1990 Chrysler New Yorker Intermittent starting problem

90 NEW YORKER

MEMBER
1990 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER
77,000 MILES

Car suddenly would not start: no sound, not even a "click". After turning ignition on/off 4 or 5 times, it started right up and I got it home. Started this morning to put it in garage to check it over. Then, would not start again, even when tried numerous times (same thing, no sound at all). Finally turned over as though nothing was wrong! Battery is fine. No grounding problems found. Charging system fine. Shifted through the gears to be sure it's in "park" in case of a linkage problem - nope. Figured maybe starter/solenoid, or ignition switch were faulty. Decided to replace starter (original, and the solenoid was beat up) but did not fix problem. Have full voltage to starter when ignition "on", but starter doesn't engage. Started 6 or 7 times while testing over and over, in between starting attempts where nothing happened or just a "click". Any ideas?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,916 POSTS

There's two things to look at depending on whether you have tilt steering wheel. If you do not, the ignition switch is on the steering column and is run by an actuator rod from the key cylinder. That switch can be out of adjustment or there can be overheated and arced terminals. If you do have tilt wheel, the switch is bolted to the back of cylinder. Burned terminals again are pretty common, but there's a cam on the back of it that turns the switch. That cam can crack causing it to not turn quite far enough to hit the "crank" terminal. Usually though that is not intermittent; it just fails to crank. Everything else works.

The dealer's parts department has a repair kit that involves installing a new cam on the end of the cylinder. It's not a bad job but it can be more than most do-it-yourselfers can tackle. For both switches, examine the terminals in the connectors. You're looking for two that are blackened and the plastic connector body will be melted around them. I can describe the repair procedure for that.