2003 ignition switch problem

[Hammerhead]

I have a somewhat unusual problem. I started having the climate control fan stop working when the steering wheel was in the tilted down setting. If you tilted the wheel back up the fan would come on again. The dealership replaced the ingition switch under warranty and the problem was fixed. that was a year ago. Well the same thing started happening again and I got another ignition switch installed in march. Well low and behold, this crap is starting to happen again. Only got 3 1/2 months out of this switch. :{ . The service manager said I tilt the wheel too much and that makes the connections "bind-up" thus needing a new replacement. Has anyone else had this problem? I thnk 4 ignition switchs in 1 1/2 years is ridiculous! I even made a concentrated effort not to tilt the wheel very often this last time. I'm not tring to whine I just wonder if I'm the only one with this problem. I do drive with the windows down most of the timeand I'm curious f that could be letting dust and dirt to get in there and deep six the switch.





Sorry for the long post.



E. King

 

[Pawpaw]

I had a similar problem with a 91 Dodge B-250 van. When the switch failed for the 2nd time, I discovered that the wiring harness and connector were burned. Further investigation revealed the idiot that installed my alarm system had ty-wrapped the alarm module to the wiring harness under the dash.



Luckily, Dodge sold a replacement harness kit pretty cheap. It included detailed instructions and everything I needed to do the job, except tools.



I replaced the harness & switch and re-located the alarm module. This was at about 40,000 miles. I had no more problems and traded the van off at 183,000 miles.



Hope this helps somehow.



Bob

 

[mlewis73]

Uh oh. Sounds like the same kind of stupid crap that Ford pulled on my '91 F-350.



Poorly designed electronics that might just lead to a cab fire.



Idiots...

 

[SKing]

Its the large wire harness on the colum it will burn up next. I had the same problem and my dash caught fire while I was driving. see post. Replace the harness after you look at it and see how the connections are black inside or clean it and ziptie it together so it wont come loose.

 

[Hammerhead]

I had the dealership look at the problem again and they found that a couple of the wires had gotten hot and were brittle. when the wires got hot they lost connection and thus had to be replaced. This was a recall item on some earlier model trucks and the guy told me it may become one again.