Ignition switch story

[CharlieZ]

Just thought I’d pass this on.

Today when starting the 90, it started and immediately died several times. Anticipating it dying one more time, I didn’t let go of the key. It kept running. Played with it several more times starting, dying, running, etc. I found the problem to be the ignition switch. I usually use a ring with only the two Festiva keys on it without problems. The key ring I had today was one that has about 10 keys on it plus a small LED flashlight. The extra weight of several more keys on the ring I was using today was enough weight to effect what is probably a worn out ignition switch causing the car to die. When I held on to the keys, supporting the weight, the car continued to run.

[geezerstiva]

thats the strangest thing ive ever heard... :lol:

[Slyder]

I have never heard of that before. Well on the bright side you know what the problem is.

are you going to be looking for a different lock set. If so i think theres one on a festiva at my local junkyard that i could check you for you.

[FB71]

really? No one has experienced this before? I must have seen this hundreds of times. Of course, I wrenched for a living.

[billthekat]

wen i was a chevy mechanic there was a bulliten concerning excesive key rings, the weight would be too much and in some cases wen a bump was hit it would actually pull down on the key rotating it to the off position.. and in my caravan wen i ut it up into park sometimes the gear shifter catches all my keys and shuts the van off....funny stuff.


my old festiva was soo worne out the keay would come out wen it was running. it was really sool wen i had to go to the post office and stuff.

[Amos]

I can remove my festy's key's while it's running.. and I can start it with a flat head screw driver!

[deathegg]

Yes Amos, my '88 does the same thing. It does come in handy if I pull up to the garage, and need the key; I can just take it out without turning it off. Also that's why I have a kill switch.

[Mike McKown]

On one of mine, you turn the key to start and then turn it back past "on" to halfway "off" to keep it running.

It's a good theft deterrent, not that anybody'd want to steal it.

[Festiva_tunner]

really? No one has experienced this before? I must have seen this hundreds of times. Of course, I wrenched for a living.

Same here . . . I cant tell you how many people I told about their "overweight keychains" . . .I thing the wrst offenders were the teenage girls with their 20 keychains and the 2 keys somewhere amongst them

[CharlieZ]

are you going to be looking for a different lock set.

Thanks a lot for the offer but I think I live with it for a while - I'm the only driver - then install a start-run spring loaded mil spec toggle switch with a red safety cover (fake NOX?) in one of the dash knock outs.

[Damkid]

i have never heard of that before!! neat thing to remember though