Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

Technical => 932 Series (156, GTV, Spider, 147, GT, and 166) => Topic started by: Neil Choi on April 15, 2012, 05:40:57 PM

Title: Any clue? Alfa GTV 2L ignition switch/lock
Post by: Neil Choi on April 15, 2012, 05:40:57 PM
Car is modern Alfa GTV 2L

Problem:  Key in lock (barrel), can turn key to ON, small click and can see power, then won't switch over to START hence car can't start.  Seems something stopping it to go to START.

Shroud off, able to take barrel out, no sign of problem with barrel.  Screw driver into the switch and won't switch to start. 

Any clues?  Don't know much on new-ish cars.

Thanks in advance.

Neil
Title: Re: Any clue? Alfa GTV 2L ignition switch/lock
Post by: colcol on April 15, 2012, 08:39:43 PM
It looks like the switch is at fault, if the barrel where the key goes turns ok and the ignition switch won't, then most likely a contact has come out in the switch, and its stopping the 'start' contacts coming together, replacement is not that easy, because the switch has a code that talks to the computer to enable it to start, so it can't be hotwired, if the switch is replaced, then the coding on the switch will most likely have to be reset with an Alfa Romeo computer, about 15 years ago the Alfa Club went on a technical night at Bosch in Clayton, and they were actually making the switches and wiring there for the then new Alfa 156 and GTV, [in about 98?], Alfa 33, 75, 90 and GTV 6 Alfetta drivers know about crook ignition switches, the contacts were not highly rated enough, and the contacts burn, and the car won't start, and then it does, and then it stops and starts, you will most likely have to take it to an Alfa Romeo service provider as seen on the advertisers page, Colin.
Title: Re: Any clue? Alfa GTV 2L ignition switch/lock
Post by: colcol on April 16, 2012, 08:19:47 PM
And i believe they have a rolling random code, so each time you put your key in the ignition, the code is different, so that the car can't be started by a fixed code scanning 'machine', car theft is still a big problem in Italy, so if you ever buy keys off ebay, they will have to be recoded to suit your ignition switch, Colin.