would you attempt an ignition switch change in your driveway?

I'm debating on attempting this. I have Alldata and if all goes smooth I don't forsee any problems. 2002 Intrigue GLS

Thanks for your input

Performed mine last June. Give yourself and hour or two. Also a regular poster, littlehoov, posted directions on how to change the ignition switch. Excellent directions!

It totaly do-able! :thumbsup:

Do you have a link to that post, I tried finding it with no luck.

Here's the discussion. The instructions are the second post.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=736656

Yes I would!! As a matter of fact, thanks to this board, I changed the switch on my wifes 2001 Intrigue yesterday, which fixed a bunch of problems, but I still have one that I am trying to find here on the board. Just make sure you have plenty of time to change the switch, it really is not that hard to do. The instructions are on this board somewhere, and if you will follow them, you should not have any trouble. Good luck!

Sure, go ahead. I too, had great results following littlehoov's very good instructions. And cleaning the inner contacts completely cured a variety of those strange ignition-related problems (engine stumbling and cutting out at idle and on the road).

No, I wouldnt even dream of it. It requires extensive labor, complex dealer-only tools, and a supercomputer to reprogram the ECM, PCM, ABS, PCS, DNS, AAA, MAF, and last but not least the R.O.U.S. (though some say it doesnt exist)

Seriously though, its not hard.

Unfortunately you are wrong. I did change it in about 2 hours. No reprograming required.

No, I wouldnt even dream of it. It requires extensive labor, complex dealer-only tools, and a supercomputer to reprogram the ECM, PCM, ABS, PCS, DNS, AAA, MAF, and last but not least the R.O.U.S. (though some say it doesnt exist)

Seriously though, its not hard.

ohh those pesky R.O.U.S supercomputer thingy's..always spoil a DIY project :lol::grinno:

Unfortunately you are wrong. I did change it in about 2 hours. No reprograming required.


Someone doesnt have their sarcasm receptors working, maybe they need reprogramed?:shakehead

I know its not difficult, I wrote the instructions that you probably used.

LittleHoov, your instructions were right on the money!! Thanks for taking the time to spell it out. Knowing about having to turn the key on in a certain manner also saved me from ripping the big wire completely out of the back of the switch. I really took my time, and due to the heat that day, it took me around three hours, start to finish, but I took a lot of brakes. Again, I really want to thank you and everyone on this board. With the economy like it is, I cannot afford to pay to have my cars repaired, so it saves me a ton of money if I can do it myself. I use to love working on cars when I was young, but that was before computers and a million sensors on everything. But, you can teach a old dog new tricks. Thanks again. Great board!!!!

Yes, do it now... If you have any sort of winter where you live, do it while it's still nice out.. I had to do mine when it was 15F outside.. not fun.

LittleHoov, your instructions were right on the money!! Thanks for taking the time to spell it out.

I took LittleHoov's instructions and added some drawings and images. Then I took my time on my 2000 and took photos along the way. Check it out at http://99intrigue.shutterfly.com/ignitionswitch

I took LittleHoov's instructions and added some drawings and images. Then I took my time on my 2000 and took photos along the way. Check it out at http://99intrigue.shutterfly.com/ignitionswitch

Nicely done! Hopefully that will definitely help someone out in the future.

I followed the wisdom here on replacing the ign. switch. It wasn't the problem. You need to isolate the fault by following the it thru the circuit. Mine was a bad connection on the starter solenoid. It could be a relay in the fuse box a bad wire connection etc, reseating all of the connection fix it. As for the time, anyone who said they did it in two hours they are more flexable than I am or has done it more than once. The cable connected to the ign switch was a female dog to get out. Now I am not that good but it took me about 4 hours to get it out and 2 hours to get it back in. If I had to do it again I would hope that it would be half that. Make sure that the Ign Switchs the problem first. Be logical and isolate the fault.

As for the time, anyone who said they did it in two hours they are more flexable than I am or has done it more than once. The cable connected to the ign switch was a female dog to get out. Now I am not that good but it took me about 4 hours to get it out and 2 hours to get it back in.

OK, I resisted posting at the time, but there is no way this should take that long if you are patient and follow the directions and pictures posted.

But I will do you one better. I found a valuable shortcut that prevents having to do the shift cable and connectors blind, which seems to take the most time for most folks.

First, remove the center vents. Do this by reaching in where the radio was, grasping the vent duct, and firmly pushing toward the rear of the car.

Next, remove the two bolts (I think 10 mm) that are holding the bracket onto the switch housing, and fish the bracket out by manipulatinig it around.

This gives you enough room to move the switch housing and get easy, visible access to the shift cable and the connectors.

Follow along:

Here you can see the center vent removed (although this pic was taken later in sequence, you get the idea):

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0dc29b3127ccef904cdb343c600000030O08IZtXLZszag9 vPhI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/


Here you can see how to remove the lower bracket bolt:


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0dc29b3127ccef904702e82ad00000030O08IZtXLZszag9 vPhI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/


Here you can see how to get to the upper bracket bolt (left hand through space where cluster was, tool in through where center vent was):

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0dc29b3127ccef905343523e800000030O08IZtXLZszag9 vPhI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/


Voila - now you can see the bottom of the switch to depress the tab holding in the shift cable - it's the one right next to my thumb:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0dc29b3127ccef9043a1982bf00000030O08IZtXLZszag9 vPhI/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/


Be patient, have a magnet handy. Be sure the bracket is lined up and seated when putting back together. Screw both bolts in part-way till you are sure the bracket is seated on the switch, and then, as they say, assembly is the reverse of disassembly.

Hi krivasauto That looks like a much easier and for me quicker way of replacing the ign. switch. As far as replacing it in your garage or having some one do it for you its a time and money problem. After replacing one my self and the dealer replacing it the first time I have come to the conclusion that it may not be the ing switch. My Intrigue wouldn't start again so I followed the the path from the switch to the starter motor. With a meter I check the switch, it worked, then the relay, it worked then the starter motor it worked. So I put the wire back on the starter motor and it started. A bad connection some where. It is not starting again so this time I will start at the starter motor and see if I can find the bad connection.