Possible to clean the ignition switch?

[ozzfreak]

I have a bad contact going on in my ignition switch, and when I turn the key, sometimes it will start right up, other times I really gotta twist it, and I'm scared I'm going to end up breaking the key off. Is there a way to clean the contacts in there, or is my only option to just replace it? Thanks.

[90civicrider]

Originally Posted by ozzfreak

I have a bad contact going on in my ignition switch, and when I turn the key, sometimes it will start right up, other times I really gotta twist it, and I'm scared I'm going to end up breaking the key off. Is there a way to clean the contacts in there, or is my only option to just replace it? Thanks.

I'd just go ahead and replace it, the part itself will cost around $75 from a Honda dealership.

[Tony]

did you check the back of the ignition switch? take the back off and see if its just that part messing up, or if its loose. You could probably pick that piece up fairly cheap at a salvage yard, just find a car that doesn't have a key that way they can't charge you for the whole switch.

Just sounds to me like its the back piece that is messing up. This will let you keep your current key and save you the hassle of taking the whole thing off...hopefully, haven't looked at the back to see how tight of a fit it is. It is usually 1 or 2 small screws holding it on.

[Ranscat]

I replaced 3 ignitions in my civic, thinking that they were sticking or going bad. I finally got smart and realized that it was just build up on the contact tabs in my distributer. Once or twice a year cleaning the tabs with a wire brush kept it starting every time and avoided a costly replacement.

[Christ]

He's not having that problem... his problem is that the engine won't crank, if I got it right... this is caused by two things in the key switch

1) bad/dirty/corroded contacts.. don't bother cleaning them, just get a new switch block from a junkyard. or

2) intermittent contact, usually caused by the above... again, replace the switch module.

If this doesn't fix it, try checking your starter solenoid... good chance the lil single wire is loose/dirty/corroded, causing intermittent circuit breaking.. this is another common culprit for this type of problem, as that wire just uses a spade type connector to plug into the solenoid, and it controls when the solenoid draws power from the battery to engage... see how this could be a problem?