
If your Mercury car is not starting, it may be an ignition switch problem. Before you get Mercury original parts, look for these 4 common ignition switch problems.
Ignition switch is a complex mechanism that is used to start your Mercury car and get it running every morning. However, even the slightest ignition switch problems can cause the car to stop turning on. You may have to visit a Mercury original parts shop, but sometimes, it’s a minor issues which doesn’t require you to replace anything.
Here is how you can detect if there is anything wrong with your ignition switch, and how to fix those problems fast.
1. Maybe It’s Not an Actual Fault
Well, this can be funny at times. Auto manufacturers sell hundreds of thousands of the same vehicle models each year. With this much number of same looking vehicles on the roads and in the parking lots, it’s completely possible that you might try opening someone else’s car that looks just like yours.
Here’s the fun part, most of the doors on the cars with the same model as your car would conveniently open with one key. But this isn’t the end. After accessing the ignition switch of someone else’s car, you would try to put the key in the ignition switch and try to turn the car on, but due to enhanced security measures, it won’t.
The fix to this problem? Well, try turning on your own car, the key would work perfectly.
2. It Might Be the Steering Lock
To prevent thieves from using the steering of your car without physically unlocking the ignition switch, cars use a locking system to lock your steering wheel as soon as you turn the car off. Well, if you end up turning the steering wheel a bit after turning the car off, it might get locked and prevent you from turning the car on.
To fix this uncomfortable issue, keep turning the steering wheel until the ignition cylinder is free to run.
3. Worn Out Materials
This is actually not the type of issue you’d face on the first day of buying your car, but it happens gradually over time. We turn our cars on and off hundreds of times every month, so, due to the friction between the key and the ignition cylinder, both of them can wear out. Believe it or not, but heavy keychains can cause the key to wear out faster by putting more strain on it.
When this happens, try getting a new lockset matching door and trunk cylinders. This is the best fix to keep your car safe and well maintained.
4. Immobilizer Issues
The latest transponder keys are actually used in a lot of car models these days. These keys and the ignition systems both have the same set of codes installed on them. The chip in the key, when it is brought closer to the ignition switch, matches and codes and turns the vehicle on.
Often when you use the wrong key, a reprogrammed key or a damaged chip key, or when the wiring in your ignition system gets messed up, your vehicle might refuse to start properly, or at all.
Replacing the batteries and using the latest software can really help you in improving the performance of the immobilizer installed in your car.
Conclusion
Now that you know the most common problems with the ignition switch of your Mercury car, fix it as soon as possible and always buy Mercury original parts to ensure longer lifespan of auto parts.
