possible bad ignition switch

bwtucker · **Posted:** Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:35 pm

Here's the low down. My 02 Jeep Liberty will not start. No click, no nothing. the battery is good. All of the dummy lights light up and the fuel pump primes. When I pull the starter relay and jump the leads the starter turns just fine but the the jeep will not start with the key in the run position.
A couple of months ago the accessory setting stopped working and now I'm wondering if the start position on the switch is shot also. The only question I have is this: Will the engine disable keep the jeep from starting if someone is jumping the starter without the ignition switch in the on position? I would have thought having the key in the ON position and jumping the starter would have fired it up. I'm fairly certain it's the switch but the whole not starting withe the key ON has me wondering. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

PS I ordered a switch already just in case. It was only $15.00

bwtucker · **Posted:** Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:41 pm

I Just went out and tried to start it for poops and giggles and it started. I turned it back off and tried to start it again and it wouldn't start. I then turned the key to the start position where it did nothing until I kind of wiggled it and it fired up. I think that confirms that it's the switch!!

bwtucker · **Posted:** Thu Apr 01, 2010 6:29 pm

I went to replace the ignition switch today to discover that it was not the issue. It was the little shaft from the shift interlock that was broken. I'm amazed at how chintzy it is. Turns out that you can't buy just that part even though it's only 2 little screws that hold that on. You have to buy the whole steering column. $579.....I don't think so. I will be posting in the wanted section here next. The real witch of it is that you can't just go to the junkyard tp get one unless the key is in the ignition. You can't get that part out unless you remove the lock cylinder. For the time being I just siliconed it together and wedged it into the switch. We'll see if that works temporarily.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 01, 2010 6:32 pm

Yeah we all have a extra steering column sitting in the garage, Good luck finding one.

bwtucker · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:51 am

Got a steering column at the JY today for $50. I'm all fixed up now.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:00 am

Same sort of crapola parts that's used in the TJ's, there's another part that likes to break too, it's a little plastic pin

Superglue Gel, or a careful soldier job

just make sure the glue is dried/cured before ya put things back together or you might inadvertently glue something together

if it's the part i'm understanding, you can salvage one from a column that you don't have the key for by tearing it apart and getting the piece that you need, even if it's not quite the exact PN, it can often be used with a little manipulation

used to run into the same exact junk with international trucks

after i fixed my friends TJ that did it, several thousand starts later it's still workin

glad ya got it fixed!

bwtucker · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:15 pm

Thanks for the info. I just drilled out the little aluminum tab that holds the lock cylinder in and was able to get it out that way. It only took a couple minutes to get everything apart. I saved the little plastic rod because that was still intact and I figured I might need it someday.

jong795 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 21, 2010 5:53 pm **Posts:** 1

bwtucker wrote:

I went to replace the ignition switch today to discover that it was not the issue. It was the little shaft from the shift interlock that was broken. I'm amazed at how chintzy it is. Turns out that you can't buy just that part even though it's only 2 little screws that hold that on. You have to buy the whole steering column. $579.....I don't think so. I will be posting in the wanted section here next. The real witch of it is that you can't just go to the junkyard tp get one unless the key is in the ignition. You can't get that part out unless you remove the lock cylinder. For the time being I just siliconed it together and wedged it into the switch. We'll see if that works temporarily.

Problem: the ignition switch would make a full turn, the dashboard lights will come up, but the engine would not start. Other observed problem, there is no "clicking sound". The ignition switch would only engage and start the engine in the AM, when the weather is cooler.

The mechanic first thought that is was only the ignition switch. But when he opened everything up, he noticed this very,very small metallic flat rod that hits the ignition switch, that was broken. This flat rod, for some manufacturing reason, was an assembly that was connected to the whole steering column. The very, very small flat rod was very substandard in manufacturing material made maybe by Chrysler-MOPAR, and even semi to non-metallic in consistency. . . .had to look it in my 2x micro lens.

Danger : Other cars can hit you and cause an accident if your Jeep was parked in a limited parking zone and would not start, like a busy Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Fix : replace the whole steering column and reprogram keys.

2002 Jeep Liberty, Ltd. (210,000 miles).

possible bad ignition switch

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