Six Signs of a Faulty Ignition Switch

 

The most bizarre electrical problems in your car can be caused by a faulty ignition switch. Here's how to identify a bad ignition switch.

Since every electronic component in your vehicle is literally powered by the ignition switch, it is a crucial component of your car.

Consequently, you can also comprehend that any issue with this tiny component has the potential to have a major impact on your car.

If your car won't start, search online for car garages in Reading and book it in as soon as you can. The most common symptoms of a broken ignition switch are an engine that won't start or one that stalls while you're driving. Additionally, a flickering instrument cluster or an ignition that keeps running after the key is removed are both tell-tale signs that something is amiss.

It's a highly intelligent piece of technology that needs to be updated and enhanced frequently to maintain the security of your car. But what occurs if the ignition switch malfunctions? Let's investigate!

These are the most typical symptoms of a faulty ignition switch that you might experience. Here is a list of the most typical signs of a malfunctioning ignition switch in greater detail:

1.      Vehicle Will Not Start - Two things should happen when you turn the key in the ignition to start the car. The ignition should be turned on as the initial step. The ignition should still be on when you turn the key a little bit more, but the starter motor should also be signalled to turn by the ignition switch. When you turn the key, an electrical component inside the ignition switch connects electrical circuits. Your vehicle won't start at all if either of these two phases is absent or if this tiny component is worn out. This may result in the starter being entirely dead or in the starter turning the engine without starting it. It is advised to check MOT status of your car and have a pre-MOT health check done so that the mechanic may correct any defective parts before the MOT test, preventing a test failure.

2.      Car Stalls When Driving - As previously said, the very same thing applies here: if the ignition switch has a poor connection, the ignition may cut off when it shouldn't. If this happens, your automobile may abruptly cut off when you're driving, and the quickest way to figure this out is to glance at your dashboard. There is a good chance that your ignition switch is broken if the entire dashboard lights go out along with the car's motor. Look online for garages in Reading and make an appointment for your car so that the issue may be thoroughly investigated and fixed by a qualified mechanic before it reaches the point where it won't start at all.

3.      Flickering Dashboard or Other Accessories - The lights on your dashboard or other electrical devices within your car may be blinking or randomly turning on and off, which is another issue you might notice. This indicates that the connection plate of the ignition switch is damaged, which may be the result of corrosion or wear. The ignition switch must be replaced because this problem is frequently unfixable. Fortunately, you may frequently just replace the ignition switch rather than the entire ignition lock. A failed MOT will come from any dashboard warning lights that indicate a safety risk. If you want to know if this was the case in the past with your car, search ‘check MOT history’ online.

4.      Ignition is Always On - If you drove your car and then turned off the ignition, only to find that it was still running when you withdrew the key, this is likely the result of a faulty ignition switch. Though it is uncommon, it is possible that this will occur. The vehicle will still function without the keys in the ignition if the immobiliser is unlocked once because it won't need to identify the key again until the engine is restarted.

5.      Key Won't Turn Ignition On - In this case, even though the key can be entered and rotates inside the ignition barrel, the ignition will not turn on. This would be a sign of a bad ignition switch as long as the car's battery has enough charge. In some ignition switches, the electrical component on the key barrel's back can be replaced separately from the barrel itself. It's more typical for the ignition switch to be supplied as a whole, though.

6.      Key Won't Turn - Keys with more cylindrically shaped blade designs frequently have this problem. The groves and notches smooth out and round off with time. This makes it impossible for the key to insert the numerous pins inside the barrel in the proper positions. The key won't spin if the pins aren't placed correctly. Again, this is a flaw that frequently gets worse over time, so if you find that the key blade is rounded, try to get a car key replacement company to make you a new one as soon as you can.

What the Ignition Switch Does

Two main parts make up the ignition switch. The mechanical and electronic both exist.

The key barrel—which, of course, does not apply to a keyless start system—is the mechanical component of the ignition switch. The key barrel operates similarly to every other key barrel on a lock. The grooves and notches in the blade of your key are used to force a number of pins into position. You can turn the ignition on with your key when it has been inserted and all of the pins have been pulled into position.

When you turn the key in the ignition lock, some electrical circuits in the electrical parts link. For instance, when the ignition is turned on, two connectors are connected, and this sends electricity to the ignition relay, which ignites the majority of the vehicle's components.

Location of the Ignition Switch

Typically, the ignition switch is found behind the ignition lock cylinder, in which you insert your car key.

It is frequently necessary to remove every cover on the steering wheel and dismantle the entire ignition lock cylinder in order to access the ignition switch.

In some car types, the ignition switch can be taken out of the ignition barrel, albeit occasionally it is an incorporated component.