[6pack] Random Ignition Failure

[Kendall Larsen]

Hi List,

My car has behaving itself for quite awhile but the last time I drove it  the 
ignition cut out on me 3 times, twice in the middle of  intersections shortly 
after the light turned green. The ignition just  goes completely dead, and the 
car doesn't even crank or click or  anything for about 5-10 seconds which feels 
like an eternity when  traffic is waiting on you. Obviously that doesn't make me 
very excited  to drive my car until I am able to sort out what this issue is. It 
did  this once on me a few weeks back when I was at an intersection and  shifted 
into reverse to back out of the crosswalk, but I was able to  restart the car 
before the light turned green.

So what I've got to go on so far is, ignition cuts out with out warning,  the 
head lights remain on and bright during the "time out", after a  hanful of 
seconds of turning the key the starter finally cranks and the  engine starts 
immediately. The battery is new. I am using a Crane XR700  ignition module, 
though I think that is irrelevant. 


I looked at the electrical schematic and there are only a few items that it can 
be.
1. Ignition switch
2. Starter relay
3. Seat belt interlock module (74 1/2 model)
4. Transmission neutral switch

I think I have talked my self out of faulty seat belt module and starter  relay 
because, while if they are malfunctioning they would keep the car  from 
cranking. I don't think they have a means of taking down the  ignition once the 
car is running? Does that sound reasonable?

I haven't looked that closely at the transmission neutral switch, I  think it is 
just part of the seat belt interlock module as well. 


So I think I'm left with the possibility of a faulty ignition switch,  does 
anyone have any suggestions for testing an intermittent ignition  switch short 
of just replacing it and driving the car around and hoping  for the best? 


Thanks for any ideas you can share! 

I cross posted this to the forums as well if you want to follow along there:
http://www.6-pack.org/j15/index.php?option=com_kunena&func=view&catid=20&id=172966&Itemid=85