Ignition lock? column Lock?

[doclees]

My 93 ATX ignition lock wouldn't turn all the way off, let key come out or start car. I swapped with new ignition lock without any change. Pulled off column cover looking for something else. Nothing I could see. Put back in old lock without the cover. No problem. Pulled it out and replaced column cover. Replace old lock and no problem. Any ideas what may be going on? Don't want to have the wife stuck. That does not bring joyhttp://jelloslug.com/shoforum/nut.gif

 

[sdpatt]

It's the ignition switch. See the topic I wrote here after experiencing the same symptoms. Easy fix.

 

[doclees]

Thanks spdatt, I now remember that thread. Found it this summer when the same car had starting problems that seemed to go away after replacing starter under warranty. Now I wonder if the switch isn't straining the starter. I will exchange the lock for a new switch. Hope it is a quick fix because it is coooold out there!

 

[doclees]

Re opening this thread. I have replaced the ignition switch. The switch didn't look bad so I opened it up. A reasonable amount of crud on the contacts. The sliding contacts seemed a bit stiff in working the slider. The key does seem to turn better but that is not the no start problem. Strange electrical issue. Most of the time is starts right up. The other times it is as if dead starter. Lights come on but nothing when you turn the key. Sometime as you turn the key the door locks engage slowly, dash idiot lights flicker and other things that make me think it is possessed. Is it priest time?

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Just a wild stab-in-the-dark here,....

... but do the "no-start" episodes tend to occur during certain types of weather - like rainy or periods of high-humidity?

How about whether the vehicle has been previously started that day or not?

 

[doclees]

Seem to happen more with warmer weather. Can't say for certain if humidity makes any diff. This is the update. I cleaned the neg bat cable this am. It is a clamp to the cable head type. I took it apart and cleaned the bare wires, post and cable clamp. There is a smaller gauge wire with the thick starter wire. Clamped them together. Started fine but now I have a battery/alt light that comes on above 1500 rpms. I figure change is good. I bought another clamp end - autozone is a block away from my office - to put on at lunch. I will clean the positive cable and post at that time. Anybody think alt could be doing something odd? I had the charging system checked last fall when it was giving issues and I changed the starter for the 3rd time.

Ok here is the update. I went to start at lunch and no go. I took apart the neg battery cable again 5 different way. As I touch the neg to post normally you get the alarm going off. Not here. Sometimes a weak try. Then I went to the pos cable. much crud. Cleaned it and used new cable head. Touched post and alarm goes off as it should. Car starts, alt light comes on for a second and off. 2 hours later car starts. Alt light still goes off under 1500 rpms. Mostly on with flicker when driving at highway speeds. I haven't had advance auto check the charging system again yet. Any direction would be a help.