ignition switch symptoms
Asked by Jim Mar 03, 2016 at 02:11 PM about the 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier LS Sedan FWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I notice that if the car doesn't start when I first turn on the key it just cranks, most times I turn off key and wait a few seconds and it will start. I've checked the ful pump and it's pumping, I'm just wondering if the ignition switch could be going bad ???
9 Answers
sixfootsix_car_guy answered 8 years ago
It really could be a number of things including the ignition switch, starter, or charging system issues. Are any lights on, on the dash? Any noticeable changes in perfomance when driving the car? More information will help me to more accurately diagnose possible issues. Best of luck
no lights on none stay on on the dash, no changes in driving or power. will just die, I know the cluster is bad and I just unplugged it and am going to drive it a day or 2 to see if it dies anymore, am trying to eliminate one thing at a time as not to throw money away on other things.
sixfootsix_car_guy answered 8 years ago
Thanks for bearing with me Jim. Not to excuse my delay in answering but I work full time, am a full time graduate student, and answer about 50 questions a day here (as part of my car hobby). I apologize for missing your response. I can totally understand your not wanting to throw away money for an 11 year old car, but I am also a firm believer in maintaining what I have (and having reliable vehicles with no monthly payments save for insurance). So to answer your question, its the coil pack. I worked on a Caprice and an Impala SS a few months ago and both of them had this problem. I swapped the ignition coil out of salvage at the local yard, and boom. Problem solved When you say the cluster is shot, you mean the Speedo, Tach (if equipped on Rally Sports, Z24's, and most coupe Cavaliers), and gauges? This would be something I too would pull from a salvage yard, or even hit up Ebay. Because the ergonomics of the Cavalier (the dash and the instrument cluster did not change from 1995- 2005), you should be able to find one on the cheap. I hope this helps and please, do not hesitate to reach out should you have other questions! I am here to help. Best of luck sir!
Thanks for the helpful hints, I will check local yards for the items I need and yes it is all gauges. I will keep you updated when I get it fixed and let you know what was fixed and replaced again thanks for the 411
sixfootsix_car_guy answered 8 years ago
I look forward to your reply! I was happy to help
sixfootsix_car_guy well after trying diff things, I finally decided to change my ignition starter switch, and it seems to have fixed my prob. it's been 9 days now and the car has had NO problems starting. we researched GM recalls and although my car wasn't on their list many other GM products had ignition starter switch problems, so that's why I changed it, hopefully this will help someone else that may have similar problems
BuckmBuckmurphy answered 7 years ago
Got 2005 Chevy cavalier some days it crank up some days half to get it jump all dash light come speed almatior stop work.stsrt working
Sixfootsix_car_guy I have a few questions if you don't mind
Sayno2stupidity answered 5 years ago
04 Chevy cavalier suddenly stopped starting. Had just driven it parked it got out got back in went to start it turns over doesn't start, I also noticed when keys and 2nd on position prior to starting none of the gauges were working in or where the lights coming on as they usually would, the needles did not move at all as a normal fluctuate a little bit including fuel and temperature as well as Speedo and tachometer again not one single light lit up blind or came on on the dash cluster... Series of tests diagnosis eventually led to the ignition switch which at the time obviously I did not have a replacement for so I gave it a few good taps with a butt of a screwdriver wiggle the wires around to make sure I had no broken contacts and it started right up without hesitation... Another form of diagnosis that I had done in the process was spraying starter fluid into the intake to verify the fuel pump what's not getting signal from the computer to run leading me to believe it was either an ignition issue which includes GM built-in security features or a fuel pump gone bad... Before I needed to check the fuel pump I was able to sort through some easier options as a process of elimination as I had already had the dash taken apart...
