Another way to turn on my car?

[bGIveNs33]

I drive a '91 Dodge Colt VIsta. I bought it 4 years ago for $600 and it has been chugging ever since. About 6 months ago I lost my keys and could not find the backup set. I asked a friend of mine if he could make it so I didn't have to use a key to start it. He came over and pulled the ignition apart and I was left with this little white plastic piece in which I could stick a screwdriver in and start the car. Well, fast forward a few days and my keys turn back up. Well, I just stuck the plastic piece back onto the rear of the ignition area and went from there. I was fooling around with it later and the plastic piece fell apart. Out came 2 little metal pieces(copper?) and a ball bearing. Of course this happened in the middle of the night and I don't have a dome light. So, I somehow get it back together but when I stuck it on the back of the ignition, it wouldn't start. I am now back to starting it with a screwdriver. Where I turn the screwdriver is wearing down tremendously, and I'm looking for an alternate way to start the car. After examining how the plastic piece aligns the metal pieces to basically, "complete a circuit" I was wondering if I could install some sort of switch there. As soon as this car breaks I'm going to get a new one, but it only has 119k miles on it, I think it still has another year or so. Any thoughts?

Cliffs: Can you install some sort of switch in place of an ignition to start a car? Also, not worried about the security of it.

 

[exdeath]

Just get an ignition switch from a bone yard or parts store and pay a locksmith like $10 to key it to your current key.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: exdeath
Just get an ignition switch from a bone yard or parts store and pay a locksmith like $10 to key it to your current key.

Or even easier, just get the ignition switch from the boneyard and use his current lock cylinder in it and he won't even have to have the old one re-keyed. It sounded to me like his ignition switch fell apart but not his ignition lock cylinder.

ZV

 

[dpert1]

yes, get any push button starter and wire it up

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: dpert1
yes, get any push button starter and wire it up

And expect to be walking to work 3 days later. :laugh:

 

[Demon-Xanth]

You can get a generic ignition switch at an autoparts store for $8 with keys.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Have you tried dressing sexy?

 

[jagec]

Yes, you can easily wire up switches. My old car had three switches and a push-button: ignition, fuel injectors, accessory circuit, and starter motor. They were hidden so that thieves couldn't steal it...not that any self-respecting thief would WANT to. That car was such a piece of crap...but it worked.

 

[Colt45]

toggle switch for ignition, momentary switch for starter