Ignition swtch

[gov]

unfortunately after 2 weeks of ownership I have suffered the same scenario that David did in France ie starter motor won't turn over and no amount of turning the key will start it this time - got a really nice RAC man came round this morning - loved old cars and set to with his meters - took the start relay switch out and bridged the gap - car started - good news here is that it's not the starter motor he then established there was no feed from the ignition which means I need a new ignition switch at least I now have an accurate diagnosis - any suggestions where I might get a new ignition switch ? hopefully you can still get one ?


Tony

[dapinky]

Tony,

When you say 'ignition switch' do you mean the whole shebang, as in the key, barrel, housing etc.....

....or (as I suspect), do you mean 'just' the plastic lump which screws to the end of said gubbins above, and rotates with the key, making a variety of ignition connections at each point?

I 'think' it's the Cavalier Mk3 part, but it may be a different one - easy enough to check by looking at the back of yours, but they are cheap and availlable https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311468047183

Having thought about it - far more likely to be the Cavalier Mk2 one ....... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202103992068

Either way, it is a 'standard' Vauxhall part. Lotus did have the whole thing on the aftersales list a few years ago and I bought one as it came with 2 keys, and was cheaper than getting a spare key cut to the one I had!

Often, the rotating ring in the 'black box' gets corroded, and doesn't make the right collection of connections for its relevant position, or (in your case) travel quite far enough to make to starter motor connection. It may be worth giving it a good squirt of contact cleaner, as it appears to be an intermittent (but getting worse) fault.

If you need any further advice on how to get to the wiring and swap the bits over, I'm sure that if you asked one of your customers (preferably one who would have been a teenager back in the '90s) - they all used to carry a 'black box' and screwdriver to get home in a Cavalier SRi

[gov]

yes you're right - RAC man did say all you need is the plastic bit you screw on to the ignition switch - my neighbour is a retired vauxhall mechanic so I'm hoping he can help me establish which one is the right one.

As regards my " customers " I am long retired now and am disinclined to stay in touch

[gov]

Problem now resolved my neighbour came round to take off plastic switch - put a meter on it and discovered it was working okay - investigated further and found another relay switch that appeared to be the alarm/immobiliser - bypassed this and reconnected feed to starter and car works a treat - alarm has always been a bit dodgy so am happy to just leave it deactivated