Honda Car Forum

Here's my similar experience (From a previous post):

This just happened to me also (1991 Accord DX, 153k miles). I noticed
that the car is fine while the key stays in the "Start" position (the
engine catches), but the engine is killed when the key returns to "On"
position, which is the norm for driving. To make a long story short,
I changed the Main Relay to no avail, but have since tracked down and
replaced the "Steering Switch" (35130-SM4-305 for my model). This
switch is essentially the ignition switch that sits on the left side
of the steering column. Replacement work is straight forward and took
about 20 minutes if you have the part in hand. Simply remove the top
and bottom covers off of the steering column (5 screws total), and
find the white pastic switch on the left (It almost looks like a
bearing housing). Replace this and your car should work like a charm
again.


I live in the Bay Area, California, so purchasing from San Leandro
Honda (slhondaparts.com) was a cinch. I ordered online and picked up
in store, therwise you'll need to pay for shipping and taxes. The
cost of the part is $50, and I got a similar quote from hparts.com,
when they were still in business.

"Rattus the RAT" <rats_and_guns_n_rosesREMOVE-THIS@yahoo.com> wrote in
message news:32pgclF3q8mfnU1@individual.net...
>I have a big problem now! I hope you can give me your opinion in the next
>12
> hours:
>
> My '91 Accord LX's ignition switch has been acting funny lately (hard to
> turn the key to start the car, able to remove the key when the car is
> running, stuff like that...). I was hoping to take advantage of my week
> off
> (this week) to go to my favourite honest honda specialist mechanic (25-30
> miles away) to fix the problem BUT, the stupid thing died this weekend,
> they
> key won't turn, the car won't start (obviously).
>
> So I called a few places nearby this morning, Firestone gave me the best
> quote ($225) so I got my car towed there this morning and asked them to
> fix
> the problem, the guy said no problem, should be ready by 5pm, call us or
> we'll call you. At 3pm I get a call, he's telling me the technician is not
> sure what the problem is and it seems long to find out, but he didn't have
> anything new to say. Finally at 6pm I call them and the car is not ready.
> He
> tells me that the technician did the following:
>
> Apparently there is a "top part" and a "bottom part" to this thing, he
> said
> the tech cleaned the debris from the "top part" but the "bottom part" is
> not
> working. Car is not starting. Not a very clear description but that's all
> I
> know. He still couldn't give me any quote or anything, he said we'll call
> you tomorrow morning.
>
> Now, what I need to know is: what the heck is that "top part" and "bottom
> part", how expensive each of them are? Also I am affraid they want to
> charge
> me a lot of labor for finding out the problem, which really sucks.
>
> What kind of Attitude I shouild have tomorrow when they call me or when I
> call them?
>
> This whole thing sucks, i dont want to end up paying $500 for a stupid
> ignition switch!
>
> please tell me what you think!
>
> RAT
>
>
The top part would be the mechanical part, with the tumblers and the
cylinder, while the bottom part is the switch assembly that is turned when
the top part lets it. As others point out, getting the switch in and out is
not rocket science, and neither is the switch itself. The switch is widely
available with the wiring pigtail, but not really cheap. Firestone probably
won't have any source but the dealer.

The local Honda dealer should be able to quote you a price - parts and
labor - for replacing the switch. That should be about the price you would
expect from Firestone, since the labor rate will be in the ballpark and they
would need to charge the same amount for the switch. (Usually they would get
a discount that is roughly their cost for picking up a part like that.)
Troubleshooting labor isn't a factor, either, since the steps in finding out
what is wrong are part of replacing the switch... except for the part about
putting the key in the "top part" and seeing if it turns okay.

If you were doing it yourself you would have options for trying to revive
the switch, but a shop can't do that. If the resuscitated part dies, they
have to eat the labor to replace it and all the labor they put into it
originally - not a way to make money.

Mike

Rattus the RAT wrote:
> Now, what I need to know is: what the heck is that "top part" and "bottom
> part", how expensive each of them are? Also I am affraid they want to charge
> me a lot of labor for finding out the problem, which really sucks.

top part- metal lock cylinder/tumbler, where the key goes
bottom part- plastic switch where the wires go.

bottom part is bad, needs to be replaced. cant see the part being more
than $100 or so.

as usual, firestone, etc are clueless. theyre tire monkeys, not an auto
repair shop.

Rattus the RAT wrote:

> what's a reasonnable bill they can present me tomorrow?

if they cant fix it? an hour of labor, tops.

Trying to Help wrote:
> Here's my similar experience (From a previous post):

Would have been better to reply directly to the OP: your "similar
experience" is unrelated to this sub-thread, which deals with worn key
issues.

"SoCalMike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:QPUxd.538583$wV.117790@attbi_s54...
> Rattus the RAT wrote:
>> Now, what I need to know is: what the heck is that "top part" and "bottom
>> part", how expensive each of them are? Also I am affraid they want to
>> charge
>> me a lot of labor for finding out the problem, which really sucks.
>
> top part- metal lock cylinder/tumbler, where the key goes
> bottom part- plastic switch where the wires go.
>
> bottom part is bad, needs to be replaced. cant see the part being more
> than $100 or so.
>
Haven't been through this with the Honda, but Honda wanted over $200 for the
switch for my son's Acura. It wasn't a lot better on line.

BTW, if they say the switch is bad because it was cracked in two, you can be
sure they overtightened the screws putting it back together. Don't ask how I
know <8^(

Mike

"SoCalMike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:xQUxd.609905$D%.190189@attbi_s51...
> Rattus the RAT wrote:
>
> > what's a reasonnable bill they can present me tomorrow?
>
> if they cant fix it? an hour of labor, tops.

This morning I lost patience, no call again, so I call them, "oh, I'm gonna
call you right back with a quote". 20 minutes later, still nothing, I say
**** them and call them to tell them the towing is on it's way and get
things ready. He wanted to charge me 90 minutes, I said no way, finally I
agreed on 1hour and went to a Honda dealer and had great service, the
Firestone guy was full of shit, no "bottom part" or top part was broken! it
seems like the main problem was the key being worn out! So i paid for a new
key and for a fuse that the Firestone guy blew up, and 1h of labor. Glad I
did that, otherwise I'd probably still be here waiting for the Firestone guy
to change a perfectly working expensive thing and trying to make a $500 bill
for me.

Never go to the Firestone on Northwest Highway in North Dallas, unless you
like FRAUDS!!!!

"Rattus the RAT" <rats_and_guns_n_rosesREMOVE-THIS@yahoo.com> floridly
penned in news:32rsuvF3r1sa4U1@individual.net:

>
> "SoCalMike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:xQUxd.609905$D%.190189@attbi_s51...
>> Rattus the RAT wrote:
>>
>> > what's a reasonnable bill they can present me tomorrow?
>>
>> if they cant fix it? an hour of labor, tops.
>
> This morning I lost patience, no call again, so I call them, "oh, I'm
> gonna call you right back with a quote". 20 minutes later, still
> nothing, I say **** them and call them to tell them the towing is on
> it's way and get things ready. He wanted to charge me 90 minutes, I
> said no way, finally I agreed on 1hour and went to a Honda dealer and
> had great service, the Firestone guy was full of shit, no "bottom
> part" or top part was broken! it seems like the main problem was the
> key being worn out!




Worn key, huh?



> So i paid for a new key and for a fuse that the
> Firestone guy blew up, and 1h of labor. Glad I did that, otherwise I'd
> probably still be here waiting for the Firestone guy to change a
> perfectly working expensive thing and trying to make a $500 bill for
> me.
>
> Never go to the Firestone on Northwest Highway in North Dallas, unless
> you like FRAUDS!!!!


Not frauds, just inexperienced with Hondas and afraid to admit it.


--
TeGGeR®

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

"TeGGer®" <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns95C6CDF43B0D5teggeratistop@207.14.113.17.. .
> "Rattus the RAT" <rats_and_guns_n_rosesREMOVE-THIS@yahoo.com> floridly
> penned in news:32rsuvF3r1sa4U1@individual.net:
>
> >
> > "SoCalMike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:xQUxd.609905$D%.190189@attbi_s51...
> >> Rattus the RAT wrote:
> >>
> >> > what's a reasonnable bill they can present me tomorrow?
> >>
> >> if they cant fix it? an hour of labor, tops.
> >
> > This morning I lost patience, no call again, so I call them, "oh, I'm
> > gonna call you right back with a quote". 20 minutes later, still
> > nothing, I say **** them and call them to tell them the towing is on
> > it's way and get things ready. He wanted to charge me 90 minutes, I
> > said no way, finally I agreed on 1hour and went to a Honda dealer and
> > had great service, the Firestone guy was full of shit, no "bottom
> > part" or top part was broken! it seems like the main problem was the
> > key being worn out!
>
>
>
>
> Worn key, huh?
>
>
>
> > So i paid for a new key and for a fuse that the
> > Firestone guy blew up, and 1h of labor. Glad I did that, otherwise I'd
> > probably still be here waiting for the Firestone guy to change a
> > perfectly working expensive thing and trying to make a $500 bill for
> > me.
> >
> > Never go to the Firestone on Northwest Highway in North Dallas, unless
> > you like FRAUDS!!!!
>
>
> Not frauds, just inexperienced with Hondas and afraid to admit it.

Well that's the fraud, if you can't do something, don't tell me you can do
it and make me waste 2 days without my car and having to get it towed here
and there

"Rattus the RAT" <rats_and_guns_n_rosesREMOVE-THIS@yahoo.com> floridly
penned in news:32s0sjF3q9scvU1@individual.net:


>>
>> Not frauds, just inexperienced with Hondas and afraid to admit it.
>
> Well that's the fraud, if you can't do something, don't tell me you
> can do it and make me waste 2 days without my car and having to get it
> towed here and there
>



Who decided to bring it to Firestone?

Caveat Emptor.

--
TeGGeR®

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