Ignition Switch fire

December 16, 2007, 12:30:08 PM

Has anyone heard of this issue. I found this by searching the internet.
1988-89 Ford Crown Victoria, Tempo Topaz, Mercury Cougar; 1988-90 Escort, EXP; 1988 Mustang Thunderbird; 1988-93 Aerostar Bronco F150, F250, F350, Grand Marquis; 1988-91 Lincoln Town Car
Number of vehicles: 7,500,000
Ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit which can cause overheating, smoke, and fire in the steering column area.
I smelled something burning in my car. A few months ago i posted a thread about my headlight switch. I replaced that and it doesn't get hot anymore but now i started smelling something and I think I heard some sparks. My ignition cylinder feels a little loose and some times it beeps like I forgot to take the key out when I did take the key out. I just wiggle it until it stops beeping. Today I'm going to see what I can find myself.

Ignition Switch fire

Reply #1 – December 16, 2007, 12:54:28 PM

I've not only heard about it, I've experienced it. My old '91 T-Bird's ignition switch caught fire while on vacation back in '94 or '95. That car was actually key in forcing Ford to have the recall - I pulled the battery cable off and saved the car, which left plenty of evidence of the fire's cause. Transport Canada sent a representative to pick up my old switch, and a few months later the recall was announced in Canada. Shortly after that USA followed suit.

There are dozens of "Ignition switch" threads in this forum, usually with the title "Multiple electrical problems". The most common symptom is losing the turn signals, heater, and instrument cluster all at the same time.

The ignition switch is NOT what you put your key into. In these cars the key goes into a lock cylinder which is attached by a linkage to the switch. The switch is on the underside of the column. If you are smelling smoke I strongly recommend you disconnect the battery until you find its source (and the ignition switch is a good place to start). The ignition switch can cause the car to burn whether the key is in it or not.

Note that the new switch (will have a part number starting in "F" instead of the old-style switch that starts with "E") seems to be no better - I had one of those fail on my current '88 Thunderbird.

Thanks for the info

Reply #2 – December 18, 2007, 06:12:38 PM

Thanks for the quick reply. I meant to reply back sooner and say thanks but got busy.

Ignition Switch fire

Reply #3 – December 20, 2007, 11:43:22 AM

I had one too!