[Charles]

I just figured out why my car started suddenly dying. Apparently, there is something wrong with the contacts in the switch cylinder. It works on "Start" but when you let go so it goes to the "On", power is cut off and the car dies. The speedo actually drops to zero and my doors unlock (actuated by the alarm system). If I hold the key somewhere just a bit less than "Start" but more than "On", the car runs. Of course, this means I have to be hunched over holding the key in this painful position while my wife shifts the car for me. Not a long term solution.

I looked at the Helms, and it looks like I have the following options:

1) Try hotwiring the switch at the harness below.
2) Remove the lower dash and column cover to replace the cylinder and/or switch with the same from my spare rex.

So has anyone dealt with this?

 

[jfrolang]

The first thing I would try is to remove the switch and clean the contacts.

 

[Charles]

Have you done this? Can you confirm that this is how to do it:

1) Remove steering column lower cover.
2) Disconnect 4-P connector from dash fuse box and 5-P from main wire harness.
3) Insert key and turn to "0"
4) Remove the 2 screws from the lock body to access the switch.

 

[88DXCRX]

http://crx.honda-perf.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6118

 

[Charles]

Great link!

I just pulled mine apart. The contacts do look grungy and worn. I will play with it.

 

[Charles]

No good. Cleaned the contacts and it is still doing it. My wife pulled out the keys (twice) while it was still on "I" or "II" ("III" is "Start"). The lock cylinder was already a bit worn. Could that be the issue?

I tried swapping in a lock cylinder from my 91 Si but they are different.

 

[Charles]

How can I hotwire this car? I just need to install a switch someplace so that I can turn it on and off. I could still use the ignition switch, but I need to have some way to keep the power on. Any idea how to do this temporary solution?

 

[Charles]

Okay, I have another idea. I want to swap out the entire part #7 from my 91 Si. Can someone look under their dash and tell me how to remove the smaller connector (just above #19) from the fusebox. I cannot figure out how that tab holds it on there.

 

[Dren]

Sometimes the little push-in plastic tabs on the side actually have to be pushed away from the plug.

 

[Charles]

I swapped out the starter switch harness from my 91 Si and so far everything is good. I am still going to buy a new harness as soon as I can. I want to keep the car for awhile.

 

[CRiX]

I replaced the the guts to the switch in like half an hour. It was easy enough after I took the steering wheel off. The only problem was that the holes in the mounting tabs were too small; maybe the AutoZone guy gave me the switch from a Civic or something. Anyway, after I drilled them out, everything was fine. Upon inspection my old switch showed a lot of heat damage.