1990 L - Push button Start?

[chadzeilenga]

I've got a 1990 Festiva that the ignition cyl won't turn anymore. Instead of replacing it, has anyone wired in a push button start to their car? I'm not looking for anything fancy, but a simple setup.

[Handyman]

Yeah I did it once about twenty-eight years ago.It was a 73 Midget. Piece of cake, and I was just a no nothin' 21 yo kid. I got a push button from Radio Shak and put it in a hole where a light was that came on when my first wife killed the engine on 50% of starts.

[Gomez]

easy. All you need is a few relays and switches and a momentary button and you are good to go. At least to do it properly.

[deathegg]

Yes, do a search, I'm sure there's something there. Very easy to hook up. I have one on mine, but just for fun really. But...you say that your ignition cylinder doesn't turn anymore..is your steering wheel in the "locked" position then? What position is it in? (lock, acc, on, start)

[chadzeilenga]

Ok, thanks. I'll check it out online and see what i can find. I wasn't sure if there was a member who had done this to their car and knew the right way to get it all set up.

The ignition cyl is in "lock" and when I try to use the key that used to work in it, it doesn't turn at all even with lube and jiggling, pushing & pulling. I then pulled the pass lock cyl and took the code to a locksmith and had them make me a key. That one does the same thing.

[deathegg]

Ok, so if I understand, your steering wheel is in the "locked" position.
How is installing a push-button ignition going to help? How are you going to steer, etc?
And for that matter how will you get the car to start at all if the key cannot be turned to the "run" position?

Or am I missing something here?

[cubstiva1]

could he run it off an old floor mounted "dimmer" switch? would be a cool hands free start.

[chadzeilenga]

I lost the keys to the car. A friend had an old festiva and gave me his key. It worked in the doors and ignition cyl as it turned all of them.
The car sat in my garage for 2 mo and I tried to start it with the key my friend gave me and it would not turn at all. Then I was turning the steering wheel and now that is locked. I went and got a new key made at the locksmith and that won't work either.

[lanemeyer14]

Are you turning the steering wheel while you try to start it? If the wheel is locked you probably need to put some force on it to get it unlocked with the key in the ignition

[ejp2fast]

quaddawg has one on his machine......

[mattswabb]

Might be a lot easier to post a want ad here and buy an ignition swith with a key. By the time you buy all the parts and do the work you could have simply changed it out.

[Evan80]

Might be a lot easier to post a want ad here and buy an ignition swith with a key. By the time you buy all the parts and do the work you could have simply changed it out.

Je Agree (my french kicks boootay)

[Handyman]

Lane has a good point. Could be something as simple as wheels cut left or right and placing side pressure on lock.That is if key worked before. Could be having a senior moment. I had to bail my mom out once,drove across town to pull hard on steering wheel to get key to work.

[lanemeyer14]

Lane has a good point. Could be something as simple as wheels cut left or right and placing side pressure on lock.That is if key worked before. Could be having a senior moment. I had to bail my mom out once,drove across town to pull hard on steering wheel to get key to work.

Yeah! That's what I was trying to say, it just didn't quite come out right

[chadzeilenga]

Steering wheel lock

What is it that unlocks a locked steering wheel? Does the car need power or just the key in the ignition? Remember, my key won't turn to ACC, RUN or START.