Bypassing a broken ignition is a technical procedure that takes more than just the manual and some technical know-how to crack. Your best shot would be to take your vehicle to a professional to take care of the issue or better yet, replace the switch.
Luckily, you can still bypass this ignition switch on your Chevy truck. For the older Chevy models, hot wiring will do the trick. Alternatively, you can choose to jump-start your vehicle. In this case, you can use a portable jump start kit or another vehicle to help you out.
This article goes deeper into the topic, explaining how to diagnose a bad ignition switch, and how to go about bypassing it. Read on.
How to Bypass an Ignition Switch on a Chevy Truck
Replacing a broken ignition switch is a costly affair, regardless of which route you choose to take (DIY or mechanic). Hence, this leads many to take yet another route—bypassing the ignition switch.
Bypassing the ignition switch is considered a great feat, best done by professionals. Such a task will require a great deal of rewiring and removal of many columns, depending on the vehicle in question. For drivers with older vehicle models, the best way to go about this issue is by installing a push-button ignition.
Jumpstarting is another way. You will need a portable jump starter or another car battery.
It is done by connecting the positive terminal of the battery to the positive side of the ignition coil. Simultaneously, connect the starter solenoid to the battery’s positive terminal as well.
How to Test the Ignition Switch?
Nobody would like to drive around with a faulty ignition system. The engine may turn off on you when you least expect it and at the wrong place. Therefore, testing it is an important step. You can use a multimeter or a test light. When using a multimeter, note that any reading that is less than 90% of the battery voltage indicates a faulty ignition system.
If you have no access to a multimeter, a 12V test light can come in handy. The test light will be turned on if your ignition is in good condition.
What Are the Signs of a Bad Ignition?
Typically, the ignition system is tasked to kick-start your car through an electric current supply across the engine. So, it is often not easy to tell whether the reason your car won’t start is attributed to a bad battery, a faulty ignition system, or other causes.
One of the main tricks to detect a faulty ignition system is when your keys are hard to turn or get stuck. Moreover, you can tell a faulty ignition by the absence of the motor starter sound. Anytime you attempt to start your car, there’s always an unmistakable clicking sound emanating from the starter motor. If the ignition system is faulty, you are likely not to hear any sound.
On top of that, if your vehicle keeps stalling, it is time to have the ignition checked. Stalling is when your car just suddenly stops working without any prior notice.
For instance, your car engine may stop while you are in transit without warning. You should also observe your steering wheel. If it gets stuck, checking the ignition would be a great place to start. You can also check the ignition cylinder just to be sure.
How Do You Get Around a Bad Ignition Switch?
If you are dealing with a flawed ignition system, there are two ways recommended to go around it. The first is hotwiring which is best for older model vehicles (those produced before the mid-90s) and the second is to jumpstart.
Hotwiring involves locating the wiring harness connector and finding the wires of the ignition system and battery. Often, the yellow and brown wires are for the ignition, and the red ones, the battery. Jumpstarting is as explained above.
FAQs
Conclusion
More often, the first things that come to mind when you start your car and it does not start are faulty spark plugs, a bad battery, or no injector pulse.
The issue could as well be a faulty ignition system that will likely need a replacement—which is often a costly affair. Thankfully, it is possible to bypass the switch as outlined in this article.
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