Honda Car Forum

I just picked up a 91 Acura Integra and the guy who gave it to me said
you have to hold the key in the ignition while you drive it. I of
course want to repair this, any ideas on what I need to purchase, how
much it will cost, or if it is something I can do myself?

Thanks in advance

brittbottoms@gmail.com wrote in
news:1144269988.888306.154120@g10g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com:

> I just picked up a 91 Acura Integra and the guy who gave it to me said
> you have to hold the key in the ignition while you drive it. I of
> course want to repair this, any ideas on what I need to purchase, how
> much it will cost, or if it is something I can do myself?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
>

Sounds like a wornout ignition switch,not a starter problem.
(the starter cranks the motor,not needed once the motor begins running.)

In the 94 Integra,the electrical part of the switch can be replaced without
changing the lock cylinder and needing new keys(that don't match your door
locks!!).I don't know about earlier models.They're probably similar.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

brittbottoms@gmail.com wrote in
news:1144269988.888306.154120@g10g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com:

> I just picked up a 91 Acura Integra and the guy who gave it to me said
> you have to hold the key in the ignition while you drive it. I of
> course want to repair this, any ideas on what I need to purchase, how
> much it will cost, or if it is something I can do myself?
>



You mean you have to push it in, or keep it turned?

A new key may be all you need. I'd try that first before ripping stuff
apart. Do you still have the original key with the 4-digit number on the
shaft? If so, the dealer can order a new one. They're pretty cheap.

If a new key doesn't fix it, you need a new lock cylinder. It's easy to
install, but you'd need a locksmith to re-key the new cylinder for your
original key if you wanted to use the same key for the whole car.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in
news:Xns979CDCBFFFB0tegger@207.14.113.17:

> brittbottoms@gmail.com wrote in
> news:1144269988.888306.154120@g10g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com:
>
>> I just picked up a 91 Acura Integra and the guy who gave it to me said
>> you have to hold the key in the ignition while you drive it. I of
>> course want to repair this, any ideas on what I need to purchase, how
>> much it will cost, or if it is something I can do myself?
>>
>
>
>
> You mean you have to push it in, or keep it turned?
>
> A new key may be all you need. I'd try that first before ripping stuff
> apart. Do you still have the original key with the 4-digit number on the
> shaft? If so, the dealer can order a new one. They're pretty cheap.
>
> If a new key doesn't fix it, you need a new lock cylinder. It's easy to
> install, but you'd need a locksmith to re-key the new cylinder for your
> original key if you wanted to use the same key for the whole car.
>


If, however, you mean the key won't stay in the RUN position (II) and the
car stalls, then you probably need the ignition switch. The switch provides
the click-stops that keep the key at a certain position.

Here are links to pictures of your lock cylinder and ignition switch.
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/start...ignitionswitch

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

I think you may have nailed it TeGGeR. It won't stay in the run
position. Thats why I have to hold it. If I let it go, the engine
stops.

Any idea on how much a new switch would cost, and a good place to buy
one from?

Thanks again everybody.

"beastech" <brittbottoms@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1144687689.709483.38600@i40g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com:

> I think you may have nailed it TeGGeR. It won't stay in the run
> position. Thats why I have to hold it. If I let it go, the engine
> stops.
>
> Any idea on how much a new switch would cost, and a good place to buy
> one from?



There are number of places that do the on-line parts thing. A list here:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/online-parts.html

Nobody seems to list the ignition switch though, so you probably have no
choice but to call your local dealer. I even checked one of the on-line
Honda dealers, with no success there either.

If I were you, I'd pull the lock cylinder first and see if you get the same
sort of behavior from the switch when you manipulate it with a small
screwdriver before rspending money.


--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in
news:Xns97A19AD694994tegger@207.14.113.17:

> "beastech" <brittbottoms@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:1144687689.709483.38600@i40g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com:
>
>> I think you may have nailed it TeGGeR. It won't stay in the run
>> position. Thats why I have to hold it. If I let it go, the engine
>> stops.
>>
>> Any idea on how much a new switch would cost, and a good place to buy
>> one from?
>
>
>
> There are number of places that do the on-line parts thing. A list
> here: http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/online-parts.html
>
> Nobody seems to list the ignition switch though, so you probably have
> no choice but to call your local dealer. I even checked one of the
> on-line Honda dealers, with no success there either.
>
> If I were you, I'd pull the lock cylinder first and see if you get the
> same sort of behavior from the switch when you manipulate it with a
> small screwdriver before rspending money.
>
>

Don't you have to break off some security bolts to remove the lock
cylinder?
Or do you mean "pull off the switch from the lock cylinder" and manipulate
the switch with a screwdriver?

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

Jim Yanik <jyanik@abuse.gov> wrote in
news:Xns97A1D335016F1jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.85:

> "TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in
> news:Xns97A19AD694994tegger@207.14.113.17:

>>
>> If I were you, I'd pull the lock cylinder first and see if you get
>> the same sort of behavior from the switch when you manipulate it with
>> a small screwdriver before rspending money.
>>
>>
>
> Don't you have to break off some security bolts to remove the lock
> cylinder?



Nope. Easy as pie, once you get the covers off.

All you do is insert the key, turn the key to "I", remove a small set-screw
from the bottom, push the pin in on top, and withdraw the cylinder. The
point is, you need the right key in the first place.

You need to do this to get at the small half-round slot in the switch. This
is how you start the car with a screwdriver.

What thieves depend on is the fact that the lock cylinder is only held in
by that tiny set-screw and the spring-loaded pin. If they get lucky, they
can break both of those with a large coarse-threaded screw reefed into the
key slot and a slide hammer attached to that. Once the cylinder's out, they
whip out the skinny screwdriver and off they go. Vroom!


--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/