Weird problem when starting car

Maintenance/Repairs
1

So I have this weird problem when starting my car lately. It doesn’t happen all the time, just sometimes.
I put my key in and turn to ON position but there is nothing on my dashboard. Normally all the dashboard lights will appear once and disappear, leaving only a few lights showing on the dashboard. But this time there is nothing on the dashboard. I turn the key to start the car and the car starts but something doesn’t feel right. The only light that appears is a service VEHICLE soon light (not engine). My AC and window buttons don’t work. But I can still put the car in DRIVE and go drive the car outside. What’s the difference between service engine and service vehicle lights?

If I take out the key and put it back in and try to start the car again, the same thing will happen. No lights on my dashboard and some functions like AC and window up/down buttons don’t work. But the car runs and no problem starting the car. Not sure what’s going on here.Sometimes if I wait a few seconds, the lights will appear like normal, like a delayed reaction or something.

I’ve noticed that when I put my key in, if I give it some force and kinda push it in, like all the way into the back, the car will start fine like normal with all the dashboard lights and AC and window buttons all work. But I kinda have to push it in just a little while holding the key kinda tight THEN I turn the key to ON position and start the car. Not sure why I have to do this. Normally, I just put my key in and turn it to start the car without thinking about doing it in a certain way.

My key is clean, there is nothing on it. What is the problem here? I think maybe it could be ignition lock cylinder? or ignition switch but my car starts every time?

2

Yes, the ignition switch is failing.

2 Likes
3

Does the weight of the keychain affect the ignition switch or lock cylinder? Another person drives this car sometimes and his keychain is kinda heavy with lots of keys and stuff. My keychain is lightweight with just a few keys. I noticed that this problem usually happens after he drives the car, then when I put my key in, no lights on dashboard and some functions don’t work. If it is only me driving it for a few days, I don’t think I notice any problems.

Is the problem ignition switch or ignition lock cylinder? Because I can still start the car every time. How can the car starts and runs if the ignition switch is failing? But no dashboard lights, AC and window buttons don’t work. And the only thing that appears on the dashboard is “Service Vehicle Soon”.Could it be a fuse problem instead?

4

Only if you are having to replace a fuse to get it to work

5

Above is classic way to shorten the life of an ignition switch.
I learned about this 40+ years ago.

The switch has 3 (or more) sections. Contact #1 is activated when turned to “accessory”, #2 when turned to “run”, #3 when turned to “start”.
It’s not an all-or-nothing failure.

6

I don’t know about the lights but when my car failed to respond it was the switch on the steering column that was out of adjustment so not making full contact. Adjustment procedure would be in the manual along with the replacement procure if needed.