Last updated on July 13th, 2023 at 05:06 pm
It is indispensable that the lifeline of any vehicle is its electrical architecture. In effect, all vehicles are essentially electronic in design. Compared to any electronic machine, the quality of its functional facility in its primary compartments, such as the body, chassis, protocol in communiqué and power train, depends solely on electrical parts like cables, sensors, relays, battery, fuses, to mention a few.
Although, the ignition switch’s efficacy is undoubtedly vital in the vehicle as it is responsible for controlling and mainly activating all the electrical systems in your car.
So, to say, the malfunction or possible failure of the ignition switch would cause a 95% breakdown of most electrical issues, if not all, in any case. Moreover, a bad ignition switch could also shut your engine or cause a total failure as you drive, putting you in a hazardous situation.
Notwithstanding, this informative guide will help you with answers and solutions to these specific questions; can you jump-start a car with a bad ignition switch, what are some common ignition system problems, what are the symptoms of a bad ignition, and more.
Be patient; let’s get into this straight away!
Can You Jump-Start A Car With A Bad Ignition Switch?
Yes, of course you can! You would need a jumper starter cable to jumpstart your vehicle since you have discovered that the ignition switch is lousy. So far, doing this is effortless as you follow the tips below.
Here you have the procedure!
- Have the hood of your vehicle open.
- Locate the ignition coil and the battery.
- Fix the jumper wire to the positive terminal of your battery to the coil’s positive side. This process will give electrical power to the dashboard would be needed for the engine to start.
- Connect the starter solenoid to the battery-positive terminal.
- Release the ignition switch cable from the solenoid.
- With the help of a screwdriver, short the positive terminal of the solenoid to where the ignition switch connects.
Invariably, the activation of the solenoid will start the car. Additionally, the above steps are also applied in; how do you start a car with a bad ignition switch.
What Are Some Common Ignition System Problems?
Ignition system problems are very annoying and could cause the wildest electrical issues in your vehicle. This piece of the device must be constantly improved, updated, and maintained to keep up with your vehicle’s security. However, I will elaborate, on some common ignition system problems, if it goes terribly, below.
1. Car Stalls While Driving
Peradventure, if your vehicle stalls or shuts off when it shouldn’t, the cause is a faulty ignition system (switch). At this, the lights on the dashboard are dying together with the vehicle’s engine; indeed, there is no doubt your ignition switch is lousy.
2. Blinking Or Flickering Dashboard
Suppose you observe your lights on the dash or other accessories blinking or turning on and off sporadically. You wouldn’t need a mechanic to tell you that your ignition system is terrible—especially the ignition switch’s connection plate.
3. The Key Won’t Switch the Ignition On
In a situation where you insert the key and turn in the barrel as you intend to drive to your destination, unfortunately for you, the ignition doesn’t switch on. Perchance you have charged the battery; then the ignition is the culprit.
4. The Car Won’t Start
Placing the key in the ignition should turn it as if it would still be on. So far, it signals the starter motor to turn the ignition switch.
Eventually, if the electrical part connecting the circuit when you might have turned the key struggles, there is no signal to the starter motor because it is faulty. The miss in the connection as regards the starter motor and the ignition will not start your vehicle.
Can A Bad Ignition Switch Cause Electrical Problems?
Of course, yes! A bad ignition switch causes electrical problems such as; shortening the life span of the vehicle’s battery (or even draining the battery completely), which could lead to malfunctioning other electrical components like radio and wipers.
Similarly, a bad ignition switch also causes stumbling situations even at low speed, the engine overpowering the brakes as it would make your vehicle jerk as regards high acceleration, and so many others.
How Do I Know If I Need A New Ignition Switch?
As a driver, you must be very sensitive to responding to changes in your vehicle as you seek to know the cause and solution you would proffer. That said, if your car begins to have difficulty starting or won’t start, decrease in power when at high speed, poor engine performance, reduced acceleration, increased fuel consumption, complex coasting to stop, and more. Eventually, you observe these tell-tale signs that your ignition switch is ready to go lousy.
Always get your vehicle inspected to avoid meddling with your vehicle’s electronics since they are expensive.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Bad Ignition?
Invariably, the problems of a bad ignition are apparent, and they could range from; flickering interior lights, vehicle starting and suddenly stalling, the engine won’t start, silent starter motor, complex situation in turning the key, stuck key in the keyhole, and much more. Nevertheless, I have explored these symptoms in this very guide. Be patient to get all the necessary information.
What Happens When Your Electronic Ignition Goes Bad?
However, the failure of an electronic ignition would be something other than something you could prefer. But if it goes wrong, the electrical systems and their components will also fail since the electronic ignition switch is the primary activator of all other electrical compartments, such as the ECU, the ignition coil, the regulation and operation of the spark plugs, and its proper firing. So far, if it goes lousy, your vehicle’s engine will shut down entirely, and other issues could also arise.
Can A Faulty Ignition Switch Drain Your Battery?
Yes, it can drain your battery! A faulty ignition switch can drain your vehicle’s battery if that vehicle isn’t in use. Similarly, when your car is not running, idle electrical systems such as temperature gauges, throttle markers, and airflow fans controlled by the computer (ECM) labor hard to maintain as low voltage as possible for these sensitive devices.
In as much as the alternator keeps all electrical devices charged even when you don’t need them. Thus, this constant task drains more than 10% even when you’re not driving since idle power draws higher levels than operating systems do.
How Do I Test My Ignition Switch?
In today’s automobile world, diagnosing or testing electrical components is never as complex as it was over 30 years ago. Hence, you would test your ignition switch using the multimeter. All thanks to technological advancement. Check out the tips for using the multimeter below.
- Put the ignition in the off position.
- Fix the positive cable of the multimeter to the negative feed wire to an unpainted vehicle part.
- Start the vehicle and watch the reading on the multimeter precisely.
- If the reading is less than 90%, you have a lousy ignition switch, but if the reverse is the case, your ignition switch is sound and functional.
Simple right?
Conclusion
To summarize this post, the ignition switch, the most functional electrical part in your vehicle, should always be checked to be in good condition for the effective and efficient starting of your car. Although, it causes almost all electrical problems in vehicles in this contemporary time when it becomes lousy.
Perchance, the issues of the ignition switch emanate from factors like broken springs, worn ignition switch contacts, and temperature troubles, which might prevent you, the driver or vehicle owner, from even getting your car out of the garage or in an unsafe place.
However, you can get out of this annoying situation by studying and digesting the above work effectively. Be sure to carry out regular maintenance and diagnoses of suspected electrical components as you seek help from a professional mechanic or your owner’s manual.
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Hi dear, my name is Jeffery Ekweghi, and I am a certified mechanic and autobody parts technician. I created this site to share my expertise and experience with car lovers looking to resolve their car-related issues. I am certified in private cars and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. I have worked as a mechanic since 2015 and have experience in vehicle brands like Subaru, Jeep, Toyota, TATA, BMW, Mazda, Honda, Nissan, Kia, TVs, and Others; however, I primarily specialize in Toyota vehicles.
