Son has a 1990 Honda Accord LX. Car is bone stock with an automatic transmission.

Hes having trouble with the car staying running. Here are the symptoms:

Attempt to start like you normally would,car fires and dies instantly.

Attempt to start and hold the key at a certain position,and the car will stay running. Let pressure off the key and the car will die instantly.

I was actually able to drive the car from where it broke down,to my house with my hand holding the key in a certain position.

So this leads me to believe this is the ignition switch causing the problem. But is this the lock/Tumbler portion or the pigtail/ wiring harness portion causing this trouble?

Id like to know so I dont just throw parts at it.

Whats this sound like to everyone?

 

It is most likely the electrical ignition switch, and not the key cylinder/tumbler section.

Refer to this link:

http://techauto.awardspace.com/ignitionswitch.html

 

you have a short in the on position of your elec ign switch- about a $60 honda part.
haynes has a diagnostic test also, but you have discovered the wiggle key test if you can keep the car running long enough to see the effect of the key wiggle.