Ignition Switch?

gazza1286 · Post by **gazza1286** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:14 pm

Hi

I've got a 1999 1.0 and I'm getting an intermittent fault when I put the key in the ignition and turn it to start the car. It goes like this -

(i) The clock re-sets itself to 00:00
(ii) the trip meter re-sets itself to 0 miles
(iii) the starter motor seems to have difficulty starting the engine.
(iv) there is a simultaneous 'clockwork' type wurring noise as well.

Its only happened twice but I wonder if it has anything to do with a faulty ignition switch? Is the power being interupted to the clock and trip meter causing (i) and (ii) to happen.

Any ideas please.

mmh · Post by **mmh** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:20 pm

Those symptoms 1-4 occur when you disconnect the battery.

Are all your battery terminals tightened and secure?

It can also occur when the battery is discharged if your lucky you maybe able to start it and the alternator will charge it a bit...then when you go to start again it may start or it may not due to the battery being flat or the battery maybe on it's way out.

The last cold spell killed my battery so had to get a new one (it was a bit old anyway).

M

gazza1286 · Post by **gazza1286** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:51 am

Thanks mmh but the car starts without problem 99% of the time. The battery connections are good. I assumed the symptoms were all due to interuption of power supply but I think it will have something to do with the ignition switch end. I can't for the life of me see how the switch could interupt a permanently live feed to the clock tho!!

I'll check the battery again. Maybe it's on its way out - and at that critical piont!!

jay135 · Post by **jay135** » Sat May 05, 2007 12:10 pm

hiya mate.

i had this the other day sort of the same problem

try cleaning the popints on ure dizzze cap

just pull it off and clean then put back on

gazza1286 · Post by **gazza1286** » Sat May 05, 2007 2:17 pm

Checked the battery - it's fully charged and the charging system is working perfectly.

As I said in my first post. The above occur as I start the car. So the key/ignition switch must be interupting the feed to the clock etc. Vey strange??

Post by **alexperkins** » Sat May 05, 2007 6:36 pm

I get that in my car - well not the reset, but you will see if you have the radio on when you start the car (just as an example), all the electronics have a powercycle (headlights, radio, amp, and other high drain bits). This puts all the power to the starter motor to get the car going