Chrysler Repair: 99 Concorde: Starter not initiating reliably, neutral safety switch, chrysler concorde

Question
I have a 99 chrysler concorde that when I put the key in the ignition and turn to start, sometimes engine cranks and starts, but sometimes nothing happens at all. There are times that if I hold the key turned it will, after 10-15 seconds, crank and start. It seems also that if I press in on the key as I turn it that it sometimes helps, it leaves me to believe that it may be in the steering column. What do you think? And is this something that I could repair? Thank you!

Answer
Hi Mike,
It could be a number of things: the ignition switch, the park/neutral safety switch, the starter motor relay, or the starter itself. Because it seems to be related to the key, I would suspect the ignition switch to begin with. You could focus in on that by having a helper listen for the "click" of the starter relay when you try the key action. That relay is in the power distribution box under the hood on the driver side. It is mounted cross-wise and the relay in question is the 4th from the inside edge of the box. If it clicks reliably but the starter doesn't respond then I would focus on the starter solenoid and starter. If it doesn't click reliably then it is probably the ignition switch or possibly the safety switch (which you could also test by moving the shift lever slightly on either side of park when you try the key to see if that makes the action reliable or not). If not, then focus in on the switch.
You could remove the tilt release lever by removing its screw, then look underneath the column for the screws that attach the lower column cover to the upper column cover and remove the two covers so as to reveal the ignition switch which is on the opposite side of the column from the lock cylinder. I would try using some electronic contact spray cleaner (electronics store) in a pressure can with a straw tip applicator. Try locating any holes/cracks/accesses to the interior of the switch and try spraying cleaner inside. Then see if it starts more reliably. If not, then I would consider replacing the switch itself. Write back for instructions for that task.
Roland
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