Ignition Switch?? 02 Regal

[deano55]

My wife went to drive here car yesterday and her windshield wipers would not work. I told her to take the other car, then she called back to tell me the car would not shut off with the key, she had to use the remote starter to shut it down. I got in the car when I got off from work yesterday and everything was working as it should, today also. Is this the ignition switch going bad? Different articles on line seem to point that way. If it is would it be the switch or the cylinder?

[deano55]

where has everyone gone on this site? Ghost town anymore

[harofreak00]

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[96 SSEi]

did you try the spare key ?

[deano55]

did you try the spare key ?

no,hasn't copied what it did again?

[96 SSEi]

ok, if the keys are too heavy, it will ruin the switch with the extra weight swinging around-
when you cant start, does the security light flash ?

[deano55]

ok, if the keys are too heavy, it will ruin the switch with the extra weight swinging around-
when you cant start, does the security light flash ?

well there plenty of keys swinging for years, problem is that everything if fine for the time being, a mechanic friend says it might be the ig switch. I hate buying parts to throw at it

[dougtoth]

I replaced the ignition switch on my son's 2000SLE Bonneville.
I bought it off of Amazon for $44.00.
On the Bonneville it was a pretty easy job.
Not sure how it is on a 2002 Regal.

[Sirius]

Until it happens again, or becomes consistent, you don't have much data for fault analysis. At this point it looks like your only option is to throw parts at it and wonder which one of them fixed the problem if it never manifests itself again. I think I'd relax for now but keep a watchful eye - if/when it happens again pay attention to what was going on when it failed, what seemed to make it work again, etc.

I think the ignition switch assembly on the Bonneville is way different than a Regal. Bonnevilles have a cam within the switch that lifts or drops contacts to complete or break a circuit, depending on key position. It looks like Regals have a traditional column key and the actual switch is a separate (electronic?) box. If you google "ignition switch" for 02 Regal, the picture shows a box with a pigtail lead coming out of it separate from the key cylinder. If you start throwing parts at it the box may be easier to R&R than the column switch.

Just my $0.02.

BTW, is the remote start a factory item or aftermarket? I'm not familiar enough with Regals to know if remote start was an option.

[deano55]

Until it happens again, or becomes consistent, you don't have much data for fault analysis. At this point it looks like your only option is to throw parts at it and wonder which one of them fixed the problem if it never manifests itself again. I think I'd relax for now but keep a watchful eye - if/when it happens again pay attention to what was going on when it failed, what seemed to make it work again, etc.

I think the ignition switch assembly on the Bonneville is way different than a Regal. Bonnevilles have a cam within the switch that lifts or drops contacts to complete or break a circuit, depending on key position. It looks like Regals have a traditional column key and the actual switch is a separate (electronic?) box. If you google "ignition switch" for 02 Regal, the picture shows a box with a pigtail lead coming out of it separate from the key cylinder. If you start throwing parts at it the box may be easier to R&R than the column switch.

Just my $0.02.

BTW, is the remote start a factory item or aftermarket? I'm not familiar enough with Regals to know if remote start was an option.

one of the problems is I don't drive her car all that much unless we go for a trip and, explanations from her wouldn't be like someone mechanical. Yes, you are correct with the ignition switch,I looked at it on Rock Auto. The remote start was aftermarket and has been flawless, when she worked she could warm the car up herself out the window, never did put one in any of my cars. As far as making it work again, it just did BTW I was back at West Point for my job 2 months ago, what a beautiful place!!!