First post from Toronto, Ontario, Canada :D

My 1998 Honda Accord is having problems with the ignition switch. It's confirmed that it is indeed the issue.

It may not start or will start and stall within 3 seconds of starting. It can be kept running by holding the key between 2 and 3 not activating the starter in which it will die within minutes.

I've been fighting with the morons at the dealer explaining to them that there's a recall on the ignition switch issued in 2002, but never got a letter or notice regarding it. They're trying to push other parts including a main relay switch which I've already inspected and deemed not causing issue. They swapped mine out with a known working one and it still didn't start, declaring the issue for sure the ignition switch.

They say there is no active recall on the vehicle and they want $253 to fix it. I want it repaired for free. It's a safety recall, issued by Honda and transport Canada on many occasions.

They don't want to fix it for free saying any recall ever issued for the car was fixed and that this vehicle may not have been part of the original recall. Whatever, so they don't fix a 15yr old car for free.

What recourse of action can I take? I want to call Honda corporate and complain to them. I've authorized the repair for Monday but are thinking of declining it and putting it on hold.

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The problem I have is that it is a safety recall, in similar instances vehicles have stalled while driving and caused collisions. This car thankfully won't start, and if it does immediately stalls.

If its a safety recall, it should be fixed regardless of age shouldn't it? And the ignition switch - albeit used frequently, should last the lifetime of the car. I've never heard of anyone's ignition switch spontaneously failing.

The basis I'm coming from is that since there was a recall made for this issue, despite the fact that this car wasn't included in it, excepting the fact that other Accords of the same generation are included, the repair should be free because it is a safety issue that which Transport Canada identified and rectified with Honda, for a solution of "dealer's will service and replace ignition switches".

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Suggestions? It's a safety recall, so it should last forever and not be an extended warranty per se or a goodwill repair.

Thanks in advance - hopefully it doesn't fall under tl;dr lmao

 

You are better off fixing it yourself before something serious happens. Send them the bill for parts or keep beating your head against the wall hoping Honda will fix it.

 

Now, do my keys need to be reprogrammed with this? if they do its more hassle than its worth, should let the dealer do it.

Or can I go to the scrapyard lets say, pull out a known working switch and just install it myself and voila?

Are the switch and immobilizer on the same piece of ... equipment? Same... circuit idk what word to use? Or are they independent of each other?

 

There is the complete assembly, key cylinder, immobilizer, some other bits and the electrical switch itself which IMO is what is most likely wrong with your cars. This switch...


Is most likely just the electrical switch at the back of the assembly. These can usually be purchased for ~$30-50. No need to replace the mechanical side of the ignition switch.
http://techauto.awardspace.com/ignitionswitch.html

 

Thank you kindly, I'll definitely use the information provided to my advantage.

 

If you are going to head to the dealer about it, use the techauto artcle, and the switch portion you need I think is
35130-S84-A01 008 001 SWITCH, STEERING $74.27 $51.25



But this is basing that your car is a 98 LX coupe.
Dunno if Sedan, V6, or EX models have a different switch.
Go to Majestic Hondas parts page and lookup your car parts via your VIN number for accurate description. Look up the part under 'Column' or 'Combination switch'.

 

you would expect a dealership to hold up a recall from 15 years ago??

 

You got it bang on - 98 LX Coupe

Its a safety recall - that's the basis I have it on. If the car stalls while driving and causes a collision, I could sue Honda because of its malfunction and known status. If it was a limited time "goodwill" replacement recall, like lets say - Power window motors have been identified to be shorting out causing the window to become inoperable, receive a free replacement, valid for 1yr from issue - that's a different story.

The problem I have is that this car is not covered, while others of the same model year were - and it just so happened it failed this far in time where it may not have had it been replaced.

Everyone else got theirs fixed for free, so why can't I? ( I know I'm a bit late, but safety recalls apply for the life of the vehicle I believe)

I'm not expecting to win, this is really far fetched, I know that, but if there's a possibility it could be done, all the power to me, right?