# Radio wouldn't turn on when car first started

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/radio-wouldnt-turn-on-when-car-first-started/77214>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** pontiac, torrent\
**Created:** [February 7, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radio-wouldnt-turn-on-when-car-first-started/77214 "2013-02-07T22:49:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![FlyingFargas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ba0ec/32.png) [@FlyingFargas](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FlyingFargas)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radio-wouldnt-turn-on-when-car-first-started/77214/1 "2013-02-07T22:49:54Z")

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The radio and time didn’t show up on my car when I first started it. When I turned it off and back on again, everything was fine. It had been sitting a few days and it was cold out. It seems to be fine now, but I was wondering if anyone knew what happened?

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**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radio-wouldnt-turn-on-when-car-first-started/77214/2 "2013-02-07T23:02:06Z")

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Possible ignition switch.  
When you turn the ignition switch to start the car , all other circuits are dead while you crank it ( gauges, radio, lights ).  
When you release the key to let it run, the switch steps back to engage those other circuits.

A worn switch may be having some trouble getting contact to those other circuits.

This I know from my 80 Bronco doing just that. Wiggling the key after starting would engage the circuits and replacing the ingnition switch ( not the key/lock cylinder ) repaired everything.

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radio-wouldnt-turn-on-when-car-first-started/77214/3 "2013-02-07T23:59:04Z")

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How cold was it outside? A digital radio in below freezing weather will sometimes need to warm up before it operates. At 40 below in Alaska…I sometimes had to wait a few minutes before my digital display and radio worked properly.