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'03 Chevy Cavalier loses power and Engine
Hi,
I'm likely to ask my mechanic about this when I get my car inspected on Saturday, but I thought I would see what you all thought before then. My 2003 Cavalier has twice now completely shut off, (engine cuts, power steering and brakes go, console loses illumination and stereo) while going full speed on the highway. I found out that the hazard lights still work when I narrowly avoided an accident this morning an on ramp. If I throw it in park and turn the key all the way off and all the way back on, the engine works fine. This is what leads me to believe there's a possibility my knee is turning the key back in the ignition and losing power that way. Has this happened before to anyone else? Does anyone know if the symptoms I described sound like a simple case of unintentionally shutting off the car with my leg, or a mechanical problem? Does everything typically cut out like that by simply turning the key backwards in Drive? (it may sound like a stupid question, but when in park I don't lose my stereo or console illumination when I turn the car off). I appreciate any help you can offer. -jb |
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'03 Chevy Cavalier loses power and Engine
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'03 Chevy Cavalier loses power and Engine
03 doesn't use a resistor in the key:
It's more than likely the passkey 3 system, with a magnetic ring in the steering column and a magnetic insert in the lock cylinder. The ignition switch on that, should be way down on the column, near the brake pedal. If memory serves me correct. I haven't been in my shop for over two months, but when I get there, I will bring my information system home. Right now, my kid needs me. RK "Twayne" > wrote in message newsh6ij.1951$Ue3.1394@trnddc07... > wrote: >> >> My 2003 Cavalier has twice now completely shut off, (engine cuts, >> power steering and brakes go, console loses illumination and stereo) >> while going full speed on the highway. I found out that the hazard >> lights still work when I narrowly avoided an accident this morning an >> on ramp. >> >> If I throw it in park and turn the key all the way off and all the way >> back on, the engine works fine. This is what leads me to believe >> there's a possibility my knee is turning the key back in the ignition >> and losing power that way. >> >> Has this happened before to anyone else? Does anyone know if the >> symptoms I described sound like a simple case of unintentionally >> shutting off the car with my leg, or a mechanical problem? Does >> everything typically cut out like that by simply turning the key >> backwards in Drive? (it may sound like a stupid question, but when in >> park I don't lose my stereo or console illumination when I turn the >> car off). >> >> I appreciate any help you can offer. >> >> -jb > > When "going full speed on the highway", why/how are you bumping the > key? I suppose it's possible but it would take a good "bump" to do that > with a good ignition switch. > > I'm going to guess that hte most likely culprit is the ignition switch > itself, especially if you have a heavy bunch of keys hanging there along > with the ignition key or you live in a humid area. > In the driveway in park, can you jiggle/wiggle the ignition key for > awhile and make it happen? If not, it means nothing much but if you can, > then you've located the problem. Careful, don't bend the key. > > You provided pitifully little info though; key got a resistor in it? What > year/model? Etc. The answer is in the details. Let them take a look > around for you at the shop and hope they're honest. Get a guarantee on > their fix & ask for the old part back. > > > > |
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