.tt/BkUMjo7 https://ift.tt/brJpPhc https://ift.tt/Jo70Rfe https://ift.tt/VeoLlEu https://ift.tt/jxK3yCL https://ift.tt/XWrFv9N https://ift.tt/RcEBMlb https://ift.tt/xPC2JYg https://ift.tt/Qmsl2X8 https://ift.tt/mdXU8Q6 https://ift.tt/LCVe8wu https://notes.io//TzdJ https://ift.tt/2k5MP9S https://ift.tt/IvSRTLi https://ift.tt/tHqThj8 https://ift.tt/bhz5kqB https://ift.tt/aStP3uQ https://ift.tt/ncpAhYm https://ift.tt/mERjAsZ https://ift.tt/oFE6B8f https://ift.tt/sLMEwOj https://ift.tt/IPbfr5m https://ift.tt/1pgkAd9 https://ift.tt/qTZhsG0 https://ift.tt/DNAvxdf https://notes.io//Tzdn https://ift.tt/2JHrDVv https://ift.tt/5SXVi0p https://ift.tt/QmEq7lp https://ift.tt/scUAoy4 https://ift.tt/UeYExDw https://ift.tt/CiK9EzV https://ift.tt/xwXdmZW https://ift.tt/dGn6Ihx https://ift.tt/yuXhc81 https://ift.tt/ubvIcOa https://ift.tt/jvLRr3h https://ift.tt/QpFUsAd https://ift.tt/DdUEPr9 https://notes.io//Tzdm https://ift.tt/VpXMhYv https://ift.tt/u3jg9xk https://ift.tt/QmEq7lp https://ift.tt/fLKiMYx https://ift.tt/BrXiJeS https://ift.tt/qv0ZVNQ https://ift.tt/xfRLIW7 https://ift.tt/dnkrtgA https://ift.tt/SntAY4i https://ift.tt/4cVtBkK https://ift.tt/ACDwt0p https://ift.tt/CiAUv8c https://ift.tt/UAemg9k https://notes.io//TzxT https://ift.tt/e07tBoH https://ift.tt/EsynedR https://ift.tt/bkz9yJS https://ift.tt/dEzCiRK https://ift.tt/G05P4f1 https://ift.tt/fZUJrcT https://ift.tt/d8pBRJS https://ift.tt/L5wMqsN https://ift.tt/tXUKEsy https://ift.tt/Q5OmIdZ https://ift.tt/ry1ut6E https://ift.tt/JcTapnl https://ift.tt/c75B3nr https://notes.io//TzhL https://ift.tt/hy0XBMk https://ift.tt/HYvpJzD https://ift.tt/9Jh5NZD https://ift.tt/XjGb7ez https://ift.tt/qXL3wnc https://ift.tt/PHpfe3m https://ift.tt/8fFSQIB https://ift.tt/FzhUXaI https://ift.tt/tKHALln https://ift.tt/T2WKePJ https://ift.tt/inVwxNO https://notes.io//Tzdb https://ift.tt/dvmQnts https://ift.tt/fbsWeTi https://ift.tt/wqHdFPY https://ift.tt/ZB8KPh5 https://ift.tt/fvH78UK https://ift.tt/2VZn0gp https://ift.tt/CSmNI0f https://ift.tt/PfhApvu https://ift.tt/wKfUxQD https://ift.tt/kUIN82x https://ift.tt/tWmY7ow https://ift.tt/4rzDP7M https://ift.tt/kdE3r21 https://notes.io//TzsQ https://ift.tt/cD2CK5p https://ift.tt/ZcGLXCJ https://ift.tt/H5gsxar https://ift.tt/EMG0N25 https://ift.tt/uyI6aeY https://ift.tt/Zcpq75m https://ift.tt/OBHL4Ed https://ift.tt/IMDGknH https://ift.tt/M3w0HvR https://ift.tt/V1ZcG7F https://ift.tt/vstxlAf https://ift.tt/S8fIgNk https://ift.tt/1CmgZd6 https://notes.io//Tzdq https://ift.tt/KX5CD2J https://ift.tt/TyPu2rY https://ift.tt/A3ub8zN https://ift.tt/vs9Fyen https://ift.tt/NXJIUuW https://ift.tt/xXC6Ss3 https://ift.tt/j0e6cfY https://ift.tt/EpGT5RV https://ift.tt/zlSNum8 https://ift.tt/lbPqrxL https://ift.tt/fyMN1lL https://ift.tt/zuGWac5 https://ift.tt/mqi4X5f https://notes.io//Tzja https://ift.tt/cxeqR1D https://ift.tt/OS1owV6 https://ift.tt/o09Taj4 https://ift.tt/w2CUMSj https://ift.tt/M5yuIvY https://ift.tt/15Shyfj https://ift.tt/HgisSF0 https://ift.tt/ArjIWop https://ift.tt/6VaJPZh https://ift.tt/bvwthVG https://ift.tt/Irmac5o https://ift.tt/7UVfIMi https://ift.tt/5Ybyuv2 https://notes.io//TzdH https://ift.tt/cBx8hYj https://ift.tt/fyNAZcD https://ift.tt/lQiPZwU https://ift.tt/Apnt9TE https://ift.tt/fbpTEUw https://ift.tt/QbUBnti https://ift.tt/qJYWIE0 https://ift.tt/cAuLhPd https://ift.tt/YdSaOkf https://ift.tt/Y7SsWNt https://ift.tt/otrBxC4 https://ift.tt/zV10jCn https://notes.io//TzpE https://ift.tt/4I25aSD https://ift.tt/JfOH6ow https://ift.tt/MqASh3e https://ift.tt/ofXk8N5 https://ift.tt/X3SDj7h https://ift.tt/EcDrKs6 https://ift.tt/Z7fFBUw https://ift.tt/2JUeqSs https://ift.tt/efNhUHV https://ift.tt/gm6u9KN https://ift.tt/AXxyD6O https://ift.tt/nWMe2Sv https://ift.tt/pLkN0f4 https://notes.io//TzpN https://ift.tt/a9o7L3i https://ift.tt/B0SziOo https://ift.tt/L6JujqB https://ift.tt/wuq0Bm9 https://ift.tt/sFkAxoX https://ift.tt/CD3TwVv https://ift.tt/mVkyuGY https://ift.tt/YSpCftk https://ift.tt/v96wkFx https://ift.tt/yrnZqMN https://ift.tt/srE2DTy https://ift.tt/n8smqkW https://ift.tt/uBfbqcS https://notes.io//Tzsb https://ift.tt/210uwBT https://ift.tt/BUtW3lR https://ift.tt/nUVh9oX https://ift.tt/QtKbd9D https://ift.tt/O9QUGPj https://ift.tt/19Nsydt https://ift.tt/yZx8kCD https://ift.tt/XkTWlom https://ift.tt/5IYba9A https://ift.tt/Wk4rowh https://ift.tt/FHoy0mv https://ift.tt/6t8SIP3 https://ift.tt/VpSvJO8 https://notes.io//Tzat https://ift.tt/xHbKUWZ https://ift.tt/0dhAjrN https://ift.tt/h6QFU42 https://ift.tt/K1xewfE https://ift.tt/sT16YrG https://ift.tt/BkNSn3L https://ift.tt/xSBsRkQ https://ift.tt/PDXzK16 https://ift.tt/yQWYlIf https://ift.tt/Wj6G9Ie https://ift.tt/Rk1deHw https://ift.tt/ZlezoFL https://ift.tt/Fd3wNV1 https://notes.io//TzpW https://ift.tt/QDPaYWJ https://ift.tt/DQFo3mA https://ift.tt/R9j8Dze https://ift.tt/ofXk8N5 https://ift.tt/VMrHgG9 https://ift.tt/bZnYdfx https://ift.tt/upV07JL https://ift.tt/7KgibVD https://ift.tt/sxDqUKS https://ift.tt/qlwnUF0 https://ift.tt/BrOmVlI