92 grand am Ignition switch keeps shorting out
sc1958
03-09-2011, 09:30 AM
I have replaced about 3 ignition switches in 2 yrs. the first one had a little coring on the connector . The next one got so hot it melted the plastic on the out side of the switch.I could smell it burning. Now the last one has felled it didn't last 2 months. I read that the 99 grand am had a similar problem and was fixed by adding a relay. How can i fix this?
thephantom1492
03-09-2011, 04:43 PM
I have replaced about 3 ignition switches in 2 yrs. the first one had a little coring on the connector . The next one got so hot it melted the plastic on the out side of the switch.I could smell it burning. Now the last one has felled it didn't last 2 months. I read that the 99 grand am had a similar problem and was fixed by adding a relay. How can i fix this?
First of, do you get OEM parts? or jobber? What about the connector? if it got damaged in any way it WILL cause issue. Due to the age, I'ld suspect that the connector coroded, which created an higher resistance, which translate into heat, which soften the metal, which also cause it to dilate, which cause it to bend a bit more open, which cause the connector to be loose, which cause a bad contact, which cause an increased resistance, which cause more heat....
Also, be sure that your fuses are of the right amperage. Sometime some idiot replace the burned up fuse by a bigger one because it keep burning up. Or because they didn't had a proper fuse and that one was "close enought". A partial short somewhere can cause an increased current consumption, which normally would fry the fuse. Since it's too big it do not burn up and the next weakest link get toasted, quite often that is a switch or a relay...
P.S. My use of the word "idiot" here is because there is a reason why the fuse is sized that way. Using a bigger fuse can cause a fire, which can be a serious life hazard and safety concern. Imagine an electrical highway while on the highway, those kind of fire can propagate quite fast, no time to stop... Many don't realise the danger of doing it, sadly. Sorry if it was you :wink:
First of, do you get OEM parts? or jobber? What about the connector? if it got damaged in any way it WILL cause issue. Due to the age, I'ld suspect that the connector coroded, which created an higher resistance, which translate into heat, which soften the metal, which also cause it to dilate, which cause it to bend a bit more open, which cause the connector to be loose, which cause a bad contact, which cause an increased resistance, which cause more heat....
Also, be sure that your fuses are of the right amperage. Sometime some idiot replace the burned up fuse by a bigger one because it keep burning up. Or because they didn't had a proper fuse and that one was "close enought". A partial short somewhere can cause an increased current consumption, which normally would fry the fuse. Since it's too big it do not burn up and the next weakest link get toasted, quite often that is a switch or a relay...
P.S. My use of the word "idiot" here is because there is a reason why the fuse is sized that way. Using a bigger fuse can cause a fire, which can be a serious life hazard and safety concern. Imagine an electrical highway while on the highway, those kind of fire can propagate quite fast, no time to stop... Many don't realise the danger of doing it, sadly. Sorry if it was you :wink:
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