Car repair question: Ignition switch

[emmpee]

Car wouldn't start after work today, but the lights and radio worked. The Triple A tow truck driver told me the ignition switch is bad. "9 times out of 10 I can at least get it started, to drive to a garage, but this one's blown apart", says he.

Anyone have a *rough* idea of how much this might cost to repair? I drive a '91 Dodge Dynasty with 81k miles. I bought it at 76k, seemed to be maintained well by the previous owners (as well as myself).

 

[TekViper]

can you turn the key into all its positions? an ignition switch will rarely ever go bad, usually its the lock cylinder that starts to bind up after a while but not the switch itself. if you can get it through all its positions and the radio comes on in accessory and the dash turns on in the on position the switch is probably ok and its another problem.

 

[SammyBoy]

what the hell I am having the exact same problem!!!!

I think mine may be water related though, I had it up on ramps to look at the exhaust, got lazy, took a nap, came out and it wont start. GRRRRRR!

 

[emmpee]

Originally posted by: TekViper
can you turn the key into all its positions? an ignition switch will rarely ever go bad, usually its the lock cylinder that starts to bind up after a while but not the switch itself. if you can get it through all its positions and the radio comes on in accessory and the dash turns on in the on position the switch is probably ok and its another problem.

Yeah, the key goes to all positions. Radio works in accessory, dash lights come on in the 'on' position. When I turn it all the way to start it, I either get no noise or a very quiet sound for about .5 seconds (sounds like something tried to do something, but couldn't... if you can't tell, i'm not really a car person)

 

[OmarGustav]

AAA

 

[Turkish]

spark plugs?

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: Xiety
spark plugs?

The engine does not even turn over.
I don't think we have gotten to the point where the spark plugs are involved.

 

[Ornery]

...I either get no noise or a very quiet sound for about .5 seconds...

Sounds like the relay. Does it click? Does it even matter now? You had it towed to a garage, right?

 

[Ryan]

I don't know, but the money to fix it is going to be mroe than the car's value (Hey - it's a DODGE).

 

[Ornery]

A relay's about $15.00. What an ass! :|

On your 1991 DODGE DYNASTY, the STARTER RELAY is:

• UNDER HOOD, DRIVER SIDE, FRONT ENGINE AREA, REAR OF HEADLIGHT HOUSING, MOUNTED ON FENDERWELL

It's only $12.00, and couldn't be easier to get at. Not like those damn imports!

The starter is $75.00 if it needs that.

Ignition switch is $35.00.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

It will not start or will not crank are two different things.

The older Ford p/u's, that a mobile repair service I worked for, would have cranking problems when the switches wore out. Most are made of pot metal. On the Fords the tit that engages the switch assembly would wear away. If they were replaced at the first sign of trouble, just the insert would need changing. If it is ignored and constantly played with to get it to go. Then the entire ignition switch would need changing........ :sun:

 

[huesmann]

Starter motor is FUBARed.

 

[emmpee]

Originally posted by: Ornery
...I either get no noise or a very quiet sound for about .5 seconds... Sounds like the relay. Does it click? Does it even matter now? You had it towed to a garage, right?

no click, just a low "rrrr", sounds like something electric trying to start (or something).

it was towed to the garage, but they're gone for the day.

 

[Thegonagle]

Does the lock feel any different, kind of sloppy?

I just fixed my cousin's '96 Jeep Cherokee which had the exact same problem. The internal end of the lock cylinder had a piece broken off of it (it's made out of cheap pot-metal), which prevented it from turning the switch all the to the start position.

If it's the the cylinder, then it's going to be about $110 for a keyed cylinder, plus labor, which is actually quite easy. All I needed was a T-15 (or was it T-20) security Torx driver (a security Torx driver has a small hole in the star shaped end to fit the security head Torx screw).

 

[Ornery]

If it's making "a low "rrrr" sound", then it's anything but the ignition switch. Could be the battery, relay or starter. Could be a bad connection, too.

Tell the garage you want the old parts back. You can have the starter or battery tested before returning it for the core charge, if they replace the starter or battery.