AlanW

Car is an 02 TLS. Three times now the car has failed to start when I hit the key. All the lights on the dash light up as usual, and the battery does not seem low. First time I checked the gear shift lever to make sure it was in the right position, I kept fiddling with the key/ignition switch-wiggling & pushing on it, and the car finally started and ran smooothly & normally.

Yesterday, after work it would not start again...all electical stuff seemed normal, no noise or anything out of the starter. Hooked up another vehicle and jumper cables-that didn't help. Finally I kept wiggling & fiddling with the key & ignition switch until it finally decided to work. When it decides to work, no sounds of the starter or silenoid dragging or hanging up-the car jumps to life as usual. Got home and put the multi-meter on the battery-well over 12 volts.

This morning, won't start again until I wiggled and fiddled around with the key again, then it started right up and ran like it always does.

Is this most likely an ignition switch issue? Seems like I've heard these are somewhat of a problem on these cars?

fsttyms1

Sounds like one but i have never heard of it happening on any thing but the 99s.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Try something simple...

Take your key off the keychain and start the car holding just the key. See if it starts. We've seen issues with too many keys, other "stuff" on a keychain interfering with the chip in the key. Give it a shot.

dsickles

iTrader: (5)

usually when my chip isnt working right, the car will crank but get no gas, and the green immobilizer light will flash on the dash... i would bet on the ignition switch being bad.

AlanW

I started off real simple- I shot some WD-40 into the key hole. I only have the car key, one house key, and the remote on my keyring, but I'll try just the key, but really don't think that is it.

The internet parts guy at Acuraautomotiveparts.org says the ignition switch does indeed go bad on these as he regularly sells them, and from my description, he believes that is most likely my problem, not that he is a mechanic, but FWIMBW.
FYI-that is part #8 on the exploded parts diagram under "combination switch" heading. Also there is an Auto Zone switch for about the same price without the shipping.

01tl4tl

wd works, but crc electrical contact cleaner is the right choice for this job IF cleaning were the solution
I have heard of later than 00s having the switch back wear out
and many 99 owners going to zone for the part (hoping different maker than acura used)

Gfaze

Sounds like a bad ignition switch to me.

AlanW

Yeah, WD-40 is not my favorite, but I was sure it was OK for electrical contacts. I have some of the CRC stuff at home, but was afraid it would wash all the lub out of the lock cylinder.

I like some stuff called SuperLube with teflon that is better lubrication than WD40 and is safe for electrical contacts, etc.

And I don't really know if spraying lub down the keyhole is even reaching the actual switch behind it. But...hasn't acted up since, so who knows.

01tl4tl

wd is fine on electrical and I forgot the lube for lock clinders,,you are good Sir!

AlanW

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.
I bow humbly at your feet Sir

01tl4tl

just drop dollars at my feet,,I dont need the bowing

AlanW

This no-start happened again on a warm day when I had the windows down. It became immediately apparent it was the starter solenoid as I could hear it clicking under the hood as I turned the key. Cleaned all the contact points on the battery, starter, and grounds-didn't help

Sooo....my stater solenoid went bad at 140,500 miles. Installed $120.00 rebuilt starter yesterday-only takes about 30 minutes and you don't even have to get under the car for anything.

The car now cranks much faster than before.

01tl4tl

hmmm good to know Alan
Now we have a suspect in the funky ign switch sysmptoms

Did you ever get an electrical system test while this was going on?
It looks for starter draw (gets higher near failure) as part of the testing

Wont hurt anyone to get system checked for free at parts stores, now before a failure occurs