Bad Ignition Starter - How Bad is it to Drive While Holding the Key Turned On ?

[BallPtPenTheif]

First, I apologize if this is the wrong place to ask for automotive information but unfortunately this is the only automotive forum I frequent.

Essentially, my ignition switch on my Honda CR-V went bad on the way to work. Multiple times the engine would just die while driving but turning the ignition key would immediately restart the car. At one point though, the car would just keep dying and I had to literally hold the ignition all the way to the right while driving in order to retain engine power.

Now I need to get the car back home (15 min drive) and I suspect that I might have to hold the ignition to the right during most of the drive.

Does anyone know how bad this is for my car or is it safe enough for just a brief ride home? Thank you for any help and please feel free to ridicule me in exchange for your time. Thanks.

 

[Danoff]

First, I apologize if this is the wrong place to ask for automotive information but unfortunately this is the only automotive forum I frequent.

Essentially, my ignition switch on my Honda CR-V went bad on the way to work. Multiple times the engine would just die while driving but turning the ignition key would immediately restart the car. At one point though, the car would just keep dying and I had to literally hold the ignition all the way to the right while driving in order to retain engine power.

Now I need to get the car back home (15 min drive) and I suspect that I might have to hold the ignition to the right during most of the drive.

Does anyone know how bad this is for my car or is it safe enough for just a brief ride home? Thank you for any help and please feel free to ridicule me in exchange for your time. Thanks.

Uh....

Yea call a tow truck. You're almost certainly ruining multiple components by trying to get it home. Tow truck is cheaper, easier, and sometimes is included with car insurance.

 

[coryclifford]

In reality, it might be only just as bad as over spinning an electric motor, whose RPM limit is pretty much determined by the quality of shaft bearings and epoxy used to hold everything together.

I dunno, a replacement starter is probably cheaper than a tow if things don't work out.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Don't do this.

That electric starter motor is a BIG current draw. Lots of current = lots of heat = fire.

 

[Dennisch]

Don't do this.

That electric starter motor is a BIG current draw. Lots of current = lots of heat = fire.

This is a good possibility as it is a almost 20 year old car, but more likely you will burn out the starter motor before you reach home.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

This is a good possibility as it is a almost 20 year old car, but more likely you will burn out the starter motor before you reach home.

As I mentioned in another thread, my older brother once had a similar issue in his diesel Peugeot 504. The car wouldn't start at all, so he kept bumping the starter motor to effectively "drive" the car (really he was just moving it out of the way) using only electricity. The wiring harness turned into a toaster oven coil and the car burned to the ground. Again, don't do this.

 

[Dennisch]

As I mentioned in another thread, my older brother once had a similar issue in his diesel Peugeot 504. The car wouldn't start at all, so he kept bumping the starter motor to effectively "drive" the car (really he was just moving it out of the way) using only electricity. The wiring harness turned into a toaster oven coil and the car burned to the ground. Again, don't do this.

It's a Peugeot, it can do that by just looking at it.

But as you say, you shouldn't be doing it unless you want to kill the car, or parts of it.

 

[RocZX]

If your car is turning off while driving it's not the starter. It sounds more like it would be your ignition switch.

 

[TexRex]

Hopefully the OP got home okay?

 

[kikie]

Hopefully the OP got home okay?

I hope the poster of the OP gets home.

Did you get home fine with your car @BallPtPenTheif?

 

[BallPtPenTheif]

I hope the poster of the OP gets home.

Did you get home fine with your car @BallPtPenTheif?

Thanks for everyone's input. It really made me aware of the potential risk involved with damaging the starter by driving this way. Doing research I learned that overturning the ignition switch without allowing for 5 to 10 second intervals between each attempt can cause a fire or damage the starter resulting in more expensive repairs.

I did end up driving home on straight back streets where I wouldn't have to turn wide or brake suddenly. Knowing now not to hold the ignition I was prepared to merely turn the engine if it failed and then to pull over and try again if it wouldn't cooperate.

Thankfully the car only died once on the drive home and came back on on a single ignition turn. I ordered the replacement part from Amazon for $40 and I'll be installing the new ignition switch once it arrives. Until then the car is staying parked.

Thanks again for all of your help.