Started a few weeks ago, turned the key and nothing, try a few more times and then it started, same thing happened a few days later, then the other day coming home from work in the rain, it stalled while driving..no stutter or cough just died like someone flicked a switch I noticed gauges lit up, command center showed the word "calibrating" briefly. I waited 5 minutes on the sholder (listenign to the radio with 4-ways on) and then it started fine, 1/2 mile later same thing, it finely fired up after trying for 5 minutes. I took it to the first garage I saw. He said there was a TSB out for the Ignition switch so he replaced that yesterday. I drove home fine without stall but the Tach doesn't move now. Doesn't even cycle when I turn the car on. also there is now two alarms flashing that will not reset, "Air Bag check & "Check Tire Pressure" (which is fine)

Any ideas? I have read about crank shaft sensor causing intermittent no starts and dead tach meter but that doesn't explain the alarms that won't reset.

Thanks

If he was working on the steering column, it'* possible he unplugged something. If the tach on the dash isn't even moving when you start up, then it'* not the crank sensor. Sounds like he had his hands under the dash and knocked something loose.

Thanks for the reply, I think you have a point. I am thinking I have a few unrelated problems, One which was the intermitent no start which is fixed by replacing ignition but broke the tach, two which is the "Check Air Bag system" and Check Tire Pressure which will not be reset since the car shut off while driving in the rain. I read that the plug wires on the rear side are too close to the PCM and can arc and damage the PCM. I am thinking that is exactly what happened while driving in the rain although my ODBII reader does not show any codes.

Does anyone know where the PCM is located?

The ECU is located under the air box, where the air filter is located. I have never heard of one getting damged by ignition arcing. I think you have two issues. Number one is your initial problems sound like a failed CPS. Hopefully changing the ignition switch fixes it but if if re-occurs, change the CPS. The second issue, as Dan states, is the mechanic that changed the ignition switch probably damaged something, or did not re-connnect something, in the area he was working on.

I just had the exact same thing you describe (the first set of problems you were having) happen on my car, and I changed the CPS.

Thanks a lot to both of you, I'll get it checked out.

I finally got around to taking it in to the Dealers. I was prepared for the worst.....$189.xx later the tack works, air bag and tire pressure alarlms reset.

The mechanic traced a relay in the fuse box (under the back seat) was missing which controls all 3 issues.

I immediatly recalled when the first mechanic changed the ignition he also told me the fuse box was loose for some reason which he tightened (I assumed he meant the fuse box under the hood) but he must have removed it during the ignition install procedure and didn't follow the reverse procedure to put it back in.

$275 Ignition replacement
$189 Put a relay back in Place

...Priceless

thanks for posting the fix it may save someone else'* headache.