Jiggling key in ignition getting old. Some assistance plz.

[JIMJAM]

Starting the car has always been a hit or miss situation.5 yrs ago about 1 out of every 25 turns did nothing.Today it took jiggling the key,cycling on/off about 6x to start. It always will start but its becoming a real nuisance.
Here it what it does.BTW-Manual trans,everything off,ac,radio,fans ect.
Stick key in,turn to on,red bat light comes on.Turn to start,nothing.I mean nothing nothing.No starter activity or clicking that I recall just nothing.
Then its totally random.Might be the next turn,2,3,4th turn,then starts right up.Might go for a few days with no problem then back to back failures.It might be in my head but sometimes jiggling the key works,sometimes taking the key out and putting in back in......
All I have done is take the steering column top and bottom covers off and do a jiggle test for loose wires.I then shot some electronics cleaner into the lock until it ran clear.
Alt,starter are 3-4 yrs old,maybe 1500 miles on em.I routinely get under the car and look it over,tug on wires.
Any what to check,usual suspects or tips keep in mind I am almost electronics illiterate.
Thanks ahead of time for any replies and Hello its been awhile since posting anything.Jim in SC

[Jonathan]

Can you follow the wires back to the connector? Perhaps the connector wiggled itself loose or backed itself out a bit? Simple and free to double check if you haven't already.

[JIMJAM]

connector?

[Ron]

I wouldn't bank on it being the key switch just because there is no click...it could be the relay, the wire/connection from the key switch, or the wire/connection supplying ground to the relay.

Did you ever confirm that the Starter Relay mod was corrrect?

Post some picks of the back side of the relay plug (it's next to the Red one). And IIRC you had a red or orange wire instead of a brown wire for the mod?...need to know where it actually goes...

[JIMJAM]

Yeah that things been looked at and photographed a dozen times. You know we have been trying to figure this out and its turned into like looking for bigfoot.
I avoid the fuse area cuz seems everytime I get in there something in the car stops working.....
Lets see if I can dig up some of those pics and if not I will snap a few.

[Ron]

LOL...when you make the jumper wires and stick with it, you'll get it resolved......

[JIMJAM]

You know me. I can fly a jet but can put batteries in a flashlight backwards!Hell my light switches in my house still confuse me which does what after 20 years.

[Bitsyncmaster]

What is your VIN? The early cars did not use a relay and the high current for the starter solenoid was powered directly from the key switch. That could have burned the switch contacts even if you have the relay fix installed now. Do you have that fix?

edit:
I see the relay mod was already suggested.

[JIMJAM]

Took some quick pics.
Vin 1597-Ive been told the mod was done,it looks like it was done,probably been done......I do not think its been proven.

[Ron]

Looks right (assuming the White/Yellow to White-Red splice is OK, and, the Brown wire goes to the fan speed breaker.
That Brown wire looks like it may be smaller than the rest - it shouldn't be. (Mod calls for 14 Gauge...)

Get two jumpers and attach one to each of the White/Yellow wires. Next time it does nothing, briefly, put the jumper that goes to the White/Yellow with the heat shrink on it to the battery (+). This bypasses the ignition switch, so if it then cranks while you have it to the battery (+), the switch, or connection to it, is bad.

If that doesn't make it crank, briefly, put the jumper that goes to the White/Yellow without the heat shrink on it to the battery (-). If it then cranks, you need to chase why it isn't getting ground....

You should do the tests several times to be sure...

If you do both at the same time and the relay doesn't click, the relay is bad.

To be clear, do the tests while it will not crank with the key -- The key is held down throughout a test.

Note it may or may not continue cranking when you remove the jumper as long as the key is held down.
Double check that it is out of gear....

Call me if unclear or ??

[JIMJAM]

Sound like a 2 person job.You are saying have someone turn the key to start and if it does not,keep the key forward in the start position then do the jump test.
I will stare at this nice description you have written tomorow and attempt it.

[Ron]

You got it!

[ramblinmike]

If the starter circuit mod was not completed for some time, you may have damaged contacts in your ignition switch. 910 had contacts damaged in the ignition switch, making starting a hit-or-miss situation even after I did the starter circuit mod.

[WelmoedJ]

If the starter circuit mod was not completed for some time, you may have damaged contacts in your ignition switch. 910 had contacts damaged in the ignition switch, making starting a hit-or-miss situation even after I did the starter circuit mod.

+
You can check the condition of the switch at the other end of the key lock, jumpering the starter wire at the back of the switch.
This way you will know if it's the switch or something (relay, contacts) elsewhere in the circuit.

There are 3 wires there that make the IGN ON and IGN STARTER signals.
Wires are: black (switch GND), Brown/Red (switch PWR),White/Red (switch Starter).
White/Blue is for Accessory ON position and not in the IGN starter circuit.

The wires on the electrical switch for the starter may have different colours as I have noticed on my D.
Probably because that switch has been exchanged at some point in time.
However there's a connector in between the wire loom along the steering column and the wire loom going to the IGN lock.
So you always will be able to trace the diagram colours back to the lock switch colours.

Good luck with your hunt.

[JIMJAM]

Gotta love when the Delorean messes with ya.
Started every time "of course" so I decided to replace that jumper mod wire with a heavier gauge.Easy 15 minute job took 45. I would rather see how deep a fire ant mound is with my pecker than soder hunched over in that car.
Got that jumper replaced and again the car starts every time. I think I need either a crowd watching or to be late going some where for these issues to arise.
When these thunderstorms stop firing and the humidity gets below 90% I will try again.

Thanks for the replies Welmoedj,Mike,Ron,Dave,Jonathan.