CAUTION: The methods described in this resource should be considered only in an emergency situation. Otherwise, never try to bypass the ignition switch. Doing so will cause significant damage to your car, resulting in costly repairs.
Important Notes:
1. This resource only applies to operating the starter on a vehicle where turning the ignition switch to start fails to operate the starter but everything else works.
2. As a rule of thumb, if your vehicle has passive anti-theft (Immobilizer), you can’t bypass the ignition switch, anyway. This only works on cars built before 1994, so be aware.
The ignition switch on older vehicles sends voltage to the starter through the neutral safety switch or to the starter relay, which interacts with the neutral safety switch.
This activity is only possible if you have the right key that fits into the tumbler. You’ll need to turn the key from the off position to the start position.
On vehicles with immobilizer, the key has a chip that is activated when the ignition is switched on and the chip provides a digital code to the electronics. If the chip isn’t recognized, the starter may not work, or if it does work, the engine may start and immediately die. This varies from vehicle to vehicle.
The worst time for an ignition switch to fail is when you’re nowhere near an auto repair shop or when you’re in a hurry to go somewhere important, but your car won’t start. The mechanical descriptions for vehicle no-starts are “cranks normally but won’t start” or “no starter operation/no crank,” etc.
Keep in mind that there are thousands of potential reasons that can cause a car not to start, and the ignition switch is only one of them.
If you bypass the ignition switch, even on an older vehicle and it turns out that the ignition module or neutral safety switch is the cause, you’ve just wasted your time anyway.
Caution: Remember: you aren’t in a movie or TV show where you can pull random wires from under the dash, strip them with your fingernails, spark two of the wires together, and then drive away. The steering wheel and shifter are both locked unless the lock cylinder is turned to the on position, but if the switch has failed, more than one circuit might need to be bypassed to unlock the shifter even if the steering wheel is mechanically unlocked by turning the key to the on position.
Having said that, bypassing an ignition switch on an older vehicle can be done using several methods. These methods closely resemble the techniques other drivers use to start their cars without a key, but only if the steering wheel isn’t locked by turning the key to the on position. Even if you get the car started, you can’t drive it without turning the steering wheel and putting it in gear.
Here are some tips on how to start a car with a bad ignition switch if spinning the starter is all it takes to get the engine started.
Caution: Make absolutely sure the vehicle isn’t in gear, and lock the park brake.
A bypass mechanism relies on jumper wires to get the starter motor going.
Again, you must have a key to unlock the steering wheel and shifter. Sometimes the shifter won’t unlock even though you bypassed the part of the switch that turns on the ignition and fuel system and then applied voltage to the circuit that causes the starter to spin the engine.
To successfully bypass the ignition switch using jumper wires, you must first disconnect the battery. Of course, if the battery is disconnected, you can’t start the engine anyway, so it’ll need to be reconnected before you test your bypass attempt.
Remove the necessary panels covering the ignition switch and look for the wiring harness that you’ll connect to the jumper wire.
From there, attach one end of the jumper wire to the connection where the signal flows to the starter motor, and attach the other end to the battery. This will create a direct connection between the starter motor and the battery. You must have a momentary button switch wired in series between the battery and the starter.
The last step is to turn the key to the ON position and press the button on the bypass wire. This should activate the starter. After that, you may release the button.
Caution: This extreme method is not advisable because it can destroy the steering column. Do not do it if you don’t need to. This method may only make sense if the ignition lock cylinder has failed so that the right key suddenly won’t start the vehicle (this happens sometimes, believe it or not).
This method involves drilling a hole into the ignition cylinder to create a makeshift keyhole that will fit the screwdriver.
Keep in mind that this will permanently damage multiple parts of the ignition system, which could also mean additional repair expenses for you.
Hotwiring is another method you can try to bypass the ignition switch. Really old vehicles (pre-1978) with the ignition key on the dash rather than on the steering column can be hot-wired, but you must know how to do it right, and it isn’t a random process like you see in the movies.
Similar to using a bypass mechanism, hotwiring involves creating a direct connection between the battery and the ignition system, and then briefly connecting power to the starter solenoid to spin the engine. But again, make sure the vehicle is in neutral and the park brake is locked. switch.
You’ll need to strip the panels and covers to get a good view of the starter, ignition, and battery wires. This is much harder on some vehicles than others, by the way, so don’t think it’ll be easy on every car.
These wires are generally color-coded, and it’s important to have sufficient knowledge of automotive electrical systems to avoid causing permanent damage to the vehicle.
You’ll need wire strippers to remove the insulation from the individual wires before linking them.
Hotwiring might not work on some vehicles, especially those with advanced security features.
Tampering with the ignition system can cause serious damage to your vehicle, especially if you don’t have the right tools and know-how on the subject matter.
The bypass methods listed in the previous section should be treated as emergency tactics only, as these can result in more expensive repair tasks and inflict injury to the people involved if done incorrectly.
Broken springs, worn-out contacts, and temperature problems will eventually cause the ignition switch to fail.
Once the ignition switch breaks, your vehicle could exhibit the following symptoms.
A key that won’t turn all the way to the START position may be a sign of a damaged ignition lock cylinder or other related components.
If your key won’t turn, it’s also likely that the engine won’t be able to start.
Stalling is a symptom that can be caused by problems in more than one vehicle system. A damaged ignition switch could cause the engine to stall immediately after it starts or after you’ve driven your vehicle for a while.
A faulty ignition switch could cause some electrical problems with your vehicle, such as flickering dashboard lights.
The starter motor should make a sound that indicates a turning engine as soon as you turn the key to the START position. But if the starter fails to make a sound, it could mean that there’s a problem with the ignition switch.
The cost of a replacement ignition switch can range between $50 and $500, depending on factors like your preferred brand and your vehicle’s specifications.
Regulations on conducting an ignition bypass can vary per state. Regardless, bypassing an ignition switch on a vehicle that’s not yours is generally considered a punishable offense.
There’s no harm in bypassing your own ignition system, but keep in mind that this is only a temporary solution to your vehicle’s starting problems.
Should you be able to do it successfully, a trip to the nearest auto repair shop should be your top priority. This will ensure that your vehicle gets a full workup and a trusted mechanic can conduct the necessary repairs.
Bypassing an ignition switch can be done in several ways, but the use of jumper wires is arguably the most common one.
It is, however, important to note that bypassing an ignition switch shouldn’t be thought of as a long-term solution to your vehicle’s starting problems.
Ignition switches are more likely to fail due to corrosion, broken springs, and worn-out contacts.
Once they do, the vehicle could exhibit symptoms like a no-start condition, a quiet starter, and flickering dashboard lights, among others.
After bypassing your ignition switch, don’t wait too long before replacing it with a new one. Your ignition switch is likely to fail even after successfully bypassing it, which can cause your engine to stall. The last thing you want is for your engine to suddenly stall while driving in traffic, which can lead to an accident. For your own safety, it’s best to replace it as soon as possible. Luckily, getting a replacement ignition switch is fast and easy with CarParts.com.
As a one-stop shop for all your auto needs, CarParts.com offers a wide selection of OE-grade ignition switches at different price points. You can use our search filters to find the ignition switch that fits your budget and other preferences. We want you to get the best deals every time, so we offer a price match guarantee. If you find a competitor selling the same product at a lower price, just let us know. We’ll either match or beat their price on the spot!
Don’t wait until your engine stalls before replacing your ignition switch. Check out our catalog of high-quality ignition switches at CarParts.com and get one for your vehicle today!
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.