In my experience, it's some times a sticking solenoid, but most often the contacts in the ignition switch welding themselves together.
Installation of a starter relay usually solves this problem, it reduces the load on the ignition switch and makes it last indefinitely longer. HTH, bs ________________________________ From: Charles Slayman <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, April 5, 2010 4:21:46 PM Subject: [alfa] Another Spider Ignition Problem Hi Alfisti, I have a slightly different ignition problem on my '89 Spider. Occasionally, when I start the car, the starter will continue to crank as if I've held the key in that START position. I have to shut the ignition off completely and then restart the car. At that point, everything is fine. It's as if there is an intermittent short between the ON and START position of the switch. Another possibility is an intermittent short in the solenoid itself. Before I tear into the steering column (Thanks Eric for the Alfa BB link!), I thought I'd ask if any of you have experienced this problem. And if so, what was the root cause? The ignition switch or the soleniod? Thanks, Charlie S '89 Spider -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected] -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]
