Q: Ignition will not do anything. Is it switch or starter? Lights come on, do not dim when key is turned, no sound (click or grrr)

asked by on October 07, 2017

Ok so it worked fine. I got home from fishing and showed off my fish to a neighbor. Went to start the car and nothing. Lights come on radio everything. No dimming when the key is turned to start the car. There is no clicking. There is no grrr sound. Jumped and still acts the same. Lights are bright by the way. Turn the key to off and nothing will turn off. I'm thinking ignition switch. Just want to know for sure. I disconnected the positive cable to turn off electrical components. Lock cylinder was replaced. Replaced positive cable and same response. Is this a definite ignition switch issue? Might be important to mention that the ignition light (battery light) is illuminated as well as CEL. CEL is an EGR Code, that much I do know.
My car has an automatic transmission.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Car not changing gears
I'm going to assume you have a manual transmission. The transmission in your Ford is a G15M-R fully synchronized 5-speed. Your problem could be with the clutch or clutch hydraulics. If a transmission is hard to shift into gear, or...
Radio broken
Hi. There are several reasons why your radio can be inoperative. The radio in a vehicle gets power from a fuse. If the fuse blows, the radio will stop working. The unit itself can stop working. This doesn't happen often,...
How do I remove the seat track on an '02 Ford Explorer?
Hello there. The seat track failure is a common failure. If the motor went bad, then it may be easier to just replace the motor itself. Seat tracks generally just bolt to the seat frame, if it does not bolt...
Green light flashing around D4 indicator
When your transmission D4 light is blinking, this means your transmission has stored a code. The code would need to be retrieved and diagnosed to see what the problem is. These transmissions were pretty reliable, but had problems with the...
Car shakes on starting, loses power & stalls uphill
Hello there, a few different faults can cause this sort of problem. In most cases, with the steering wheel locking not shifting into park and the limp mode you have experienced. It would be more likely there is an electrical...
Engine vibration
Hello, thanks for writing in about your Volkswagen Passat. You should scan the engine computer to see if you are getting a misfire (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/engine-is-misfiring-inspection) code for one of the cylinders. From what you've described you may have a defective coil...
Carburetor installation costs and adjustment.
Billing question sent to CS for installing and adjusting cost of a carburetor.
I took off from a stop sign felt like something stuck and than sounded like i had a flat tire. Now it's making a loud Thumping in 2014 Kia Sorento
Hello - this issue (or issues) may be a combination of multiple problems. The "stuck" issue at the stop light may be a brake not releasing when you take your foot off the brake pedal. The thumping noise (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/car-makes-a-thumping-sound-on-passenger-side-when-going-over-25-mph-by-mike) once...
How to change the automatic door lock feature?
I found an article on a Honda dealers website on how to program the different features for the automatic door lock features. There is no way for me to know whether your vehicle is equipped with the automatic locking features...

Related articles

Which Type (Octane) of Gas Is Recommended for My Car?
When When someone pulls up to a gas station, the first thing they’ll see is the big sign lit up with the prices for the different grades of gasoline. There’s regular, premium, super, and a number of other variations of...
Mercury Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Car Program
Drivers Drivers who are shopping around for a used Mercury vehicle may want to check out cars under their certified pre-owned program. Many manufacturers have a certified pre-owned (CPO) program, and each one is set up differently. Read on to...
Understanding the Mercury Intelligent Oil Life Monitor and Service Indicator Lights
Car symbols, or dashboard lights, are a car service reminder. The Mercury Intelligent Oil Life Monitor indicates when and what service your car needs.