I've owned my SSR for about 2 months now - traded a Chevy Colorado in on it... and loved that Colorado ! I was on my way to work this morning, and the darn thing... well, it started running really rough, and then the dashboard lit up like a "Christmas Tree" ! I do believe that every freakin' warning light came on, and then it died - on a hill ! I got out, took the gas cap off, put it back on, and tried to start it again. It started, but - at first - wouldn't keep running. After a few tried, it started running again, but withe a lot of the "warning lights" on, and running very rough. I got it up the hill and into a parking lot, where I backed it into a space (that was really fun - it bucked like a bronco !) and shut it down. I waited a few minutes and then tried to start it again, and it started right up but - again, a lot of the "warning lights" were on, and it was running for crap. I shut it down, walked the six additional blocks to work, and I am now having it towed to my garage (not MY garage, the garage I take it to for service !) Now, for all you guys out there that warned me to carry an "ignition switch relay" with me (and I did take your advice, except that it's sitting at home ! duh ! ! ! ) does this sound like what you warned me about... and, if so... Just respond "Doh" for me not having enough sense to be carrying it with me ! If not, and you have other suggestions - any responses will be greatly appreciated ! THANKS !
P.S.: Still wouldn't trade it for the world !!!!
Ahhh so sorry you had problems; at least you were not in stranded BFE
Thanks ! Oh absolutely ! It could have been a lot worse ! Hey... reality is... I bought it "used"... it had 95,000+ miles on it... and - as we all know - "stuff" happens...! It's actually been "gone over" twice (by two different mechanics !) since I bought it, and - generally speaking - got a "it's in great shape" report, both times, so.... We (my wife and I) are just a little bit "spoiled", because my wife has driven a Mercedes (of one kind or another) for the last ten years, and they have all been under the "Mercedes Warranty", so having to call for a tow truck or make arrangements to have it "fixed" was very upsetting" to her... me - not so much ! (and she wasn't even with me - she would have "freaked out" if it had happened when she was in the truck !) LOL ! ! ! ! !
Bottom-line is... I'm still the PROUD OWNER OF AN SSR, and that makes me ! ! ! ! Everything else is just background noise ! LOL !!!! Thanks - and have a great day !
Keep us updated on the prognosis but it sure sounds like that dreaded Ignition Switch.
Yea... ain't life grand ! LOL ! Every day - something new... even if it's the same ! Funny thing is... we spent most of the weekend with my daughter - running her back and forth to the dealer that she got her "Jetta" from ! Her car "freaked' on her... and she took it to a "local guy" who checked it out and got about a dozen "error codes" on it, so he suggested taking it back to the dealer (it wasn't new) because he didn't like working on VW's anyway (at least he was honest - and did recommend someone locally that she should use !) So we had it "towed" to the dealer that she bought it from - 80 miles away - only to find out that is was a "loose wire" that was "grounding out" (my daughter thought that something was dragging on the ground ! LOL !) and they just reset everything and it's fine now... again, coulda' been a heck-of-a-lot worse !
But hey... she's still stuck driving a Jetta... while I HAVE MY SSR ! ! !
Thanks, and we'll see what "develops" !
P.S.: Oh... and one more thing - SORRY ! Next time you tell me to do something (buy a switch / keep in the truck) you can bet your life I'll do it !
My SSR: #23198 06 Blue 3SS #375 of 532 - Birthday 12/21/05 - Took delivery 9/5/06 (2nd owner)
Quote:
Originally Posted by billfatora
Now, for all you guys out there that warned me to carry an "ignition switch relay" with me (and I did take your advice, except that it's sitting at home ! duh ! ! ! ) does this sound like what you warned me about... and, if so... ! THANKS !
P.S.: Still wouldn't trade it for the world !!!!
Sounds like a possibility. What worries me is the "Relay" I have highlighted in the quote. Hope you got the switch since the contacts in that is what goes bad. Relays are another item that may go bad but since there are several in the fuse block it is easy enough to swap them around for trouble shooting and then buy one if necessary.
Good luck and hope the mechanic/technician you have does right by you.
__________________
Use the SSR Parts Exchange It works for us all BlueStreak - One of the Blues Brothers
Sounds like a possibility. What worries me is the "Relay" I have highlighted in the quote. Hope you got the switch since the contacts in that is what goes bad. Relays are another item that may go bad but since there are several in the fuse block it is easy enough to swap them around for trouble shooting and then buy one if necessary.
Good luck and hope the mechanic/technician you have does right by you.
I really do have a lot of faith in the garage I'm using.... And he was thrilled when I bought the SSR.... He's a really big "Chevy Guy" and a lot of the guys around here with Corvettes go to him, but I guess time will tell. Thanks for the "heads-up" about the "switch" !
For anyone out there who might not have a life (LOL !) and has taken an interest in my "problem", here's an update... and it isn't very positive ! They actually started to work on my truck yesterday. Started it up (it started and ran fine - go figure) and drove it into the bay. Turned it off, and restarted it... about a two dozen times ! Had it in and out a few times after that... couldn't get it to "stall"' and was beginning to think I was crazy ! This morning - they tried it again - they ran it into the bay - turned it off - turned it back on - and WHAM ! "Christmas Tree-time" again... and it ran like crap, and then stalled. He got three (3) error codes. He said two (2) of them weren't (at this point) really important (really had nothing to do with the current problem[s]) but one (1) of them was - a wiring problem. He checked out a few things, tried to start it again, and - of course - it started right up and ran like it was new ! (piss me off !) He said that there are several possibilities and that in addition to the "current problem", that someone has obviously worked on this problem - or one similar to this - prior to this.... And from what he could see of it, the "job" they did to "correct the problem" wasn't... well... I'm sure you get the picture.... So, as of right now, it still sits at the garage, and he wants to do a little more "checking" on it before he "gives up" and recommends that I take it to a "Chevy Dealer" tht would probably be better versed in "wiring harness issues" and problems of this nature. He also suggested that, either way, that the "extended warranty package" that I have, probably IS NOT GOING TO COVER IT. Again, go figure.... Fortunately, he's the type of guy that will either fix it, or he won't charge me a dime for it. You just don't find a lot of mechanics like that any more.... For any one who cares, I'll update this when I know more....
My SSR: '05 Auto Redline Red #20727.... Born on 05/05/05...
Check the ground wires...especially one on the frame below driver's door and one on engine block (right rear, I believe). Make sure they are secure and not loose (shorting)
Also check for corrosion on fuse block under hood. Some owners have had to replace fuse block.
Check the ground wires...especially one on the frame below driver's door and one on engine block (right rear, I believe). Make sure they are secure and not loose (shorting)
Also check for corrosion on fuse block under hood. Some owners have had to replace fuse block.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ! That will be my first phone call tomorrow morning... any and all help is greatly appreciated right now.
OK...
I placed the phone call to the garage this morning, and told Jonathan (the mechanic/garage owner) about the the two "ground points" (which he hadn't checked) and the fuse block (which he had checked). He stated that from all his "updates", that he knew about the fuse block being "problematic", so he checked it right away, and other then finding the "previous fix", that he considered a "by-pass" [and a very poor one at that], not a "fix"; that there was no indication of the problem(s) being there. He was going to check the "grounds", but he also informed me that - after working on it for several more hours, yesterday afternoon and evening - that he just went ahead and ordered a new ignition switch.... His logic = one - that we had to "start somewhere" and, 2 - he, himself has run into the "ignition switch problem" several times now with Tahoes, Avalanches, Colorados and a few other vehicles.... Hummmm. Again, were all you guys right...? Was the problem / fix so obvious that he overlooked it...? Does Occam's Razor [the most obvious answer is usually the correct solution.] apply here...? We'll see....
P.S.: OF the Three (3) error codes he got when it "failed" for him - as I've previously stated, he said that two (2) didn't pertain, but one did.... I'll give you just one (1) guess what that error code was.... Yep - it referenced the ignition switch....
My SSR: Ricochet Silver built 11-8-04, #17696. K&N, headers, Flowmaster,Trifecta Tuned, Phoenixed Tranny
wow at least you have a good and thorough mechanic
i was told by someone to just buy an ignition switch and have it on hand
i think i will get one ordered
wow at least you have a good and thorough mechanic
i was told by someone to just buy an ignition switch and have it on hand
i think i will get one ordered
Oh ABSOLUTELY ! ! !
I'm fairly new here (about two months) but that was one of the very first things I was warned about !
If it wasn't being warned about the ignition switch, it was about the door handle !
I haven't done anything about the "handle issue" yet, but I actually ordered (and have on hand) an "Ignition Switch Relay", but didn't have an "Ignition Switch". It wouldn't have done me any good, anyway - since I was "told" to keep it in my tool box in the truck.... Well, it's in the tool box, all right, but the tool box is in the garage at home ! Sometines I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree !
Anyway... he ordered one and he's going to put it in as soon as he gets it... so we'll know pretty quickly if it fixes the problem or not... If it does, I'll be very but kinda' that it wasn't the first thing we did, instead of the last !
OK...
Just got the call.... He replaced the ignition switch and ran it and had no problems and he couldn't get any error codes.... He seems to believe that it's running fine... for now... and said that he hated to have it fail on me again, if this isn't it... but it's going to be the only way to find out for sure.... He's only charging me for the part (told you guys like him are hard to find !) . It "might" have been the problem, but he said he just doesn't like the way the fuse block looks, and we should probably consider replacing it at a later date.... He checked the "rigged" wire in the block, and when he disconnected it, it made the engine run really rough - he reconnected it (better then it was) and, with it connected, it runs fine.... He also said that the block is no longer attached securely, that they had it "rigged" also, so he "reattached" it better then it was, but it still "isn't right"....
I'll get it tonight and we'll go from here.... If it "dies" again, you all will be the fourth to know: I'll be the first, "Triple-A" (for towing) will be the second, Jonathan at the garage will be the third ! THANKS !
Since my "work" is on my wife's way, she's been dropping me off and picking me up all week. On the way in this morning, she said to me, "...so... are you sorry that you got rid of your Colorado to get this, now...?" I didn't hesitate for even a split second, I said, "absolutely not !"
I really liked my Colorado... a lot ! But, whenever I get into this... I don't know... it just, well... it just makes me smile... just seeing it sitting there in the driveway makes me smile... and then... everything else seems a little bit easier to deal with !
Well... picked it up this evening and drove it home. Tried the lights, switches, seats, mirrors... tried just about everything I could think of to get it to "fail" (including topping 85 mph ! ) and it ran like top the whole way home. I just couldn't get it to "fail"... so maybe - just maybe - replacing the ignition switch did the trick ! Thanks to all you guys out there that told me to be aware of it's potential failure and what would result ! Now looking forward to tomorrow, wash inside and out, detail, scratch treatment, wax, leather seat treatment... and then the pain-in-the-butt yard work !
Again, THANKS to everyone.
OK I'm really embarreed but I have a stupid question. Is the ignition switch round or is it more like a box. When I do a google search of "ignition switch" both items come up. I want to get one (or two) and keep it handy. Man I feel STOOPID but oh well.
I'm glad that this mess helped someone else ! That makes it all worth it. I now have an "ignition switch" and "ignition lock" and an "ignition switch relay" ... plus the new (installed) switch ! By the time I'm done, I figure I'll almost be able to build one out of "parts" ! LOL ! Through this whole mess, I learned a lot and made some new (great) friends along the way ! Heck, you can't ask for any more then that ! Thanks to EVERYONE for helping me through this mess !
The more you learn, the more you find out you don't know.
We're lucky to have some really knowledgeable people here, but there's always something new. That's why people like you, that have problems and report back the solutions, are so important.
__________________
SSR Fanatics.....Knowledgeable friends, just a click away.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
! ! ! ! Everything else is just background noise ! 
LOL !!!! Thanks - and have a great day ! 
LOL !) and they just reset everything and it's fine now... again, coulda' been a heck-of-a-lot worse !
and we'll see what "develops" ! 
Next time you tell me to do something (buy a switch / keep in the truck) you can bet your life I'll do it ! 
We'll see.... 
Sometines I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree ! 
that it wasn't the first thing we did, instead of the last ! 
He checked the "rigged" wire in the block, and when he disconnected it, it made the engine run really rough - he reconnected it (better then it was) and, with it connected, it runs fine.... He also said that the block is no longer attached securely, that they had it "rigged" also, so he "reattached" it better then it was, but it still "isn't right".... 
! 
! 
Tried the lights, switches, seats, mirrors... tried just about everything I could think of to get it to "fail" (including topping 85 mph ! 
) and it ran like top the whole way home. 
I just couldn't get it to "fail"... so maybe - just maybe - replacing the ignition switch did the trick ! 
Thanks to all you guys out there that told me to be aware of it's potential failure and what would result ! 
Now looking forward to tomorrow, wash inside and out, detail, scratch treatment, wax, leather seat treatment... 
and then the pain-in-the-butt yard work 
!
That makes it all worth it. 
LOL ! Through this whole mess, I learned a lot and made some new (great) friends along the way ! 
Linear Mode
