Car: 1993 Civic DX Hatchback
Automatic Transmission and Power Steering
D15B Carb Block and Head swapped in, everything else stock

Car is starting to have starting issues.

As of late everything works normal with fuel pump priming and CEL going off after two seconds but you turn to III (start/crank) and the environmental lights go off but no cranking happens.

I found if you push the key in (key cylinder depresses some) when you turn to III it cranks over. Before you didn't need to press just try a time or two.

I found this thread that was pretty much useless.

Found some good youtube videos on how to get the whole assembly out.

And I found this part with lifetime warranty on ebay:
92 93 94 95 Honda Civic Ignition Switch Wiring New Lifetime Warranty | eBay

I was wondering if anyone knows off hand if it would just be the electrical part of the ignition switch or if it would have anything to do with the mechanical aspect of the assembly.

The lock cylinder itself operates normally as far as I can tell.

 

Yeah, sounds like the ignition switch. Its possible to replace it without replacing the key cylinder. Best take it apart and take some pics.

 

Yes, but test the switch (likely bad).

 

The joy of intermittent issues.... When the car was picked up today from the body shop it had zero issues.

Will have to start checking it on days off to see if it's acting up and do those tests.

Will report back the findings once I have them. Currently it will test out just fine.

Not sure if it's relevant but seems to be worse in colder temps.

 

Okay, it's bloody cold as hell out there today and so I drug my 10mm socket with extension down to the car along with my screwdriver and multimeter.

Before I get started I try and start the car and once again, all works except the cranking in position 3.

So I close looped the SRS and pulled both the 5p and 7p brown connectors under the dash.

All continuity checks for position 0 (key in check), position 1 and position 2 all check out a-okay. I even checked the snap back into position 2 issue and it never faltered in position 2.

All position 3 continuity checks failed. I then plug the plugs back in, try cranking the car for nothing, then push in on the key firmly and it cranks over and fires right up.

I pull the plugs again and could not get any of the continuity tests to fail again.

Love the intermittent problems.

Anyways, based off of that it definitely looks like a flaky ignition switch. I don't believe spraying contact cleaner (electrical cleaner) into the key hole will even remotely get close to the ignition switch. I'm doubtful there is any easy way to get cleaner in that part without ripping into it a fair amount.

Anyways, thanks everyone for watching.

 

If you take it apart you can clean the switch itself with electric circuit cleaner, than use di-electric grease. Put it all back together and it should keep you going until you can purchase another.