Ignition doesnt crank, unless

[Inda_bebe]

I recently purchased a beat up 92. Everything worked fine driving it from SD to Orange County. Once inshut the engine off and tried to start it up the next morning, I had to shake the steering wheel height lever up and down to get it to crank and start. Thought it was funny. Any idea what I may need to replace? 

 

Besides that issue, I also noticed that the fuel gauge needle started to jump around and down to empty real quick when it got to 1/4 tank. I kind regreted buying this one and should've shopped around, but I got a good deal on it. Other issues so far was , knock sensor, replace the fuel injectors and belts, scrub the @!*% out of the interior and replacing the door handle. 

[Slartibartfast]

That's an odd one. The wiring for the ignition switch runs through the column, so something might be loose in there. Be careful taking the clamshell apart, they're quite brittle. Once that's off, I'd follow the wiring from the ignition switch and make sure it's in good shape and the connector is firmly installed. The switch itself (not the whole cylinder, just the switch) is cheap and easy to replace if it turns out to be flaky.

 

I cleared up an intermittent no-start on mine by removing the alarm system. It plugs in between the switch and the rest of the harness, so you can just unplug the switch from the alarm, unplug the alarm from the rest of the harness, and plug the ignition into the rest of the harness without the alarm in between. (I took a bunch more stuff apart to get the rest of the alarm harness out, but that shouldn't be strictly necessary.) Cleared up my gremlin, might get yours too. Takes out the alarm, obviously, in the unlikely event that yours still works/you have the keyfob for it.

 

Sounds like the fuel level sender in the tank might be acting up too.

[Jimmie]

Amazon.com: Kison Ignition Switch, Manual Operation, Black : Automotive

 

 

I have repaired a few of these and is an easy fix. The first starter issue that I had years ago I replaced the starter and new relays and all it was this switch in the steering collum attached to the key switch. The small contacts wear after a lot of use. Jim 

Edited April 13 by Jimmie

[Dietrich]

MY '92 ignition switch is bad, too. For the last couple of years, the starter will only engage if I push lightly against the back of the switch with one finger.

For this, I have the bottom cover of the steering column off.

Something I should fix.