Short in igniton on steering column
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Mendocino CA
Short in igniton on steering column When I turn my key to the on position the car comes on as usual. Then when I turn it further to start it the starter just goes click like if I didn't have a charged battery(not the case just installed new 700CCA). Then everything electrical shuts down, like the battery was completely disconnected. I can wiggle the key and get the electric to come back on intermittently. I was hoping to not have to disassemble the steering column. I am going to try running a new ground wire from the battery and bang on the starter. I will post again if any of that works.
Last edited by RamziDymond; Dec 25, 2021 at 01:58 PM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Mendocino CA
I replaced the ignition switch, the one on the steering column that is activated by the pushrod. Now when I turn the key to the on position it is good. When I turn it to start it just goes click and kills the power to the whole car. So I ran a wire to the relay connection on the starter, put the key in the on position and touch the wire to my positive terminal. Click and kills the power just like when I use the key to do it. I noticed the security light is on. Do you think this is a VATS issue or a starter issue? FYI I am using the original key with the factory VATS chip in it.
Last edited by RamziDymond; Dec 30, 2021 at 08:25 PM. Reason: misspelling
Try cleaning the pill on the key to make sure it's getting good contact. I'd also check to make sure the battery terminals and cable have no signs of corrosion. I ran into something similar with my car years ago where the positive terminal wire core was corroded but the terminal looked okay. It can't carry full voltage or current when the wire is corroded so it behaves like a bad battery or short.
