Hello, and thanks for joining me here in cyberspace.
I recently bought a clean 1990 Volvo 740 sedan with the idea of fixing it up for our loaner car fleet ( at Popular Mechanix http://pmvolvo.com ) Yesterday the ignition switch failed, in the shop, no one’s fault, just wear-and-tear, actually fortunate timing that no customer was driving it. I assigned my young and promising apprentice Samson to install the new part, and I drove the car home the same day.
The next morning I drove the car to work and right away noticed a new problem. When I took the key out of the ignition, the key reminder chime kept sounding. My first thought was “Samson must have failed to secure some ground wire”. Because of the timing ( new switch yesterday, today annoying key chime) I just assumed it was his fault. A simple and obvious conclusion, right?
It then occurred to me to look at the slot the ignition key goes into, and sure enough the two halves of the spring loaded gateway had stuck open. A quick spray of WD-40 fixed this. The new ignition switch is invisible to the driver as it is attached to the back of the lock cylinder
There was nothing at all wrong with the new ignition switch or its installation. Another part, similar in location, also probably original to this 1990 car had failed.
And keep in mind this is the owner of the shop writing. If a repair shop owner can so easily jump to the wrong conclusion and blame the mechanic, what chance does the average customer have of keeping an open mind and seeing it as just the coincidence it was?
