Morning all,

Been having an intermittent problem that seems to be getting more frequent. Every so often, the car does absolutely nothing when turning the ignition. It seems to be far more common when the key is left in II for a while, as little as 15-20 seconds I suppose.

Usually I just turn the key back to off and back through to on and it works straight away. However, yesterday this didn't work, and after 10 minutes of trying, it finally turned over (in Neutral, if that makes a difference). Ironically, this was as I was trying to drive away from an MOT which passed with no advisories. I can only think that it would have been left in II for a significant length of time, and this may have contributed?

When I turn the key, no whirring, no trying to start, it's as if the car doesn't realise the key has been turned. I'm guessing the problem is in the barrel, and maybe I can squirt something down there to loosen it up, but wanted to see if this was a known problem first.

Thanks in advance!

Quite a known problem. Happened to me on my TD6 at an inopportune moment. Others have taken the switch apart and fettled it but I went for a straight replacement. A bit of a fiddle but straightforward to do.

If you do a search on here you will get some hits. eg. https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic50879...ion+switch John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

Thanks Weegie, did a search but obviously didn't get the right words to find what I was looking for, I'll take a look through the threads.

Has anyone stuck any fluid down there to ease it up until it could be fixed? Just don't want to get caught short away from home

are you saying its just the engine that doesnt crank in position 3? and that actually the dahs lights etc still all come on?
or
nothing at all happens on any system in the vehicle when key is turned?

The former, everything else working fully, just doesn't even try to turn over

has it done it for a while and has gotten progressively worse?
Does it spin over but sluggishly sometimes also?

mine did this and it was the symptoms of the starter motor failing inside. worn contacts/bushes etc.

then one day i was stranded away from home when it totally gave up

2nd hand part from an X5 and jobs a good un.

Yeah it's done it a little and got worse recently, but it's never really been sluggish when it does go.

Do you mind me asking how much it set you back?

Got it on eBay £35 delivered. BMW listed parts are always cheaper.
Devon auto salvage or something like that.

Mine sometimes was like a had a low battery with the starter not spinning fast enough.

Mine is similar, took a quick video

Are we able to post videos on here?? Can’t seem to see and option ??

upload video to youtube and copy and paste link in your post.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

upload to youtube and post a link. 2012 TDV8 Black Edition
2000 Disco. TD5
1975 series III

Thanks for the “heads up”
Engine was warm, I put it into neutral, dash lights up, just nothing when I turn the key until the 6-7th time??

Yup it'll be the ignition switch. Had to do mine a couple of months ago. Switch was £125 from the main dealer, takes about an hour to swap out, easy enough just needing a torx screwdriver to remove panels etc. 2004 Vogue TD6 - Remapped
2008 Porsche Cayenne S
1998 Lotus Elise

Thanks for the advice