QuestionHi Roland,
I have a 1990 Lebaron Convertible that sometimes takes 2-3 attempts turning the key, before it starts. It always starts after a couple of tries, but it ususally starts on the first try. The battery is good, and I believe the problem is the ignition switch. How is this replaced? Also, the speedometer works but the odometer stopped about a month ago. How can this be fixed? Thanks in advance.
Tom
AnswerHi Tom,
To activate the starter requires 4 switches to work: the ignition switch, the starter relay, the park/neutral safety switch, and the starter motor solenoid switch. The best way to figure out which is the problem is to test various wires with a voltmeter while a helper turns the ignition switch. The most accessible point is the starter relay mounted on the driver's side strut tower. Find the yellow wire and measure whether you get 12V as measured between the wire connector and any shiney metal surface nearby when the helper tries the starter (ideally when the starter doesn't respond, which will be a necessary condition to find the problem). If you get 12V but no starter then the ignition switch is o.k.; if not, then suspect the switch. If you get 12V on the yellow but no starter, then measure for 12V on the brown wire at the relay. If you get 12V and no starter then the relay is good, and you need to test at the starter motor where the other end of the brown wire is attached. If you don't get 12V at the brown then the relay is bad, or the park/neutral switch is not truly in the park/neutral safety position and needs adjustment or replacement. Check the latter by measure with an ohmmeter to see if brown/yellow wire of the relay is grounded (if it is, then the safety switch is o.k. and the relay is bad). If you verify that 12V is getting to the brown wire at the starter motor solenoid reliably but no response from the motor then the starter solenoid is bad.
It may take a little longer to nail down this problem because if the starter will work most of the time it will be more difficult to test because it is only when the starter won't respond that you can learn why. It could be the ignition switch, but testing for the problem makes more sense than just throwing a part at in hopes that is the fault.
If the ignition switch is the problem, let me know and I can mail you the page from the '90 manual that describes how to remove the starter switch and replace it (saving the ignition key lock cylinder for reuse). It involves using a couple of special torx screwdrivers and pushing on the correct button to release the lock cylinder which is better shown by a image. I need to xerox and snail mail the page to you because I don't have a scanner. So tell me you postal mailing address.
On the odometer, that is driven by a gear and you can buy a new set of gears from www.odometergears.com and replacing that in the instrument cluster. I can send the pages on how to disassemble the cluster too.
So let me know what your learn/need.
Good luck on getting this resolved.
Roland
