this one is for the professionals.

[3000bolts]

i have a 1990 honda accord ex-r. i put the key in the postion just before turning to engage the starter AND no abosultely no dash lights come on, like the engine light, oil light, battery light, e.t.c. but when i turn the key to start, the engine starts cranking and begins to run but as soon as i let go off that key position the car turns off. in my oppinion the battery is good, the starter is good. the car has the same battery that i had when the car worked properly. the radio works but not the windows. the fuel pump relay works. this has to be an electical problem.

[jeffcoslacker]

The ignition switch is bad...common problem, classic symptoms.

If you turn the key back very slowly from the start position without letting go, you will find a sweet spot where the engine will run as long as you hold it precisely there...

The switch is not hard to replace...remove steering column shroud, disconnect a couple of connectors down near the bottom of the dash, couple of small screws hold the switch in.

Good luck!

[Airjer_]

Seen that once or a hundred times!

[3000bolts]

thanks. i still have a question. would a bad ignition switch also cause the car to (want to) turn off while the car is already running.

[jeffcoslacker]

Yes...as they begin to go bad often the first symptom you'll notice is random stalling or cutting out, sometimes related to hitting a bump or turning the steering, sometimes completely random.

Then one day it just won't start anymore.

Tell ya what you can do. Buy the ignition switch. Look at it's wiring and connectors, then look under where the steering column and dash meet. You will see those same two connectors. Plug the new one up and use an appropriate size tool to turn it and start the car. You'll probably see the problems have vanished.

That's how they used to steal those old ones so easy...thieves just bring their own switch and plug it in, bypassing the one in the column.

Anyway, once your satisfied that was the problem, install it properly. If you still have problems, return it and we'll go from there...

[3000bolts]

yeah i replaced the switch the first time you told me it was the switch. i just was wondering if a bad switch would also cause those other problems. thanks.

[jeffcoslacker]

Just curious, the windows didn't start working did they?

[3000bolts]

the power windows are working now. but i don't remember if the ignition switch had an effect on them, but i did say they were not working when the bad switch was malfunctioning. sorry, but i didn't look into the power windows and ignition switch relation in detail.