ignition problem

[hypermaxed]

I just got an 88 honda civic, the problem is the switch (I THINK) the key will turn fine and go to third mark.

When i twist the key to start it i have to use both hands and kinda wiggle it.

is this just a cylinder problem?

would i be better off just buying a whole new ignition?

is there anyway i could wire just a new universal ignition?


thank you for any help and thoughts

hypermaxed

[hypermaxed]

ok, i just walked down to shucks, i got another idea, since the car fires right up, could i use a button start? either the new ignition or button start would be a good thing for me as i am on a budget,

hypermaxed

[hypermaxed]

i found two wires when i opened the plastic cover

one blue with white stripe

one white with blue stripe

are those the wires that start it from the key? if so could i tap those wires to use a button off of?


hypermaxed

[Tony]

If your switch goes to the ON position without a problem, you can just wire up a push button for the starter. I believe its a brown wire actually for the starter, but not certain. I think the white/blue wire is the hot wire that comes on when the ignition is in the ON position, but not certain on that either. Easiest way to find out is with a test light. With the ignition OFF, find your 12 volt wire, with the ignition on ACC you can find the hot wires for it, and the same is for the ON position. All of that should leave you with one wire that should be your starter.

Its how I figured out mine for my dirt track car to completely get rid of the ignition switch.

[BIGTEX84]

well mine would twist all the way like it is suppost to, but no fire in start position what i did is kinda cool, but ghetto at the same time. i ran one wire from where the hot wire goes on the starter, and one wire from the other stud on the starter, ran those up by the column, i have no power mirrors but i have the multi directional button for power mirrors, I figured out what two wires would make a closed circuit when a certain direction on the button is pushed, wired it up, now unless someone knows that the power mirror button it the starter button AND which direction to push, it cannot be started by anyone but me. now stay away from my house damnnit!!

[Tony]

That works too. Never thought about using a power window switch, but I would have gotten power from the ignition switch instead of running it from the starter all the way to your switch, and then all the way back. Plus with that, you can make it so with the key in the OFF or ACC position, your starter won't work, but once you have it in the ON position, your switch has power

[BIGTEX84]

with that said im back to work, thanxx tony ::rolls eyes:: lol, and its the power mirror switch homie. i dont know though, its kinda fun in the parking lot to be able to make the car lurch forward unexpectedly when some douche leans on it.

[Christ]

You're going to fry that switch over time... use a relay instead of direct voltage.

[Tony]

Never had an issue out of my switchs....only one I had an issue out of was my fan switches and I just switched to bigger wires and solved the issue.

most of mine is due to laziness on figuring out all the relay crap.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Tony

Never had an issue out of my switchs....only one I had an issue out of was my fan switches and I just switched to bigger wires and solved the issue.

most of mine is due to laziness on figuring out all the relay crap.

All the push buttons that I've installed have eventually either melted or burned out, if you have to crank for more than a second or two to get the engine started.

A nice momentary contact setup w/ a timed relay would be great for this, but complex... inversely, you could use a simple starter solenoid-type relay setup, where your button provides power to a relay that will close the circuit to the solenoid.

Very simple, and you can use smaller, more discreet switches.

[Tony]

I guess all the dirt got to my switches before the amps did because that was the only thing that ruined my push buttons for the starters.

But I will agree that using the power window switch, a relay would be a good idea to put in.

[Christ]

It may also be b/c I use switches from wherever I can get them... places such as AutoZone... and I always buy the ones that only cost like $2 LOL.

[BIGTEX84]

come, tony, read my friend, ---> electric MIRROR switch, not power window switch. lol

[Christ]

The electric mirror switch would be kinda wierd to use, b/c it's not really a throw-type switch... it's actually 4 circuit contactors in a housing, with a selector switch that xfers power to either mirror.

You'd be better off using the window switch LOL.

Also - it's a long shot, but a thief that's paying attention would notice that there are not power mirrors, but there is a power mirror switch. He/She might make the connection.

With power windows, you can set it up so that you have starter engagement only when the key is on, and you push the window switch up... the problem with that comes when you want to roll your window up w/ the key on.

Then comes the need for either combination wiring, or adding a second switch to satisfy all requirements.

Combination wiring - wire the driver's side front and passenger side rear window switches so they both have to be in the up position to complete the circuit and start the car.

Additional switch - duh.

[BIGTEX84]

Well, true, but if someone stole my car, they would beg me to take it back. It would be like "PLEASE GOD, NO!!!!, THE HORROR!!!! THE PAIN!!!! WHY IS IT SO SLOW!!!! Ive been driving for ten minutes now and havent made it out of the driveway, please just kill me!!" Plus it is an 89 std hatch, doesnt have power anything, when I first bought it, I lost some power just by opening the hood, (one of the hampsters escaped). Lol