One of the most common problems that we notice at our Shelburne, VT service department at MINI of Burlington is cars not starting due to a faulty ignition switch. In some cases, these are manufacturer defects, and in other cases, it’s caused by a worn-down ignition. Over time, it can become more difficult to turn the key in the ignition, and if you have to force the key to turn, then you may be causing more damage.
Some warning signs of a faulty ignition include car not starting, stalling after starting, clicking noise from the starter, no noise from the starter, or even flickering dashboard lights. All of these are indicators that there’s an issue with your starter switch or starter.
Since the ignition is responsible for starting the car, you don’t want to ignore these problems. An ignition that’s difficult to turn the key in may lead to your car not starting at all, and if you force the key to turn, you may bend or warp the key to where it eventually breaks off in your starter switch.