Ignition problem

[craigvk]

Sometimes when I get in my car and turn the key to the ignition position, the dash stays dead and doesn't come on. Usually banging the steering wheel or hitting the horn makes it come alive. I am stumped to know what the problem is. Is there any auto elec in Melbourne that knows VB-VK's and can pull the ignition gear and barrel out in a quick time? How hard is it to replace the barrel? I am pretty sure that the barrel components are cactus and you could easily start the car with anything that looks like a dip stick and thankfully I have a prolock so my car can't get stolen hehe.

Any ideas? I am pretty sure the actual ignition switch might be ok (where the wiring plugs into) but I suspect that the barrel is pretty rooted and worn out.

Any ideas on what it would be?

Cheers.

[phat_com]

It does that on mine when my battery is a bit flat and if i leave it on reds it turns on after about 20 seconds, If you have a big-ish stereo get a bigger battery and it should be fine i would think.

[Cane_It]

sounds like a dicky power supply in the instrument cluster...
Automotve instrumentation in Mulgrave fixed mine a few years back, it started out playig up like that before completly dying.

[craigvk]

I put a dash switch in wired to the battery and to the coil. When I have the car running, I flick the switch and the ignition will never die now. Not worth paying an auto elec $$$ to fix this car. Half the wiring is stuffed anyway.

It died on me yesterday twice when driving and even on the freeway. It came back on after hitting the horn and did a shotgun style backfire. I wasn't impressed. No more dead ignition.