Buzzing/hum from cluster, won't start.
04-04-2012, 04:40 AM
#1
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Turner, Maine
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Buzzing/hum from cluster, won't start.
I've done a little searching but I haven't been able to pinpoint what it could be.. Any help would be appreciated.
Anyways.. this problem started last week, I turn my key to start my car and it doesn't start.. It doesn't even try. All I get is a buzzing/hum type sound from behind my cluster. My radio and HVAC work, but I get nothing else. I can get it to start after about ten tries, however.
My car is a 1999.5, does it have an immobilizer? My battery was bought less than a year ago and it starts strong when it works. Could this be just a relay? Ignition switch or barrel? Starter going bad? Thanks in advance.
Anyways.. this problem started last week, I turn my key to start my car and it doesn't start.. It doesn't even try. All I get is a buzzing/hum type sound from behind my cluster. My radio and HVAC work, but I get nothing else. I can get it to start after about ten tries, however.
My car is a 1999.5, does it have an immobilizer? My battery was bought less than a year ago and it starts strong when it works. Could this be just a relay? Ignition switch or barrel? Starter going bad? Thanks in advance.
04-04-2012, 08:29 AM
#4
04-04-2012, 10:13 AM
#5
AudiWorld Super User
Ignition switch; I'd bet on it. Mine made the relay buzz too. You can buff up the contacts in a pinch, that's what I did with mine several years ago with no further problems. The starter contacts are the biggest ones in the switch, #1000 al/oxide paper and some alcohol to clean. You may want to pull the fuel relay anyway to service its contacts, because the buzzing will cause arcing that damages the surfaces.
04-05-2012, 04:32 AM
#6
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Turner, Maine
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well guys, now I feel dumb. Instead of taking my column apart and cleaning my ignition switch, I tried the easiest thing first and cleaned up my battery connections and the starter positive connection on the battery and now it starts perfect every time! I don't know why I didn't think of this first, because I've had other vehicles that did this to me and that was the solution. I guess it was the thought of a brand new battery that made me look past it 
Trending Topics
04-19-2012, 05:08 AM
#8
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Turner, Maine
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well I guess it was a coincidence that my car wanted to start when I cleaned the battery clamps. My car is doing the same exact thing today.. but to the point where I had to push start it in second gear to get it to work. I will try your suggestion about cleaning the ignition switch. Any other suggestions? It could be my relay too right? How would I test that?
04-19-2012, 09:27 AM
#10
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Turner, Maine
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Alright, update.. buffed up contacts on ignition switch, still a no go. Under further investigation, on the 13-way relay carrier.. relay #13 is the one buzzing, it has number 204 on it. The is another 204 relay in there too in a different spot, so I tried that one and still got the buzzing. So I'm going to guess my relay is fine..